2026 awards

2026 award and scholarship recipients.

The Vernon Performing Arts Festival recognized these performers at the 2026 Gala Awards Night on March 12 at Trinity United Church. Each award was funded by a community sponsor or donor. Thank you to everyone who made these awards possible.

Piano

Pre-1 William Wang Sponsored by Nixon Wenger LLP
Level 1 Everett Riguedell Sponsored by Nixon Wenger LLP
Level 2 Aurora Hodgkinson Sponsored by Vernon Community Singers
Level 3 Mila Hayduk Sponsored by Vernon Community Singers
Level 4 Amelia Derochie Sponsored by Vernon Community Singers
Level 5 Emma Visscher Sponsored by Marilyn Brodie
Level 6 Anatole Styles Sponsored by Sunderland Dental
Level 7 Anna-Maria Zebroff Sponsored by Sunderland Dental
Level 9 Jonatha Lu Sponsored by Sunderland Dental

Strings

Level 1 Rowan Scott Sponsored by VPAF
Level 2 Kyrie Reyes Sponsored by Sunderland Dental
Level 3 Christine Saah Sponsored by Sunderland Dental
Level 4 Maybritt Erikson Sponsored by Sunderland Dental
Level 6 Maya Swerdelian Sponsored by VPAF
Level 9 Hugh Weathermon Sponsored by Sunderland Dental
Level 10 Claire Weathermon Sponsored by VPAF
ARCT Autumn Sunderland Sponsored by VPAF

Voice

Junior A Classical Sponsored by Angelkeys Music Studio
Junior A Musical Theatre Sponsored by Angelkeys Music Studio
Junior B Classical McKinley Philps Sponsored by Vernon Community Singers
Junior B Musical Theatre Marley Herfst and Myla Goshulak Sponsored by Vernon Community Singers
Intermediate Classical Makenna Boucher Sponsored by Vernon Community Singers
Intermediate Musical Theatre Jocelyn Moore Sponsored by Vernon Community Singers
Choir Highpoint Coldstream Elementary Choir Sponsored by VPAF

Dance

Junior Classical Isla Pollard Sponsored by Nixon Wenger LLP
Intermediate Classical Ida Kaminski Sponsored by VPAF
Senior Classical Nieve McKelvie Sponsored by Gail Hawke
Junior Modern Mila McMillan Sponsored by VPAF
Intermediate Modern Izzy-Rae Sponsored by Nixon Wenger LLP
Senior Modern Xyla Wilkinson Sponsored by Gail Hawke
Junior Stage Merida Richardson Sponsored by VPAF
Intermediate Stage Garret Shadick Sponsored by Nixon Wenger LLP
Senior Stage Nieve McKelvie Sponsored by VPAF
Highest Marks Classical Izzy-Rae Smith Sponsored by Nicole and Mitch McMillan
Highest Marks Modern Charlotte Lamb Sponsored by Gail Hawke
Highest Marks Stage Xyla Wilkinson Sponsored by Nicole and Mitch McMillan
Most Promising Junior Taylor Eyles Sponsored by Nixon Wenger LLP
Most Promising Intermediate Rhys Gennings Sponsored by Nixon Wenger LLP
Most Promising Senior Kendra Crosman Sponsored by Nixon Wenger LLP

Dance workshop scholarships

Sol Convention Mini 25% off Finley Stober Sponsored by Jade DeLaronde
Sol Convention Mini 50% off Brooklyn Kassam Sponsored by Jade DeLaronde
Sol Convention Junior 25% off Merida Richardson Sponsored by Jade DeLaronde
Sol Convention Junior 50% off Peyton Brunton Sponsored by Jade DeLaronde
Sol Convention Intermediate 25% off Claire Kwantes Sponsored by Jade DeLaronde
Sol Convention Intermediate 50% off Avery Wish Sponsored by Jade DeLaronde
Sol Convention Senior 25% off Paige Hughes Sponsored by Jade DeLaronde
Sol Convention Senior 50% off Sophia Sexton Sponsored by Jade DeLaronde
Okanagan Summer Intensive 50% off Garret Shadick Sponsored by Nicole Byfield and Nate Fadear
Okanagan Summer Intensive 50% off Amaya Horton Sponsored by Nicole Byfield and Nate Fadear