Calling all audience members and performers of the past, present and future - anyone interested in theatre, opera, dance, comedy and drama are invited to help plan this year's Howe Sound Performing Arts Association events.
The Howe Sound Performing Arts Association (HSPAA) is a vibrant and dedicated non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers to promote, assist and develop all forms of performing arts activity in the community.
This year the organization aims to branch out to the broader community, and is inviting members and all local arts enthusiasts to have their say about the future of the performing arts scene in Squamish.
On Nov. 20 the HSPAA is hosting a community engagement session in conjunction with its brief annual general meeting (AGM).
"We will be hosting lively discussions in a fun atmosphere to further the vision and growth of Squamish's performing arts scene," said HSPAA chair Veronica McPhee.
"We thought this year instead of just doing a standard AGM we'd try to encourage people from lots of different facets of the community to come and give their opinions on where they want HSPAA to grow and develop."
Over the years the HSPAA has been devoted to bringing professional quality performers to Squamish - comedians, world-class pianists, string quartets, brass groups, dance groups and other genres.
"Traditionally we try to bring professional performers into town on a regular basis," said McPhee. "That way people don't need to go to the city to get that quality of entertainment."
HSPAA is also dedicated to the up-and-coming young professionals living in Squamish.
Each year HSPAA organizes the Howe Sound Music Festival for youth in voice, piano and chorale. Students prepare a repertoire, perform and a professional adjudicator gives them feedback following the performance.
They also created Access Music Education (AME) for students in the community needing assistance to finance music lessons and summer music programs. Holding student and teacher concerts throughout the year has generated funds for these bursaries.
"Over the past five years 28 children and youth have received almost $16,000," said HSPAA board member Kristine Miles. "Bursaries are awarded based on the individual's commitment to their studies and financial need."
AME's next fundraising concert is the day after the community input meeting, on Nov. 21 at 3:30 p.m. in the Eagle Eye Theatre, Home Grown Talent will feature music and dancing from local students - many of whom could not have studied music, dance or theatre without AME assistance.
"The audience will be blown away by Squamish's talented youth and leave this fundraiser with a real sense of pride in our community," said Miles.
Miles is also keen to include have some outside perspectives on what HSPAA should focus on this year.
"We're at a point where we're hoping to have some outside input," she said. "We've been a very tight knit group until now and we're looking to reach out to community members as passionate about music as us to see what they think."
McPhee said HSPAA members are open to everyone's suggestions for the betterment of the association as a community asset.
"In order to serve the community better we have to go beyond what our own objectives are," she said. "We need to figure out what the community needs and desires and try to provide that."
The meeting will take place at the Squamish Arts Council building from 9 a.m. to noon and lunch will be provided afterwards.
For questions or to RSVP, email Victoria McPhee at [email protected] by Wednesday (Nov. 17).
