The 2025 Southeastern Manitoba Festival ended with a spectacular finale on Wednesday, March 26, at the SRSS Theatre in Steinbach.
The SEMF Gala returned after a five-year hiatus to celebrate local talent and showcase award-winning performances in various categories, including vocal, strings, piano, and musical theatre.
Kimberly Dyck, the coordinator of this year’s festival and Gala, was thrilled with the event’s success.
“It went really well. It went really smoothly, and I am so proud of all the performers. They did such a great job this evening and really put on such a wonderful concert,” Dyck said, reflecting on the gala’s success.
The audience at Wednesday evening's performance seemed to agree, with many praising the show for its high energy and the talent displayed.
“I think they really enjoyed the show and had a great time enjoying all the wonderful music that the young people in our community are putting together,” Dyck added.
After the long wait of being able to host an SEMF Gala, Dyck expressed how satisfying it was to see everything come together.
“It feels really good. As a committee, it was really important to us to bring back the Gala. I think all of us are just really pleased that we were able to do it and that it went really well. It's been a good night,” she said.
The festival, which featured a variety of performances across multiple dates, starting from vocal performances on February 18 to March 20, culminated in the much-anticipated Gala, showcasing the best of local talent.
Dyck and the organizing committee couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome, and it’s clear from the energy in the room that the Southeastern Manitoba Festival was a hit.
Excerpts of the Gala night performances can be heard on AM1250 Radio on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 2 p.m.
2025 SEMF Trophy and Award winners who performed at the Gala:
Layla Doerksen - winner of the Heier Designs Florist Trophy for Musical Theatre Solo - 14 years and under
Chrysshell Quives - winner of the Dr. Paul Peters Trophy for Vocal Solo - 16 years and under
Jesse Loeppky - winner of the Lillian Toews Trophy for Strings Solo - Grades 3 - 6
Elise and Wells Penner - winners of the Chez Koop Trophy for Musical Theatre Ensemble - 14 years and under
Hugo Wiebe - winner of the Elsie Harms Memorial Trophy for piano solo - Grades 9 & 10
April Warkentin and Sarah Plett - winners of the SMMTA Trophy for Piano Ensemble - Grades 1 - 4
Kayla Doerksen - winner of the Iris Dirks Memorial Trophy for Piano Solo - Grade 3
Journey Janzen - winner of the Smith Neufeld Jodoin Trophy for Vocal Solo - 12 years and under
Alarie Loeppky - winner of the Three Way Builders Trophy for Musical Theatre Solo - 12 years and under
Angele Fouasse - winner of the Marie Reimer Memorial Trophy for Musical Theatre Solo - 16 years and under
Lucille Theuerer - winner of the Dr Dennis Giesbrecht Trophy for Piano Solo - Grades 7 & 8
Timothy Bergen, Kangwoo and Hyunwoo Lee - winners of the Manitoba Hydro Trophy for Piano Ensemble - Grades 5 & 6
Hadassah Duerksen - winner of the Southeastern Manitoba Trophy for Piano Solo - Grade 1 & 2
Petra Wiebe - winner of the Judy Doerksen Trophy for Piano Solo - Grade 5
Chrysshell and Chloelynn Quives - winners of the Barkman Concrete Trophy for Musical Theatre Ensemble - 15 years and under
Benjamin Hiebert - winner of the AM1250 Radio Trophy for Vocal Solo - 18 years and under
Hannah Janke - winner of the Loewen Body Shop Trophy for Strings Solo - Grade 7 - Honours
Kaila Hildebrand - winner of the Loewen Windows Trophy for Vocal Solo - 14 years and under
Timothy Bergen - winner of the Glenn Loewen Trophy for Piano Solo - Grade 6
Alice Ruth P. Yonzon - winner of the Brian Kliewer Family Memorial Trophy for Piano solo - Grade 4
William Theuerer - winner of the Dr. Karl Hugo Krueger Trophy for Piano Solo - Diploma & Honours
Bella Bergen and Aileen Teichrib - winners of the Maureen Aubry Trophy for Piano Ensembler - Grades 7 to Honours
Reese Morales and Victoria Penner - winners of the Kelvin Goertzen Trophy for Vocal Ensemble - 12 years and over (were not present at the Gala to receive their trophy)
*The gallery below features the Trophy Winners with the Trophy Sponsor representative