South Eastern festival showcases talent

MUSICIANS and artists of all ages have been invited to enter the new South Eastern Arts Festival to be held in April.
The festival has been created to cater for musicians of every instrument, voice and art media, with particular emphasis on youth.
Last year’s successful fundraising concert showcased just some of the talent that will be on offer.
This festival is different from the regular eisteddfod in that it offers non-competitive sections in piano and choirs as well as the competitive format.
This may be appealing for families who would like to participate in a concert rather than competition, but receive constructive comments from accomplished and qualified adjudicators.
There is even a section for people under six-years-old.
VCE music students will also form their own class. Depending on the number of entries, this section may be a workshop or masterclass as it is also non-competitive. Even though it is early in the year, many students feel it is a good time to play through a work to iron out problems and receive helpful comments.
Sponsorship and donations are now coming in to help support the competitive sections which will now have substantial monetary awards.
Val Wilson from Dandenong has generously offered $1000 for the diploma section in piano.
This will be held in the Drum Theatre in Dandenong on 19 April.
The other sections will be mainly held at St Margaret’s School in Berwick and the festival committee is grateful for their generosity and support.
The junior competitive sections in all instruments will receive medals or trophies for their efforts.
The South Eastern Arts Festival is also introducing World Music to the community. This is traditional music, open to any instrument or combination of instruments (including voice), indigenous or native to any culture of the world.
Sections include Under 15s and open age as is the case in many of the other instrumental sections.
In the Art Festival, there are sections for Under 12s to open age in traditional and contemporary works, drawing, painting, photography, sculpture and installation art.
Entries close 5 March. Schedules and entry forms are available from Framing to a T in Berwick and at the Casey Council offices. Contact seaf.vic@gmail.com or phone Angela 0418 357 224 or Leah 9702 2150 for music inquiries and Christiana 0412 799 976 for art inquiries.