PREECEVILLE — The Parkland Music Festival Committee met on Jan. 12 at Trinity United in Preeceville to review plans for the festival to be held in Preeceville and Sturgis during the week of April 20 to 26.
A major part of planning the festival involves appointing adjudicators. The Saskatchewan Music Festival Association informed the local Parkland Music Festival of the adjudicators who have been selected.
Cherith Alexander of Weyburn will be the adjudicator for piano and voice on April 20-21, at Trinity United Church in Preeceville.
Information concerning Alexander released by the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association includes the following: Cherith is a “respected piano and music theory teacher in the community for 30 years,” working with students of all ages and levels.
"Cherith is passionate about the value of music festivals and has had the privilege of adjudicating at over fifty festivals throughout Western Canada, including Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Regina and the Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver Kiwanis Festivals.”
Alexander was educated at the University of British Columbia. She completed her ARCT at the age of 15.
“Cherith has been recognized with several honours, including an Adjudicating Excellence Award from the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association, the Outstanding Achievement Award from Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers, and being named an RCM Teacher of Distinction in 2022.
"Cherith and her husband Tim live on their grain farm and enjoy travelling, particularly to visit their young adult children who work and study in Calgary, Waterloo, and Toronto.”
The second adjudicator is Nick Fanner, who will adjudicate instrumental solos, ensembles and bands on April 22-23 in Sturgis.
The Saskatchewan Music Festival Association informed the local Parkland Music Festival Committee that Fanner taught elementary and high school band with the Saskatoon Public School Division for more than 30 years before retiring.
“He currently directs the Saskatoon Youth Jazz Orchestras…as well as two of the five adult bands within the Saskatoon Community Bands organization.”
Other information provided notes that he has also directed several junior and intermediate honour bands in Moose Jaw, Regina Public School and Regina Catholic Schools, among other band experiences. “He continues to be a member of the staff at the Prairielands Jazz Camp in Regina, having only missed two years since 2022.”
Fanner is also a sessional lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan, as well as serving as an instructor at the annual University of Saskatchewan High School Select Jazz program.
He “continues to enjoy ongoing opportunities to engage in workshops in the areas of both jazz and concert bands around the province as well as music festival adjudication in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and the Manitoba Band Association Family of Festivals.”
He is also a member of the trumpet section of the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra. Fanner has been honoured as the recipient of the 2022 SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival Special Recognition Award and the 2019 Saskatchewan Band Association’s Distinguished Band Director Award.
The Parkland Music Festival Committee continues to make plans for the festival in April. The committee is grateful for the many individuals, businesses, community organizations and churches who responded to its canvass, which began in October 2025, for funds for the festival and the scholarships that will be awarded.
The last time the Preeceville–Sturgis branch hosted the festival in 2024, there were more than 100 entries across all categories from Preeceville, Sturgis, Canora, Kamsack, Invermay, Endeavour, Norquay, Stenen and surrounding areas. The committee is hoping for an equally strong level of involvement to highlight and feature the talents and efforts of youth and children in the local Parkland area.
The deadline for entries is Feb. 13.
