Enthusiasm grows as Kingfest Music Celebration draws near
By Bill Rea

Nancy Bodi (middle), executive director of Kingfest, expressed thanks for the $100,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Joining her was Thornhill MPP Mario Racco, Loreta Pavese, chair of the foundation's local grant review team, Markham MPP Tony Wong and Vincent Conville of the foundation's board of directors.

The Kingfest Music Celebration is just a few weeks away and the anticipation is growing, as is the enthusiasm of the organizers.

It will be held in the Performing Arts Centre at Country Day School in King City Friday, Sept. 22 and Saturday, Sept. 23.

Opening night at Kingfest features 11-time Juno award winner, Murray McLauchlan along with Quartette, featuring Sylvia Tyson, Cindy Church, Caitlin Hanford and Gwen Swick. Also performing are harmonica wizard Mike Stevens with bluegrass legend Raymond McLain and popular blues guitarist Joel Krivy.

Saturday night features R and B phenomena jacksoul; two-time Juno award winner singer and songwriter David Francey; bluegrass harmony group Kiximama; and local choir, Voices of Joy.

The enthusiasm was evident last Wednesday at the launch of the festival in Unionville.

King City resident Dr. Joel Krivy and Mary Bennet, also from King and a member of Kiximama, were performing at last Wednesday's event.

"It's just so exciting for King to be part of this

amazing celebration," declared Mayor Margaret Black.

"Imagine sitting on the grass in a beautiful, parklike setting, listening to incredible music," declared Nancy Bodi, executive director of the festival.

This is the second year for the festival. Last year, it had more of a gospel theme, and Bodi said its success "has proven that there is a community need that we're are fulfilling in York Region."

She added the program is going to combine fine local performers with seasoned musicians well-known on the national scene.

Although it's being held in King, it is reaching out to a broader audience, including all of York Region.

John Ryerson, chair of Artslink, the arts council for York, said this is going to be a great opportunity to showcase the cultural heritage of the region, adding this will be a "signature event."

Markham MPP Tony Wong echoed those thoughts. "York Region is an exciting and culturally diverse place," he remarked.

"The Kingfest Music Festival is a unique opportunity to enjoy and celebrate the wealth of talented musicians we have performing right here in York Region," he added. "I

encourage all York Region residents to come and support this festival and hear some first class performers."

The festival received important recognition last month when the Ontario Trillium Foundation awarded Kingfest a $100,000 grant over three years. Loreta Pavase, chair of the Foundation's grant review team, said they were impressed with the potential they saw in this idea for the region. The money will be going toward covering programming and marketing costs for future editions of the festival.

The York Region chapter of Habitat for Humanity is going to be a main beneficiary of the festival.

"It's going to be a wonderful event," declared John Volpe, president of the York chapter. "We're so happy to be part of it."

He added Kingfest is the type of event that must take place before something is done about the housing problem. "You're really playing a great role in this," he told the organizers.

Habitat for Humanity is a huge organization, Volpe said, operating in 100 countries and having built some 200,000 homes to accommodate more than a million people. There have been six homes built by the York chapter, but he stressed that puts a dent in the local housing problem.

Black also pointed to the fact this event is reaching beyond the borders of King.

"I'm indebted to the other mayors in York Region, because they've all been supportive," she remarked.

"There is so much going on culturally in York Region that its residents are not even aware of," she added. "We need a first class event to showcase some of our own successes, and Kingfest celebration will provide that. The response for the event last year and the event scheduled for this September proves there's a big appetite for this kind of entertainment right in our own backyard."

The shows will start at 8 p.m. both nights.

Tickets are $38.50 for general admission each night, and $72 for VIP admission Friday night, which includes priority seating and access to the pre-concert reception.

Tickets for both nights can be purchased directly on-line at www.kingfestmusic.com