The mission statement is to provide an opportunity for talented young people to display their abilities in a friendly, competitive environment in the areas of Speech, Vocal and Piano and to receive professional assessment and encouragement.
We would like to thank the members of the Executive Committee and all volunteers and helpers to the Festival.
Committee Members President: William Sengotta Vice President: Sunny Byun Secretary: Brian Wu Treasurer: Lawrence Wang Piano Coordinator: Ely Chan Speech Coordinator: Einar Wong Administration Manager: Yuko Ozawa
Membership
Our membership is made up of of individuals who support the Arts. Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a member of the CDMF Performing Arts Festival Society.
History of CDMF The CDMF was started in 1953 on the suggestion of Beryl MacLeod (Founder). At that time the students were participating in the Kiwanis Festival in Vancouver. The parents, children and teachers were weary of driving or taking the train all the way into the city and back, often returning late at night. Beryl suggested, ”Let’s put Port Coquitlam on the map and start our own festival”. Beryl was a music teacher (piano and vocal) who ran a small music store, first on Kingsway in Port Coquitlam and then in a bigger premises on Shaughnessy Street near the old Batty Shoe Store (which in those days was a grocery store). Velma Manion was one of five music teachers who worked in Beryl’s store selling sheet music and other musical items. They, along with several other enthusiastic volunteers, organized the very first CDMF festival.
Many of the local merchants got involved to support the festival. Events took place in school gymnasiums, church halls, the Masonic hall, the Elks hall, the movie theatre (which is now Giggle Dam), Golden Ears Hotel – whatever space was available. In the beginning only piano and vocal competitions were held. Speech Arts was added later and as time went on, dance as well. Two local ladies, Velma Manion (Honorary President) and Vivienne Bennie (who is now working with Pac West) were original founders and have continued to motivate and encourage the CDMF all these years.
As the festival grew, with many more participants and all disciplines, it became necessary to move from Port Coquitlam to Shadbolt Theatre in Burnaby and even the Massey Theatre in New Westminster was used for the large dance groups. Only Speech Arts has remained in Port Coquitlam throughout. More recently Vocal was brought back to Port Coquitlam leaving both Dance and Piano in Burnaby.
In 2005, the board serving at that time, voted to take a sabbatical – that was the last year for Dance. Piano made the decision to close for just one year. Speech Arts and Vocal chose to continue on without a break.