The Cochrane Rotary Youth Talent Festival is making a comeback for 2022, and registration is now open.

The festival was first launched back in 1989 and it has been a community staple highlighting Cochrane's homegrown talented youth for over 30 years.

After sitting a year out, due to COVID-19, longtime Rotary member and Festival Chair, Cyndie Baum is thrilled for this year's return.

"It's an amazing festival! -- It's an amazing showcase of Cochrane and area's young people," says Baum. "I think what I've heard the most is that people are just stunned by the level of talent in our community."

Baum says that the festival truly showcases a wide variety of Cochrane's talented youth.

"We have vocal, solo, duet, trios, choirs, instrumental -- any instrument that you can imagine," explains Baum. "And then we have dance, which includes every form of dance. We've even had a young person ask if they could do a piece from their martial arts."

The Rotary Youth Talent Festival is open for youth of all ages, and Baum says participants also have the opportunity to apply for the Illa Rumpel Scholarship.

"Illa Rumpel was a dear friend and she loved music," explains Baum. "When she passed away-- her family, her husband actually, asked if he could help out somehow with the festival. He loved the fact that we were promoting local talent of every age and every skill level, and asked if he can help out by offering a scholarship in his wife's name."

For the past 10 years, the $10,000 Illa Rumpel Scholarship has been awarded to a local performer with a need and passion. Illa's husband Gordon has since passed away, but their children have continued the scholarship in their parents' memory. Baum says to date, they've distributed over $100, 000 through the scholarship that's been used to buy instruments, pay for fine arts camps and further education to help young performers chase their dreams.

Baum says that Cochrane Rotary Youth Talent Festival provides a really great opportunity for young, local performers to take to the stage and build confidence. "There's not a lot of places that children can perform these days," explains Baum. "This is one where they can perform in a safe and caring environment and one where there is excitement and it's pretty phenomenal."

All COVID-19 health and safety protocols will be in place for this year's event. The Cochrane Rotary Youth Talent Festival is free to attend and is taking place from March 5 - 7, with the finale scheduled for March 11, 2022.

Registration will be accepted up until the third week of February and can be done online. Baum credits all the event sponsors and says the Festival wouldn't be possible without their generosity.