Voice teacher and co-director of Quesnel Festival of the Performing Arts of vocal and choral discipline Cathy Heinzelman said the QFPA adjudicators offer students exactly what they need to hear.
“They are just at the right age to take the information they receive and use it for the rest of their life,” Heinzelman said.
International professional singer Katherine van Kampen not only assessed the skills of entrants in the QFPA, but she also provided workshops to help students improve their singing abilities.
“I see my role as encouraging young talent,” she said.
“My job is to light the spark and make them believe in the dream, give them permission to dream bigger and higher, to really go for it.
“It’s my privilege to do that.”
This year, the QFPA welcomed several choirs to the festival and due to the number of students involved, van Kampen travelled to the venues rather than bringing all the students to one location.
Heinzelman was pleased with the number of school choir involved and says her co-director role allows her to encourage and expand the choral discipline.
Last Friday, individual students in the vocal section spent one-on-one time with the adjudicator and one student Sophia Traber appreciated the depth of the workshop coaching.
“What a voice she has,” Traber said.
“You hear her and want to reach that level.”
Traber admitted she felt slightly off during her performance and was glad van Kampen pushed her beyond the level she was singing.
As a student of Heinzelman, Traber said they work on all the techniques the adjudicator explored with her, but loved how much detail van Kampen brought to the workshop.
Heinzelman has been teaching voice for about 14 years and loves teaching the students new songs and watching them develop their talent.
She said during the time her own children were taking singing lessons, she found herself driving long distances for lessons after local teachers moved away and realized voice teachers were needed in Quesnel.
“The children’s teacher encouraged me to go for my teaching accreditation,” she said.
One of many concerns as she embarked on was, although an accomplished pianist, Heinzelman worried she couldn’t play fast enough to accompany her students.
“Not being able to play piano fast enough has allowed for the inclusion of many different accompanists and that has enriched the students’ experience,” she said.
“Singers need to take ownership of their music and learn to give clear direction to the accompanist. The students need to be the driver.”
Many of Heinzelman’s students are currently preparing for exams and she makes sure they’re as ready as possible.
“They need to have performed their pieces before festival adjudication and combined with the festival experience, that will be part of their exam prep.
“With this type of adjudication, it really helps the students understand and better perform during exams.”
She added with a professional adjudicator, it’s a reassurance they are working on the right repertoire and that she’s not pushing students too far. In fact, she may be considered a little soft.
Heinzelman is no stranger to studying and improving her own voice skills.
“With the continued support of family and friends I’m ready to complete my associate degree in Conservatory Canada which is the accreditation I’ve been working towards for 15 years.”
With festival now complete, several local students in dance, vocal, piano, speech and dramatic arts were selected by adjudicators to compete in the provincial festival at the end of May.