The MUSIC PROGRAM
The 2007/2008 school year has been a very rewarding for our TAS music students. The Music Department began a school choir called the TAS singers. Nine dedicated students met 3 times a week to enhance their vocal skills. The result was a number of superb and moving performances including the singing of "In Flanders Fields" at the Remembrance Day assembly and a remarkable performance of “You Raise Me Up" at the Kiwanis music Festival. It was also exciting to see Eric Whalen, Kyle Walden, Ebony Davies and Meghan Nicholson receive a Choral Scholarship from Saint Johns Anglican Church. As a result, these students receive extra choral training and participate in the choir at Saint John's.
Our band program has been very busy as well. The Jazz and Dixie bands have performed regularly in the community and have successfully participated in numerous festivals. The highlight of this year was the 3 Gold Medals won at the National Music Festival called “Musicfest Canada” held in Ottawa. MusicFest Canada is an annual national event that brings together more than 10,000 of Canada's finest young musicians who perform for recognition as the country's foremost musical ensembles. Participants range in age from 12-25 years and are drawn from the elementary, high school, college and university levels. The festival is held each year in May, usually near the holiday weekend. The Music program has been very privileged to be represented at the Nationals since 1990 winning 17 national gold standards
and 11 silvers.
The TAS music program also provided two excursions for our students this year. In October, 31 students participated in an excursion to Toronto where they toured Saint Paul’s Cathedral and attended the Opera “Don Carlos “at the new national Opera House. Later in December, 31 more students attended the Musical "We Will Rock You”, held at the Canon Theatre in Toronto.
2007/2008 also saw the beginning of the Specialist High Skills Major for Arts and Culture. This program allows students to focus their creative artistic skills into three distinct areas: instrumental music/vocal music, visual arts and drama. These programs will prepare our students for advanced post-secondary studies as well as potential employment in the fields of photography, graphic design, and musical and theatrical production. Students who are interested in learning more about the program should consult their art's teacher and the course calendar.
In 2006 the TAS music program took 24 music students to Austria, the birth place of many famous composers such as Mozart. The band visited many famous Cathedrals, birth places of numerous composers, and attended concerts celebrating Mozart’s birth. They also performed in various venues. We had daily reports of our trip printed in the Peterborough Examiner and displayed a slide show of our trip at the spring Music Night.
Next year we are planning a music trip to Italy over the March Break. A parent’s organization has been formed and we are planning to hold an information meeting in early September. If you would like to get involved please contact Mr. Abrahamse at extension 166 for more information.
Finally, I would like to thank the students and parents for their hard work and dedication. It is an honor to be a teacher of so many fine students and receive the support of so many committed parents.
Have a musical summer
Mr. Abrahamse
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