Fatema Riaz performs at the Rotary Music Festival. (Photo Courtesy Ross Lavigne)

By Chris Brown

Rotary Music Festival back to in-person competition

Mar 9, 2022 | 3:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Two years after just sneaking in the festival before the pandemic hit and one year after going virtual, the Rotary Music Festival is back with in-person performances this year.

Executive director Delynne Lorentzen says they are thrilled.

“We did online last year and I think that was kind of a stopgap. It got us through the two years, but I don’t think any of us wanted to do that again. It’s just not the same at all,” she said.

Sisters and speech arts performers Fatema and Zainab Riaz agree.

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“Definitely really happy because you get to see other people perform live and also you know you get more experience because you’re actually in the room,” the 14-year-old says. “I’m a little bit nervous too because you also have an audience this time instead of just recording it so there’s a lot of feelings definitely really strong.”

Zainab, 13, missed the interactivity with her friends and peers last year.

“I see the good points in their presentations and I understand what I should do in my pieces and how that might translate from someone else’s and seeing the feedback that they get is important too because it helps me figure out how I should do mine,” she says.

The sisters say they began working on their performances in September and practice for many hours each week.

About 600 performers ages five to 24 are performing across the city. The festival began this past Sunday and runs until the Stars of the Festival concert on March 20. The Rose Bowl Competition is on March 18.