The oldest competitor to ever enter the Barrie Kiwanis Music Festival took to the stage Tuesday night.

Win Mavor, 98, performed in her first Kiwanis Festival, wowing the crowd and earning a grade to match her age – 98 per cent – from the adjudicator.

But for this musician it wasn’t about the competition, it was all about the piano.

“To think I got myself into this just by saying to one of the Kiwanis Club members that I wanted to get my hands on that grand piano,” she said.

Mavor started her performance by leading the audience in O Canada before performing a number of folk songs.

Her performance earned her a standing ovation from the crowd and kind words from festival adjudicator Brian Finley.

“It’s an absolute joy to be honoured by listening to you play,” he told Mavor. “When I sit there I think about what to say to performers, the only thing I can think to say is, thank you. You’re a real inspiration.”

Mavor said she was just glad she had the chance to perform in the festival and finally get her hands on the piano.

“It was very strange to be up there. It has been a long time since I have done anything like that,” she said after the performance. “The piano was different. It’s great for someone younger because they use more force than I do. It’s a tricky thing. Everybody’s piano is different.”

Mavor, who lives at Heritage Place in Barrie, said she has access to a piano and enjoys playing from time to time.

“I can play it anytime I feel like it, but I am very lazy,” she joked.

Mavor has been playing piano since 1918, when she was only eight years old.

“Lessons cost 50 cents. But I didn’t like to practice,” she said. “I used to be told that I would have to wash the dishes if I didn’t practice, so I would practice.”

Mavor’s son, Les, who came with his wife to see the performance, said he was proud of his mom. “I was glad to see her up there,” he said. “She has never been afraid to perform. She has always played for large groups over the years.”

Les said his mother was never one to shy away from performing, remembering one time when she began playing a piano in a music store and gathering quite the crowd.

“She just kept playing and the people from the store were trying to get her to stop.”

Through Mavor doesn’t know whether she’ll perform in next year’s Kiwanis Music Festival, she feels she accomplished her goal.

“I really enjoyed the beautiful piano. That was the reason that I did it,” she said. “I wanted to play that particular piano. It’s a tremendous acquisition for the city.”