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saturday sept 13 2003 23 economist sun suntribune diversions come by roy green staff writer next weekend is your chance to see which of 31 talented performers from across york region will qualify for 10 1500 celebration of the arts bursaries offered by the york region newspaper group all summer performers have been competing in 10 categories including vocalists instrumentalists dancers and actors to compete in this final show which starts at 8 pm at the newmarket theatre among the prizes up for grabs are four hours of recording time at cedar valley studios and a karaoke machine but the big prizes are the bursaries and the chance to perform at a gala at the markham theatre in october its the third year the newspaper group has hosted the celebration of the arts gala concert and appreciation night for its clients but its the first time bursary recipients have been selected in front of a live audience its also the first time performers have competed in the dramatic mono logue category im not much of a singer dancer or instrumentalist but the judges liked what i did when i read a scene from the search for signs of intelligent life in the universe newmarket high stu dent sheena clowater said the 17yearold has acting credits with area theatre companies spotlight theatre elite productions and marquee productions and hopes to have a career in theatre preferably on stage she said for richmond hills amber minchella who is in the dance compe tition saturdays finals provide a chance to perform in front of an audi ence winnings not everything i just want to perform said the 13yearold a student at beverly acres public school it was also great to meet the other dancers in my group they were all extremely good asked to describe her performance piece she said its a kind of jazz piece by prince its easyflowing classy with attitude speaking of attitude auroras david pilkey confesses he auditioned for the celebration of the arts for an unusual reason i was attending a show at newmarket theatre and noticed the beautiful grand piano there and i thought it really would be fun to be sit ting on that stool said mr pilkey a teacher with the regions public school board hell be singing and accompanying himself on the piano in the pop vocal category he has been singing usually as a duo with his wife at weddings and clubs but is looking forward to his solo of bring him home from les miserables the chance to perform solo is also the main thing for matthew golem a viola player from newmarket who has just completed a summer tour with the national youth orchestra i love playing in public said the music student at the university of western ontario winning a 1500 bursary would really help with my tuition but im really looking forward to playing for a public that doesnt get to hear viola a lot thats a little more special unionvilles ashley wong decided to audition for the program at the urging of a friend shes a singer and asked me to audition with her said ms wong 13 who attends unionville high school she made it to the semifinals she will perform a lyrical dance to a natalie merchant song my skin the idea is to express the music showing the emotions ms wong said she also hopes to dance profession ally perhaps in music videos i shot a movie the other day its called all i want to do is dance and it will be on tv in october the theatre is on mulock drive between leslie street and bayview avenue in newmarket tickets are 8 and available at the box office monday to friday from 1 to 530 pm saturday from noon to 4 pm or from the 24hour ticket hotline at 905- 9535122 all major credit cards are accepted earts staff photosjoerd witteveen ashley wong of unionville is one of the finalists in the celebration of the arts the finalists hilda ahchong unionville vocal ryan baker newmarket vocal taylor bomeman newmarket dance laura bowes queensville violin holly charboneau mount albert vocal sheena clowater newmarket monologue matthew golem newmarket viola jamie howard richmond hill dance irene hie newmarket vocal megan kingsbury and amanda bell newmarket vocal duet nastassia leheniuk holland landing violin devon miller aurora vocal amber minchella richmond hill dance katie murphy newmarket vocal anita nittoli richmond hill dance sarah parkin newmarket vocal geoff perry schomberg vocal david pilkey aurora vocal steve polonl woodbridge guitar amy sanders gormley harp samantha taylor holland landing vocal matthew tishlerthomhill vocal nicole tishler thomhill vocal samara tong newmarket dance gena vanoosten newmarket vocal karine white newmarket vocal stephanie wilson newmarket vocal ashley wong unionville dance james zhang markham flute join mayor don cousens fonan exciting evening of delicious food with wines conidlirn ntiiigeach course and music with pger abbott otroyal canadian air farwas our master of ceremonies 9500 per person supporting the arts and culture in our community today will enrich the lives of our youth tomorrow mayors dinner for the arts call 905305show 7469 to reserve your seats today corpbrate tables are alsoavailable ror information contact lesley dominico f a905r94648072 eveninof october 17 2003 angus glen golf course 10080 kennedy road ctymaikham