Notes from the Rotary Meeting 12.30pm Thursday, March 19, 2026.
President Olaf chaired the meeting.
This is the meeting at which the Rotary Music Festival adjudicators usually speak or perform at the Rotary lunch meeting. This year the four adjudicators – Dr. Christine Carter - Brass, Woodwind, Strings, Percussion, Accordion, and Bands, Lori Cooper – Piano, Melanie Jardine – Voice and Dr. Vicki St. Pierre – Musical Theatre and Choral due to flight changes had to leave Corner Brook in the morning. Thus, this year the Corner Brook Festival Board Chair Rotarian Paula Butt spoke to Rotary and read notes from adjudicator Lori Cooper that Lori had intended to give.
Paula began by introducing the Board President - herself, Paula Butt, Vice President – Karen Michael and Past President - Bernd Staeben and the committee members Rotarians Chris Healey, Adam Baker, Janice Spencer, Diana Alteen present at the meeting, and Connie Dolomount unable to attend as well as music teachers attending Alison McHugh, Katie Barrett, Ian Locke, Marcelle Boisjoli meeting and unable to attend Laura Chadderton. Paula thanked the board and committee for all their hard work which had made the festival so successful. She also thanked the Volunteer Coordinator James Dolomount, attending the meeting for organising the volunteer helpers for each session.
This led her into giving special thanks to the Executive Assistant, Sandy Myles for the fantastic and efficient job she always does but particularly this year when the bad weather on the festival’s first day had meant flights were delayed resulting in many classes having to be rescheduled. The Rotary Music Festival 2026 ran so well because of Sandy’s work in organising all the changes that had to be made and ensuring teachers and participants were informed of different times and venues of classes.
The next group that Paula acknowledged and thanked were the adjudicator’s secretaries. Each adjudicator had a secretary that would organise the music and paperwork so the adjudicator could focus fully on each participant’s performance. Three of the four secretaries were at the meeting. They were Katie Healey, secretary to adjudicator Melanie Jardine; Wendy Archambault secretary to adjudicator Lori Cooper; and Ellen Janzen secretary to adjudicator Christine Carter whilst Marylyn Murphy secretary to adjudicator Vicki St. Pierre could not attend the meeting.
Paula continued by reading the thoughts Lori Cooper had intended to give. Lori had written about the importance of a Music Festival in bringing a community together and how children and young people needed opportunity and guidance. A festival helps to give them confidence and goals to achieve. She continued by talking about the Senior and Junior Rose Bowl Concert the previous night and the winner of the Senior Rose Bowl competition Roman Sumin playing accordion. She concluded by saying that children are the future and festivals help show them the beauty of music and the value of making music with others. It gives them a sense of pride which will be important in years to come.
Paula then asked the different teachers present to speak about the Music Festival which they did expressing their different views including the value of music in the public school system, the value of professional development for teachers, the supportive tone of the festival and the pursuit of excellence and not perfection, the value of music, friendships built on a positive experience and the comradery felt in the festival.
Karen congratulated the accompanists on the many hours playing at the festival and before. She spoke of the special needs’ classes and their value and the indigenous classes that have been introduced and are well received. Overall, the week has been fabulous, and thanks go to all the teachers, participants, volunteers and supporters of the festival.
President Olaf ended the meeting by giving a final thanks to Paula whose hard and well organised work, and dignified presence has helped the festival be highly respected and successful with the hope she would continue being President of the Corner Brook Music Festival Board.
The meeting them adjourned.