The 2023 Peace River North Festival wrapped up on Sunday, April 23 with the Best of the Fest Honours Concert, featuring the top performances selected by the adjudicators over a wonderful nine days of music and dance.

Music Awards

Top Vocal Performer:  Kennedy Holtman

Adjudicators awards, Strings

• Junior – Daniela Telescu
• Senior – Renaldy Zaldy

Adjudicator’s Awards, Piano

• Junior – Rita Choi
• Intermediate – Quinelle Pereira
• Senior – Simon Jones
• Rhonda Scott Memorial Award for love of Music in piano:  Abby Wuthrich

Dance Awards

Adjudicator’s Award: Ella Brooks
Dance Excellence 13 & over: Sophie Soderberg
Runner-up: Abby Taylor
Dance Excellence 12 & under: Macey Bates
Runner-up: Temperance Milne
Most Promising Dancer 13 & over: Maddie Alexander
Most Promising Dancer 12 & under: Sophie Tang
Love of Dance: Sebastian Kaban
Light up the Stage: Portlynn Bates
Most Entertaining Group: Geronimo by Studio 2 Stage Dance Academy
Most Entertaining Solo or Duo: Abby Taylor & Abby Baker
Top Overall Group Dance: Brand New – Studio 2 Stage Dance Academy
Northern Institute of Dance Summer Intensive Scholarships
Senior: Brielle Beard
Junior: Sophie Tang
Northern Dance Theatre Society Summer School Scholarships
Hannah Swanson & Eden Litnosky
Be Discovered Scholarships: Sylvie Swanson & Addyson Soderberg
Adjudicator Shout-outs: Ayla Hedican, Alexis Mackenzie, Hailey McLain, Decklynne Miedema, Zoey Mytron

Provincials
Choir: Alleluia Children’s Choir
Vocal Merited Participant: Kennedy Holtmann
Strings:
Merited Participants: Ella Knoppers
Junior A Strings: Olivia Bullert
Intermediate Strings: Renaldy Zaldy

Piano Merited Participants: Simon Jones, Abby Wuthrich, Naysa Boyd, Ranita Luo, Kevin Nguyen

Dance:
Ballet I: Macey Bates
Alternate: Mataya Howells
Ballet II: Emily Peters
Alternate: Kenlee White
Ballet III: Sophie Soderberg
Stage I: Carissa Zaldy
Alternate: Temperance Milne
Stage II: Rylea Krezanoski
Stage II: Julia Bennett
Alternates: Brielle Beard, Maddie Alexander
Stage III: Abby Taylor
Stage III: Tara Carnell
Modern II: Addyson Soderberg
Alternate: Maddy Alexander
Modern III: Ella Brooks

Provincial Selections – Group Dances

The Journey: Ballet – Alchemy Dance Collective
Classical Crossover: Ballet – Alchemy Dance Collective
I Will Always Love You: Lyrical – Studio 2 Stage Dance Academy
New York New York: Contemporary – Alchemy Dance Collective
Hung Up: Jazz – Alchemy Dance Collective
Drake: Hip Hop – Alchemy Dance Collective
Sun Will Rise: Tap – Studio 2 Stage Dance Academy
March of the Executives: Theatrical Dance – Studio 2 Stage Dance Academy