Sir: The Chatham Kiwanis Music Festival Committee and the Kiwanis Club of Chatham want to express appreciation to the Chatham-Kent community for its great support of the 68th annual music festival.
Without the assistance of so many volunteers, it would not be possible to organize the festival to provide the more than 300 young people who participated in over 820 entries the opportunity to perform before an audience and receive the advice of highly qualified adjudicators.
Thanks must be extended to the entrants themselves who worked hard to achieve excellence. Their music teachers worked diligently to prepare them for the festival and parents provided encouragement and support.
At the Grand Concert many participants were presented with trophies, plaques and/or monetary awards totalling approximately $9,000. The monetary awards assist participants with future musical studies.
Special appreciation is expressed to the businesses and individuals who supported the festival through donations for operating the event and for awards for the students. Approximately 90 volunteers generously donated time to plan the event or serve as desk secretaries and doorpersons.
Festival organizers appreciated the support of staff at the Chatham Baptist Church and Chatham Cultural Centre who welcomed participants and audience and their facilities. Special recognition must be given to the Comfort Inn for donating overnight accommodation for adjudicators.
The committee especially thanks all Chatham-Kent media, including The Chatham Daily News, for providing ongoing media coverage and announcements as well as posting results on its website. Publication of the entire Music Festival schedule in the Chatham Daily News, supported by community sponsors, was much appreciated.
Special thanks is extended particularly to TVCOGECO for videotaping the Grand Concert for airing on Cable 11.
It would not be possible to organize the festival without the support of so many in the community. The festival committee welcomes new volunteers to join the festival organizing team.
Chuck Scott, festival committee chair,
John Keech, publicity chair,
Chatham Kiwanis Music Festival Committee
