The St. Mary Catholic Secondary School Arts Department has marked a standout year, showcasing its growth and excellence on both regional and national stages. This spring, the Chamber Choir, Jazz Band and Rock Band proudly represented the school at regional music festivals earlier in the year, where their talent and dedication led to national qualification for two ensembles.
Photo by Frank Zochil
The Chamber Choir and Rock Band advanced to MusicFest Canada, held at York University, where both groups earned Silver Standings for their performances. In addition to competing, students engaged in specialized clinics led by renowned musicians, including Juno Award-winning vocalist Heather Bambrick and Florida State University choral professor McKenna Stinson.
Among the standout achievements were the Leadership Awards presented to Grade 12 students Evan Ryan and Alethea Hindra, who were honoured at both the regional and national levels for their contributions and leadership in music.
Several students also received post-secondary recognition. Evan Ryan, Julius Aquino and Luca Trigatti were each awarded a four-year scholarship to the Jazz Performance program at St. Francis Xavier University. Alethea Hindra earned admission to the University of Toronto's honours degree program in music education, along with the prestigious "University of Toronto Scholar" entrance scholarship.
Music Directors Roberto Santos and Nancy Boss expressed pride in the department's accomplishments, commending the students for representing the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board with excellence on a national platform.
To cap off the year, the department is set to travel to Niagara-on-the-Lake, perform at the Canada's Wonderland Music Festival, and attend a performance of "The Lion King" in Toronto.
With a strong foundation laid this year, the St. Mary Music Department looks ahead to continued growth and success.
For more information
90 Mulberry Street
Hamilton Ontario
Canada L8N 3R9
www.hwcdsb.ca
