The Rotary Club of Medicine Hat welcomed the Executive Director of the Rotary Music Festival, Delynne Lorentzen to our meeting today. Delynne has now been the Festival Director for 10 years, and she spoke today about some of the upcoming festival changes and about the value of music education for youth.
Delynne began her presentation with a "pop" quiz, and of course the Medicine Hat Rotary Music Festival was the correct answer for most everything, including being the longest running music festival in the province, now entering our 71st year.
The MH Rotary Music Festival is one of 38 local member festivals of the Alberta Music Festival Association. The competitive aspect of the Festival season culminates in Edmonton in May, with the Provincial Festival. Our participants have always done exceptionally well.
What is more important than the competition is the participation of youth in music. Delynne spoke about the proven mental health and developmental improvements in children who study music. Support for the festival and music programs has a number of great benefits
- Provides opportunities for otherwise marginalized kids.
- Music makes kids smarter.
- Mental health
- Keeps kids out of trouble.
- Supporting Youth in the arts creates successful adults.
Delynne went on to give a number of great examples from our Festival, not just of music excellence but being contributing successful community members.