Globe's Calista DeSousa winner of Brampton Festival of Singers

Family of Brampton Festival a celebration of the arts
By: By ASHLEY GOODFELLOW, Brampton Guardian

An overwhelming response to a call for young vocalists has left the Brampton Festival Singers (BFS) with a feeling of inspiration.

“To see this amount of young talent in Brampton, to watch some of these performers that are going to go places in the future, is a reason to celebrate,” said BFS member Bonnie Bunkis.

The initial call for singers asked for Brampton vocalists 19 years of age and younger to audition for a vocal competition hosted by the BFS and Brampton Public Library for the first Family of Brampton Festival.

The event, which will feature and all-encompassing showcase of the artistic talent within the city, runs Feb. 26 from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Rose Theatre.

BFS decided to host contests for vocalists and pianists (ages 16 and up), and award the first and second place winners of each contests with a monetary prize ($500 first place, $200 second place) and the opportunity to perform at the event’s concert.

But the number of talented youth coming out to the vocal auditions has caught the BFS off guard, and they have decided to include several of the young singers in the concert, performing from different genres.

“We did these competitions to bring out the talent in Brampton and we were completely ‘wow-ed’,” said Bunkis, noting the first place winner is 11-year-old Calista DeSousa.

The concert, which takes place on the main stage from 4 to 6 p.m., will feature singers, pianists and performances by the BFS. During the performance, the talents of Brampton’s young visual artists will be featured on slides, and each of the choir’s songs will be preceded by a reading featuring the work of young writers.

The visual and literary components of the concert come from the Brampton Public Library’s annual Inspirations competition— a journal that selects the best art work, stories and poems submitted by Brampton students in Grades 1 to 12.

The earlier part of the program, running the Rose Theatre atrium and Studio 2 space from 1-4 p.m., will feature an array of local artisans who will be showing their wares and giving demonstrations. The studio space will run a series of mini-performances, including performers from Jade’s Hip Hop Academy.

Admission to the Artist and Artisan Showcase, 1 to 4 p.m., is free; admission to the concert, 4 to 6 p.m., is $25. Each $25 ticket includes two tickets for children 12 and under.

Tickets are available at the Rose Theatre box office at 905-874-2800 or www.rosetheatre.ca.
For details visit www.bramptonfestivalsingersinc.org.