Monday, March 9, 2009

20th Annual Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival
















The numbers are in! Under the direction of Hayley Winslow, in her first year as program organizer, the 20th annual Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival - held this year at five venues over ten February days - received more than 500 entries from as far north as Circleville and as far south as Mesquite for a total of 5000 participants, including 283 beginning, intermediate and advanced pianists and dozens of bands and orchestras.

The event also brought 15 highly qualified adjudicators from throughout the western U. S. to offer their support; and, awarded more than $5000 in prize money to dozens of outstanding musicians and dancers. Scholarship contributors totaled 25 businesses and organizations with in-kind support from many others, including the Courtyard by Marriott, AlphaGraphics, TCS Advertising, Five County Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), The Piano Gallery, Washington County School District and the Dixie College Music Department.

Thanks to the outstanding efforts of the SUPAF Committee, including Hayley and Michael Winslow, Wayne Everett, Ryan Robison, Neal Smith, Kathy Martin, Vasu Mudliar, and members of the St. George Exchange Club. Special thanks is also extended to Stacie Bowden who directed SUPAF for ten years.

SUPAF began in 1988, and although it remains "a best kept secret" after more than two decades, the best number of all is an estimated 50,000 participants - many who have been involved over several years - in this festival, considered "unique in all of Utah."

- LINDA SAPPINGTON