ARTS: April/May 2026

In this season of festivals, final exhibitions, and performance showcases, our students have fully embraced every opportunity to share their art, competing in Vancouver Island festivals and taking to our own Killy Stage.

As the Arts component of the 54th Brentwood International Regatta at the end of April, several of our music ensembles entertained the crowds from their new performance area at the Centre for Innovation and Learning (CIL). Simultaneously, the Centre for Art and Humanities Gallery opened its doors for Resonance, our final multimedia show of the year. Hundreds of student works across all mediums were admired by visitors. For our Grade 12 artists, the gallery opening was bittersweet, marking their final opportunity to share their creative journeys with peers and parents in this beautiful venue.

A number of our dancers worked tirelessly outside of regular class time to compete against 11 other dance schools at the Phoenix Dance Competition in Nanaimo, achieving excellent results:

• Ashley M. & Miranda M. earned 1st place overall in the Senior Pre-Competitive Duo/Trio category with a hip-hop piece they choreographed themselves.

• Aisa Y. won 1st place overall in the Novice Solo category in her first-ever competition. She was also recognized with a Judges’ Choice Award for her "vibrant performance”.

In the Senior Pre-Competitive Solo category, which featured approximately 20 pieces, our dancers placed beautifully:

• Cedar A. – 4th place

• Ana Sofia C. – 2nd place

• Isabelle L. – 1st place overall

Isabelle L. also received the Top Pre-Competitive Award across all solos, duos, trios, and groups, placing first out of approximately 50 total entries. Additionally, she won a Judges’ Choice Award for her "killer legs”.

Ainsley L. & Gizelle M. also had a strong showing, scoring 10th overall out of all Senior duo/trio pieces with their contemporary work, “Two Souls, One Breath,” and earning a Judges’ Choice Award for their "dope movement”.

Both dancers participated in a live improvisation challenge against 30 other competitors, with only the top five advancing. Ainsley L. and Gizelle M. both secured spots in that elite top five, with Ainsley L. winning the entire challenge! Finally, the three dancers with the highest overall scores in each age group were selected to square off in one final showcase performance. Gizelle placed in the top three scoring seniors—and as the youngest competitor in the group by three years, it was an incredible feat. The solo she will perform at our upcoming Evening of Dance placed 7th overall among all senior solos.

These dancers had barely stepped off the bus before stepping straight into rehearsals for Encore, the Dance Program's spectacular showcase on the Killy Stage. Over two unforgettable nights, audiences were thrilled by a community of dancers who are not only exceptionally talented but deeply passionate about their craft.

Our music ensembles also returned to campus with outstanding competitive results from the West Coast Jazz Festival, an official qualifier for Nationals:

• Beginner Rock Band – Silver

• Intermediate Rock Band – Gold

• Advanced Rock Band – Gold

Notably, each of these three groups was awarded a coveted invitation to MusicFest Canada 2027.

On May 2, student musicians from the Brentwood Wind Ensemble joined forces with the Greater Victoria Concert Band at Island Bandfest 2026. Hosted at the Mary Winspear Centre in Sidney, BC, this annual community celebration filled Bodine Hall with six hours of back-to-back music. The collaborative event brought together over 200 instrumentalists to showcase regional talent and support grassroots arts programming. Under the direction of Dr. Michael Keddy, our Brentwood students were warmly welcomed into the professional-calibre ensemble, performing exceptionally well alongside the group's regular members. We look forward to making this collaborative experience a new annual spring tradition.

All of these music ensembles, along with our featured soloists, will perform at our annual Concert for a Summer's Eve in the Killy Theatre on May 28 and 29. This final musical showcase celebrates the immense depth and diversity of our musicians, with all proceeds supporting the Monday Morning Music Society's music therapy programs in the Cowichan Valley.