Claire Seibold recognized for lifetime of Music Festival service

By David McIver

The annual carol festival, held on Monday, Dec. 1, at Rosetown United Church, supplied the opportunity to recognize long-standing music festival volunteer Claire Seibold.

Seibold, also a long-time music teacher here and currently president of the Rosetown Music Festival Association, was recently presented with the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association (SMFA) volunteer award at the association conference in Saskatoon.

At the Dec. 1 carol festival, Claire Seibold (R) was recognized for her years of volunteering for the Rosetown Music Festival Association. M.C. Debbie McCulloch gives a citation before Felice Mourre (C) makes a presentation. Photo by Lesley Carlson

Isabelle Sparks sings O Holy Night at the carol festival on Dec. 1. Sparks won the most promising vocalist award at the music festival here in March. Photo by David McIver

The Walter Aseltine School Choir opened the carol festival at Rosetown United Church last Monday, Dec. 1, including Briella Martinson-Bell (front, R), Laurel Kahovec, Ava Jedlicka, Blayke Wagar, Ella Mann, Lux Deibert, Liv Dobson and Isabella Gavin; (middle, R) Deniah Falcon, Kira Pfleging, Isabella Dram, Ingrid Nichols, Iola Cormack, Lilah Carlson; (back, R) Leane Pretorius, Erika Fehr, Ethan Gabriel, Marissa Johnson and Brooke Peters. Photo by David McIver

The carol festival featured performances by three of the four most promising performers from the music festival in March.

Kensie Cowan, most promising instrumentalist, played Gesu Bambino by Pietro A. Yon on the violin.

Madison Rawson, most promising speech arts performer, recited Happy Birthday by Jim Lake. Rawson, who loves dancing, music and being in front of a crowd, “is anxiously waiting until she turns 18, so she can start auditioning for Disney in any role that she is able to land,” said M.C. Debbie McCulloch in introducing her.

“Some want to turn 18 so they can go to Alberta and get into the bar. That’s a really admirable goal, Madison,” said McCulloch.

Isabelle Sparks, most promising vocalist, sang O Holy Night.

Levin Wiebe, most promising pianist, was unable to attend due to university exams.

Selections by Walter Aseltine School Choir, the ad hoc Rosetown Alliance Men’s Choir, the Rosetown Senior Choral Group, St. Theresa’s Roman Catholic Church Choir, the Rosetown United Church Choir, and community singing of carols and hymns rounded out the program.

Seibold has been a member of the Rosetown festival association since 1982.

“The Rosetown festival has the wonderful reputation of maintaining high standards and professionalism, and Claire has certainly played a huge role in making that a reality,” said the carol festival M.C., Debbie McCulloch.

“She has an intangible enthusiasm for music and an unwavering passion for the Rosetown festival. There is no job too big or too small that Claire is not willing to do, to promote, organize and oversee this most successful festival.”

She has “also contributed her expertise to the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association at the provincial level, volunteering her time as a board member,” said McCulloch.

Seibold, who has taught piano for more than 40 years, is “also a sought-after adjudicator and has adjudicated at numerous festivals across Saskatchewan,” she said.

At the same conference at which she won the volunteer award, Seibold was also awarded the adjudicator excellence award by the SMFA.

“So I’m so proud of my dear friend,” said McCulloch in closing, before a presentation of flowers by fellow volunteer Felice Mourre.

McCulloch quizzed the audience about a certain member of the United Church Choir. Growing up in a family of 12 children might be part of why she has “this wonderfully distinct laugh and loves to share conversations with others wherever she goes,” she said, adding that she wasn’t going to give away her identity, since many in the audience seemed to know the answer (Lucille Nisbet).

McCulloch also had a few comments on some Christmas music.

Besides The Little Drummer Boy being a noisy neighbour to those next door in the stable, she wondered about The Twelve Days of Christmas: “If my true love gave me all those birds, I don’t think he had my love language . . . I would just say, ‘Give me those five golden rings.’ ”