Semiahmoo Secondary musicians came away from last week’s MusicFest Canada covered in gold – with a little silver thrown in for good measure.
Seven of the school’s bands and ensembles received recognition at the four-day festival, this year held in Richmond, which brought together thousands of young musicians from schools across Canada.
In the instrumental jazz division, gold status went to the school’s Grade 9 band (with the honour award going to alto saxophonist Richard Roberts), the Grade 11 combo (honour award to guitarist Trevor Peverley); the Grade 11 band (honour award to trumpeter Alex Webb); the Grade 12 combo (honour award to tenor saxophonist Alexandra Sandvoss) and the Grade 12 band (honour award to trumpeter Ania Zarzycki).
In the concert band division, Semiahmoo’s senior wind ensemble also won gold (with the honour award going to clarinetist Caleb Robinson). Silver status was won by the Grade 9 concert band (with honour award to trumpeter Raaj Chatterjee).
Other local bands also did well at the festival.
From Surrey, Frank Hurt’s senior band won gold in the jazz band division; while Frank Hurt’s and Guildford Park’s senior bands won silver in the concert band division.
Langley Fine Arts’ senior chamber choir won gold in the choral/vocal jazz division; in the concert division, Langley Christian’s senior band won gold, its middle school band won silver and its Grade 9 band won bronze, while Langley Secondary’s senior band won silver; and in the jazz division, Langley Christian’s junior and senior bands and Langley Secondary’s senior jazz ensemble all won silver.
The festival, which began in 1972 and has grown to include the national stage band, concert band and choral competitions, draws more than 10,000 young musicians annually from the elementary, high school, college and university levels.