The Finn family dominance at the Kiwanis Club of Carbonear Regional Music Festival continued this year, with Natalie Finn winning the coveted Senior Rose Bowl Thursday night (March 29) during the third and final grand concert of the 42nd edition of the festival.
It’s become a familiar storyline in recent years as the four Finn siblings — Karla, Aaron, Natalie and Anna — have all earned distinction at the festival.
Since 2009, the Finn foursome has claimed five Rose Bowls — three senior and two junior. Their parents are Edward Finn and Regina Becker. They reside in Carbonear.
Natalie (instrumental) and Anna (piano) were two of the three finalists for this year’s Senior Rose Bowl, along with Matthew Feener of St. John’s.
But when the top award was handed out Thursday night, it was Natalie who “rose” to the top. The 16-year-old violin player was also recommended by the adjudicators to compete at the provincial music festival next month in Clarenville.
At the 2011 festival, Natalie claimed the Junior Rose Bowl, while Aaron (instrumental) took home the Senior Rose Bowl.
Aaron, who plays classical guitar, was ineligible to compete for the Senior Rose Bowl this year, but still managed to score the highest mark — 95 per cent — during the competition.
Meanwhile, Karla Finn, who won the Senior Rose Bowl in 2009, is now in her second year of university.
It marked the conclusion of what organizers are describing as a hugely successful festival, which attracted some 2,200 participants and saw the awarding of some $9,000 in prizes.
“It was a wonderful two weeks,” said Kiwanis Club president Judy Symonds.
Other major awards winners included Antonia Whelan (Junior Rose Bowl), Crescent Collegiate Concert Band (Instrumental Rose Bowl), and Carbonear Collegiate (Choral Rose Bowl).
For complete coverage of the festival, including stories, photos and a full list of award winners, see the April 3 print edition of The Compass.
