Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival

On Sunday, April 5, 2009, the world witnessed the culmination of months of rehearsing and practice  in the spectacle that was the 25th annual Conference of Independent School’s Music Festival. Students from both our Middle and Senior Schools participated in this most joyous event in the CIS calendar, which called upon in excess of 1500 students and faculty from across Ontario to perform at the most prestigious venue, Roy Thomson Hall.

Three choirs, four wind bands and a full orchestra provided ample opportunity to showcase what the collective CIS is capable of achieving. All in attendance were treated to rousing renditions of such classics as Dave Brubeck’s “Blue Rondo à la Turk,” Perrow’s endearing “Short’nin’ Bread” and Rossini’s vivacious Overture to “La Gazza Ladra,” on the way to the night’s zenith, a breathtaking performance of “In the Forest of the King” by the venerable wind ensemble.

However, it was the evening’s finale, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” that moved some onlookers to tears, as a thousand strong choir and orchestra performed their stirring rendition of this powerful anthem (whose third stanza, coincidentally, was used by Rev. Joseph Lowrey in his benediction for Barack Obama’s inauguration).

By all accounts, the night was a resounding success, complete with joy, music, passion, and a little bit of mooing (courtesy of the Junior choir’s performance of “Things I learned from a Cow”).  From all those involved, thanks! It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Brandon Clark