Since 1927
This community festival began in 1927 and now runs 3 weeks every April. Now known as Stratford's Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts [KFPA], it is managed by a small part-time staff and over 100 volunteers. We are a registered charity (887047199 RR0001) supported by donations, sponsorships, and participant registration fees and governed by Kiwanians appointed as Trustees by the Kiwanis Club of Stratford.
Kiwanis Club Board
Terry Marklevitz - Past President
David MacLennan - President
Barb Schoch - President Elect
Larry Schoch - Secretary
Gerald Cook - Treasurer
Blair Neely
Pat Stanley
Ivan Buchan
Shannon Burk
Lauren Francis
Bernard Goward
Kiwanis Trustees
Heather Herman - Chair
Barb Schoch - Treasurer
Bernard Goward
Shannon Burk
Pat Stanley
Fundraising Committee 2026
Ivan Buchan
Ron Bailey
Terry Marklevitz
Bernard Goward
Organizing Committee 2027
Barb Schoch - Chair
Jane Killer - Venue Manager
Larry Schoch - Trophy Manager
Wilf Smyth - Door Ambassador Organizer
Jane Westmorland - Awards Manager
Ivan Buchan - Sign Manager
Executive Director - Pat McKinna (she/her)
Sessions Coordinator - Deb Mountain
Website/Registration - Andrew Rivett, Ciniki.com
Milestones
1927 - Music teachers, led by WB Rothwell, organized the Stratford Music Festival featuring competitions in voice, piano, strings and school choirs.
1941 - The festival, now grown in size and popularity, was one of the few in Canada to remain in operation through the war years.
1952 - Volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Stratford assumed responsibility for Festival administration.
1967 - The "Kiwanis Music Festival of Stratford" was granted Charitable Status.
1980 - The music festival expanded its syllabus to include competitions in dance, guitar, jazz, and rock and roll bands.
2008 - The festival was renamed "Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts".
2020 - The festival was cancelled for the first time since 1927 due to COVID pandemic.
2021 - This venerable event showed its resilience by going online!
2023 -- The festival returned to offering live classes along with the virtual option
Today, our festival operates as an independent charity, administered by Executive Director Pat McKinna, managed by a volunteer Organizing Committee headed by Kiwanis Trustees, and generously supported by the local business community and individual donors. Won't you join that family??