"Family Treasures" at Avondale Church

Our 2023 benefit is paying tribute to 'family' which is such an important aspect of this 96-year-old event! Our co-hosts are Stratford-born soprano BARBARA COLLIER who made her debut in this festival at the age of 10 and went on to an international singing career enjoying success in North America and Europe, and emerging artist and 2022 KFAF winner SAL THOMPSON who just made his debut with Drayton Entertainment as Friedrich in their 2022 production of "The Sound of Music". Both Barbara and Sal are alumni of the Stratford Kiwanis Festival.

Enjoy performances by these 2023 adjudicators and artists:

MARK CASSIUS, who will adjudicate both Musical Theatre and Popular Voice, is a versatile performer who has appeared at both Stratford and Shaw Festivals as well as on Broadway, and is perhaps best known for the eight years he toured internationally with the a capella group "The Nylons"

ANGELA PARK, who will adjudicate Intermediate and Senior Piano, is a Juno-Award-winning pianist currently on the board of Stratford Summer Music and slated to perform Messaien's Quartet "For the End of Time" in their 2023 summer season alongside fellow Juno winners Mark Fewer, James Campbell, and Thomas Wiebe.

JAMES WESTMAN, who will adjudicate Classical Voice, is an alumnus of this Kiwanis Festival which led to the great opportunity to perform Mahler's Fourth Symphony with the great Leonard Bernstein at age twelve. He went on to an international singing career, placing first in all international competitions in which he has participated.

ROD BEATTIE is a veteran actor distinguished by his many seasons with the Stratford Festival, and beloved for the Wingfield series of shows. For this concert, Rod is sharing his (non-professional) talents as a singer!

BREANNA & NATHANIEL KWOK are a sister-and-brother duo who enjoy playing piano duets. They will entertain us with a couple of their favourite polkas - and the audience will have a chance to dance!

CONNOR LU is the 2022 winner of the Kiwanis Festival Audience Favourite [KFAF] Award in Category 1 (ages 9 & under). This concert will be Connor's debut performing piano for a concert audience.

ARIANNA RIEDL is the 2022 winner of the Kiwanis Festival Audience Favourite [KFAF] Award in Category 4 (ages 16-19). Arianna is a vocal major currently attending Wilfrid Laurier U in Waterloo.

MARIA SOULIS has recently re-located to Stratford from Toronto. According to Paula Citron from CFMX Toronto, her "beautiful, deep mezzo soprano, almost a contralto, absolutely stole the show. Beautiful presence, fabulous voice" We welcome her to Stratford's musical family!