The venerable Cowichan Music Festival for 2021 has been cancelled.
The announcement was made earlier this month on the Music Festival Facebook page and website, and is due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is with much regret we have to announce that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Provincial Health Office’s extension of the provincial wide restrictions the Cowichan Music Festival for 2021 has been cancelled,” the notice read.
The festival had already been limited to solo performances only for 2021, which eliminated choirs and dance groups that regularly make up a significant number of entries. The festival normally takes place in February and March.
“We wish to thank all the teachers, studios and performers for all the hard work that has already gone into the preparation of the pieces for this year’s festival,” the cancellation notice continued. “This was a very difficult decision for our Society to make. However, we do not wish to put anyone’s health in jeopardy.”
The Festival said that anyone who qualified to go to the Performing Arts BC Festival last year remains eligible to go to the festival scheduled for June in Cranbrook, as last year’s event was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Cowichan Music Festival is a qualifying competition for the provincial event.
“We look forward to good health for all and a Festival in 2022!” the notice concluded.