This year showcased a wide array of musical achievements, spanning from our youngest kindergarteners to our senior performers. Highlights included vibrant Christmas and Spring Concerts, special chapel performances, eight choral and instrumental music festivals, talent shows, and stunning musical productions like Mary Poppins Jr. and The Little Mermaid.
Through events such as Grandparents’ Chapel, the “Jazz for the Journey” fundraiser, and music tours to Whistler and Toronto-Niagara Falls, our students demonstrated their skills, embraced positive challenges, and built deep community.
Elementary School: Lively Worship & New Voices
Elementary Chapel Worship, led by Mr. Toy, was more spirited than ever this year with more student musicians joining in – including a drummer playing the full drum kit!
- Voices United Choir: Budding vocalists from grades 5 through 8 had an exciting new opportunity to join this ensemble, led by Mrs. Williams
- The Results: Voices United received top marks and a Gold rating at the regional Chilliwack Lions Music & Dance Festival, earning invitations to both the BC Provincial Choral Festival and Musicfest Canada Nationals!
Middle School: Building a Strong Foundation
Co-Curricular & Extra-Curricular Options:
- Worship Teams
- The Junior Jazz Ensemble
- Middle School Musical (every other year)
- The Middle School Honour Band: Led by Middle School Director Mr. De Guzman, this select ensemble earned a Gold rating at the Vancouver Kiwanis Festival and an invitation to Nationals. The Honour Band also participated in educational festival adjudications at UBC and the Christian Schools’ invitational music festival.
High School: Taking the Stage and Touring the Province
In High School, students can continue their instrumental journey with Junior and Senior Concert Band, Senior Jazz Ensemble, and Musical Theatre – all of which are 4-credit fine arts courses. Extra-curricular options include the Junior Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Chapel Worship Teams, and the High School Choral Club.
Led by Mr. Murdock, the High School program features local, national, and international travel opportunities. This year, the Junior Tour took 55 grade 8 and 9 students to the Whistler Cantando Music Festival.
Whistler Trip Highlights
- – Visited the Sea to Sky Gondola and explored Whistler Village.
- – Earned a Silver Rating at the festival.
- – Participated in a fruitful workshop with Dr. Robert Ambrose.
“Something I liked the most about the Whistler Trip was the time I got to spend with my friends while also having a really good time performing. I also liked the clinic, which helped me learn new cool techniques on the flute.”
Samuel, Grade 9
Senior Music Tour: Making Memories in Niagara Falls & Toronto
The Senior Music Tour saw 47 music students from grades 10, 11, and 12 embark on a four-night, five-day tour to MusicFest Canada Nationals in Niagara Falls—a prestigious festival to which both the Senior Concert and Jazz Bands earned invitations.
Major Achievements
- Senior Concert Band: Earned a Silver rating, completing a mandatory sight-reading component and a productive adjudication workshop.
- Senior Jazz Ensemble: Brought home a Gold rating and high compliments from the adjudicators.
- National Recognition: Caleb Walsh and Bruce Yu were selected as Honour Award recipients.
Beyond the stage, students enjoyed evening showcases at the festival, a fantastic program by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and fun group activities at the Fallsview Water Park and Canada’s Wonderland theme park.
I really appreciate how the [Toronto] tour was planned out, every day felt like there was a good balance of playing and free time to do the local activities. I liked seeing how the variety of other performances by other groups showed me new styles which I appreciated. Spending all this time with other people who I don’t have classes with gave me the chance to make new connections that now are current friends, which wouldn’t have happened without the chance for this tour.
Preston, Grade 10
“I really liked the trip this year and I am really glad I went. Being new this year, this trip helped me to grow closer to people and see what everyone was like in an environment outside of school. I enjoyed the variety of experiences we had like Canada’s wonderland, watching different performances, and visiting Niagara falls. This trip definitely helped grow the senior band as a community.
Kaylyn, Grade 10
