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Festival Season

24 April 2012
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‘Tis the season for showcasing Brentwood’s choirs and bands at festivals on both the Island and the mainland. Our choirs and bands are in peak form at this time of year, and they have brought back the silver and gold to prove it.

We started at the Powell River Vocal Summit on the April 1st weekend: the Concert Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Elizabeth MacIsaac and our Vocal Jazz Ensemble - “Tonic Fusion” - under the direction of Mr. Phil Newns.  This well organized and respected festival attracts choirs from all over British Columbia and beyond. Both groups received superior adjudications and “Tonic Fusion” received a GOLD standing and were invited to the Nationals - Musicfest Canada. We enjoyed our stay in Powell River and look forward to attending next year’s summit.

On Wednesday the 11th our Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz Ensemble travelled to the Victoria Festival for the Performing Arts. The Victoria Festival always makes us feel very special and most welcome. Both groups performed extremely well and our adjudicator was simply blown away. On the adjudicator’s recommendation, both groups were asked to perform at the Highlights Festival, which they did to a packed auditorium.  For the 3rd year in a row, both the Concert Choir and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble were awarded the Gardner Shield for the best choirs at the Victoria Festival along with an invitation to perform at the BC Provincials.

On Wednesday the 18th our Concert Choir travelled to Victoria to perform at the West Coast Concert Choir Festival. At this event, the Concert Choir was honored with a GOLD standing and another invitation to perform at Musicfest Canada. We are thrilled that both of our Vocal groups have received this superior standing and we hope to attend Musicfest Canada in Toronto in 2013.

Our Jazz Band, under the direction of Mr. Phil Newns, also travelled to the Kelowna Jazz Festival on the 13th of April and received a SILVER standing for their performance in the Kelowna Theater.  As well as a great adjudication and workshop, our clinician also voted our band “best looking”. Although it was a long bus ride, it was great festival and a memorable trip.

On Friday the 20th, our Pops Orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. MacIsaac travelled to Port Alberni to attend the Port Alberni Concert Band Festival. This is also a qualifier for Musicfest Canada and judging from their adjudications, which were all superior, we will not be surprised if they receive a SILVER or GOLD standing and an invite to Musicfest Canada. Next Wednesday, the 25th of April, the Pops Orchestra will also attend the Victoria Festival for the Performing Arts and we look forward to more positive feedback.

Our last performance of this Festival season will be on Friday the 4th of May, when the Jazz Band and the Vocal Jazz Ensemble – “Tonic Fusion” perform at the West Coast Jazz Festival in Nanaimo. This festival is highly regarded as one of the premier festivals for Jazz groups in British Columbia. We wish the Jazz Band and Vocal Jazz Ensemble good luck and great playing as they attempt to bring home the GOLD once again.

If you would like to see our award winning choirs and bands in performance, please come and join us for a “Concert for a Summer’s Eve” on Friday, June the 8th in the T. Gil Bunch Centre for the Performing Arts – downbeat 7.30 p.m. Tickets are available at http://tgb.brentwood.bc.ca/

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