The inaugural Wendy Guimont Memorial Piano Competition took place on Friday, May 2, at First Baptist Church in Cranbrook. Seven students from Cranbrook, Creston and Fort Steele presented a rich variety of music from Classical (Haydn, Clementi) to French (Debussy), Romantic (Chopin, Liszt) and Canadian (Alexina Louie, Mary Gardiner).
Wendy Guimont was for 40 years a major figure in music and music education. Celebrated as pianist and teacher, she performed with Sun Valley Song and the Symphony of the Kootenays. She taught well over 2,000 students in lessons and classes, and developed Canada’s famed Music for Young Children program throughout B.C., into Alberta and the Yukon, and as far south as Oregon. Soon after retiring to spend time with adored husband Rod and daughters Penny and Gina, she was diagnosed with cancer. Following a gallant family fight, Wendy died in July, 2023.
The East Kootenay Music Teachers’ Association (EKMTA) prepared this competition in partnership with the Guimont family, with donations from the Guimonts and from Wendy’s friends and colleagues. Along with her family, Wendy had seen to the creation of a bursary fund for student support and encouragement. The adjudicator, Dr. Jani Parsons, studied with Wendy decades ago and has a superb reputation in the USA and Canada. Now on faculty at the University of Calgary, she spoke movingly of her musical upbringing in this region and its solid grounding for her later successes.
EKMTA members Cara Webb and Grace Vandermolen had anchored the organizing. Cara, a past student of Wendy, opened the proceedings by welcoming listeners to “… a very special evening celebrating the many talents of our local youth in commemoration of Wendy Guimont. We are here to fulfill Wendy’s vision for continued support of our regional young talents for years to come.” Cara acknowledged the Honoured Guests: Wendy’s mother Betty Rankin, husband Rod, and sister-in-law Laurie. She also thanked Kendall and Lynn Hafermehl of Kootenay Piano Works for providing a new top-line Kawai grand piano, and First Baptist Church for use of its acoustically resonant Sanctuary.
Next, EKMTA President Arne Sahlen told of his long friendship with Wendy. They had met in the mid-1970s at the University of Victoria, as students of the renowned Dr. Robin Wood, before moving independently to Cranbrook and Kimberley – Wendy in 1980, Arne in 1981. Their arrival spurred the uniting of Kimberley and Cranbrook music teachers’ groups into what is now the EKMTA.
The students were Katia Maryniak, Paige Parnell and Cole McCulloch of Cranbrook; Alison Hengen, Riaan Gerber and Rowan Penzer of Creston; and Dallevin Lapaire of Fort Steele. Informal bios were read out before they played. Dr. Parsons paid insightful compliments to all the students for technique, musical insight, and stage deportment. Monetary awards were as follows:
• Runner-up: $100 each to Alison Hengen and Riaan Gerber
• Intermediate Winner, $400: Rowan Penzer
• Senior Winner, $600: Dallevin Lapaire
At the end, member Katharine Nimmert gave roses to the players and thanked acclaimed photographer Brian Clarkson for recorded the evening visually. Brian had asked that Cranbrook Kimberley Hospice Society receive a donation for his services.
The response, including student appreciation, was enthusiastic for this event, which raised student opportunity and challenge to new heights for the EK region. With continued support of the Guimont family, the Wendy Guimont Competition is planned to repeat in two years.
