The Season of Music Festivals

17 June 2014Photo by Joe K, Whittall '17

Every term is a busy one at Brentwood and each offers different challenges. In third term the performing arts groups find themselves busy with music festivals, often taking them from coast to coast. In April the Concert Choir, directed by Elizabeth MacIsaac and assisted by Phil Newns, Brentwood’s Head of Music, attended the West Coast Concert Choir Festival in Victoria. After an impressive performance, they received the highest grade from both esteemed adjudicators. The Vocal Jazz Show Choir – “Tonic Fusion”, directed by Phil Newns, and the Concert Choir then went on to perform at the Victoria Festival for the Performing Arts. Both the Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz Show Choir received excellent feedback from their adjudicator – Dr. Jean-Marie Kent. The Vocal Jazz Show Choir was awarded the Geraldine Harris “Joy of Singing” Shield, for an outstanding musical presentation and was invited to sing at the Victoria Honor’s Concert. Not to be outdone, the Strings Ensemble, directed by Elizabeth MacIsaac, performed at the Victoria Festival and achieved a mark of 90% – a gold medal standing, winning the “Senior School Strings Category” and an invitation to the Honors Concert. In May the Vocal Jazz Show Choir and the Jazz Band, also directed by Phil, attended the West Coast Jazz Festival at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo. The West Coast Jazz Festival Music Association is a regional festival qualifier for the Nationals – Musicfest Canada. The Vocal Jazz Show Choir earned a “Superior Gold” standing. Esteemed adjudicators Phil Dwyer and Ken Lister invited them to perform at the Nationals in Toronto in 2015. The Jazz Band also earned an “Excellent Silver” ranking, doing so in spite of having no trombone section in the band. Then it was off to the Nationals, Musicfest Canada, in Richmond where the Jazz Band once again earned an “Excellent Silver” standing and the Vocal Jazz Show Choir followed them this time with a Bronze. All of these groups – and many more, also performed at the Concert for a Summer’s Eve in early June. This concert highlights Brentwood’s award-winning musicians including soloists and ensembles.

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