HSC Musicians advance to Nationals after outstanding performances at the Golden Horseshoe MusicFest

On February 17 and 19 ensembles from the Senior School performed at the Golden Horseshoe MusicFest at Redeemer College. Over 100 bands from Mississauga to Niagara Falls participated in the festival.  Bands perform assigned repertoire for a group of adjudicators, receive written and taped adjudications, and are then rated on a scale of Gold, Silver, Bronze, or participation award.

The HSC Wind Symphony was the first group to perform. Although a number of students were unable to make the performance due to illness, the HSC musicians pulled through with an excellent performance, and received a Gold rating from the adjudicators with an invitation to the National MusicFest.  The judges commented on the group’s warm sound and musical phrasing.

The Senior Jazz Ensemble performed next at a very early hour on February 19.  The sleepy jazz musicians managed to fire themselves up, and performed an energetic set of three pieces, including a vocal selection by Megan Anderson.  The adjudicators were impressed with the soloists in the Jazz Ensemble, and the overall tightness of the group.  Generally the jazz adjudicators are very tough, so the Jazz Ensemble was happy to receive a Silver Plus rating with an invitation to the Nationals.

The final Senior group to perform was the Grade 9 Concert Band. This is a very confident group, and they went right in and blew the roof off the place. Adjudicators commented on the group’s ability to adapt to the strange performance space, and perform at their best.  They were rewarded with a Gold rating and an invitation to the National Finals.

The HSC musicians should be very proud of their hard work and excellent results at what is probably the most prominent band festival in Ontario.