Two experienced performers and one new to the national scene will represent the province this weekend

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by Hanne Armstrong
This Week Staff

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Terri Surrette of Riverview and Jeremy Gallant and Jaekwon Chong of Moncton are three of New Brunswick's four competitors at the 37th National Music Festival, held this year in Edmonton, Alberta.

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"This is my fourth time at the National Festival," says Terri, who is in her second year of music performance in violin at Dalhousie University. "I haven't won anything there yet, but I love the experience of playing on that high level and being with other talented Canadian musicians."

Terri has studied the violin for 12 years, starting under Margaret Wood in Moncton and now under Philippe Djokic in Halifax. She recently toured the Maritimes with Anne Murray as part of the star's back-up orchestra. Her goal is to teach some day at the university level.

The National Festival runs Aug. 14-16, with financial prizes being awarded in each of seven categories: piano, strings, voice, woodwinds, brass, guitar and chamber. The Grand Award Concert takes place Saturday night, at which the overall Festival winner is announced.

"I'm excited, and a little nervous too," admits flautist Jaekwan. "I think I'm the youngest of the New Brunswick people going to Edmonton."

Jaekwan is still in high school and this is his first time in the National Festival. He has studied the flute for six years, beginning in South Korea, continuing during his family's two-year residency in Fredericton, and ongoing since moving to Moncton last year.

"Last year the National Music Festival was in Moncton," he recalls, "and my brother participated in it. I was in the audience, and I was thinking, 'I want to go next year'. I have practised hard since then, and I did it. I'm going."

The competition is tough. 59 musicians ranging in age from 13 to 28, from all ten provinces, vie for top honours. These young people have all placed first in their local music festivals, and have been recommended by the adjudicators to go to their provincial festivals where they also had to place first and be recommended by adjudicators for the National Festival.

The process is gruelling, and dedication and talent are required.

"My parents put me in music when I was little," says pianist Jeremy, "and I seemed to have an aptitude for it. They're not sure that music is the best career, but I want to try my hand at a career performing. Then we'll see what happens."

Jeremy has just graduated from Université de Moncton with a major in performance, and is starting his Masters at the University of Ottawa in the fall. This is his second trip to the National Music Festival, and he writes rock songs and plays in a rock band on the side.

The National Music Festival is held in a different province each year, and it gives upcoming classical musicians the opportunity to meet and compete against other elite amateur musicians and to be critiqued by world-renowned adjudicators.

Jeremy aptly sums up the feelings of competitors in this challenging and highly-regarded festival:

"It's scary, because you see so much talent and you wonder, 'do I really deserve to be here?'. It's exciting but very nerve-wracking, but it's a great experience, and you play your best."