The 65th Kiwanis Music Festival will soon be upon us. As we continue with our full face to face music festival, we continue to bring what we have learned from past festivals. As well, we continue to host the annual Rose Bowl competition and the Young-Ja Park Memorial Piano Competition.

We continue to seek feedback from the music educators across the London Music Community who teach in various settings. We continue to gather valuable information as we strive to enrich the experiences for each of the participants. We thank you for your feedback. One major change this year is our website and look forward to feedback once processes are completed and learning curves decline.

We are fortunate to have a volunteer group who dedicate their time and their areas of expertise. In terms of the Board of Directors, we have added new members who bring additional expertise in key areas. Do visit the link and join me in welcoming each of them (Ali Battersby, Megan Clements, Dan Luong, and Mary McGuinness). In addition to members of the Board, we have an active pool of festival-based volunteers who support administratively and manage and work the halls. Their dedication is critical to the success of the festival, which is one of the larger ones provincially and nationally. We continue to seek new members who will work with us as we think strategically about each of our roles within today's context.

We continue to strive for and maintain a balanced budget, and in response to that responsibility we thank our current sponsors and advertisers, and welcome new ones. We continue to seek new awards to support students' music education and thank those who offer one-time awards and have established endowed ones. We regularly receive thank you cards from the various awardees who express their deep appreciation for such support.

We are looking forward to your participation in the upcoming 65th Festival, whether it is as a performer, an audience member, and/or a volunteer. Do reach out to me about ideas, concerns, opportunities, and challenges.

Betty Anne Younker, Chair, Board of Directors
bettyanneyounker@gmail.com