HDSB Students Earn Seven Gold Awards at MusicFest Canada Nationals
Students from across the Halton District School Board returned home from MusicFest Canada Nationals this month with seven gold awards, a remarkable result that reflects the depth and quality of instrumental music education across HDSB schools.
Leading the way was Halton Junior Jazz, a combined jazz ensemble drawing students from nine HDSB elementary schools, which earned gold in the Jazz Ensemble category under the direction of music educators Andrew Phillips of Palermo Public School and Annette Harild of Forest Trail Public School. The ensemble brings together Grade 7 and 8 musicians from across the board twice a month from November through June, giving students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to perform alongside peers from different schools a shared stage and a shared purpose. Halton Junior Jazz has been a cornerstone of the HDSB’s instrumental music community since its founding in 1990, and this year’s gold at nationals marks another milestone in its long history of achievement.
MusicFest Canada is the country’s largest annual music festival, attracting school bands, orchestras, choirs and jazz ensembles from across the country. Earning gold at nationals places HDSB’s student musicians among the best in Canada.
In total, 15 HDSB ensembles competed at this year’s MusicFest Canada Nationals across both elementary and secondary divisions. The following groups represented the board (with the Director names listed for each school):
Elementary
• Post’s Corners Public School – Concert Band – Sarah Flaherty
• River Oaks Public School – Concert Band – Irina Jacob
• Emily Carr Public School – Concert Band – Francis Smith (Gold)
• Emily Carr Public School – Vocal Jazz/Contemporary Ensemble – Francis Smith, Sarah Rutledge
• Falgarwood Public School – Concert Choir – Bradley Richardson
• Halton Junior Jazz (9 schools) – Jazz Ensemble – Andrew Phillips, Annette Harild (Gold)
Secondary
• M.M. Robinson High School – Concert Band – Lee Banks
• M.M. Robinson High School – Jazz Ensemble – Lee Banks (Gold)
• Abbey Park High School – Jazz Band – Joel Neufeld
• Abbey Park High School – String Orchestra – Amber Folia (Gold)
• White Oaks Secondary School – Concert Band – Andrew Quinn
• Oakville Trafalgar High School – Jazz Ensemble – Wendy Malloch (Gold)
• Burlington Central School – Jazz Combo – Matt Baxter
• Craig Kielburger Secondary School – Vocal Jazz/Contemporary Ensemble – Kendra Chow (Gold)
• Craig Kielburger Secondary School – Jazz Combo – Kendra Chow (Gold)
Phillips, who co-directed Halton Junior Jazz alongside Harild, said the achievement speaks to a collective effort that extends well beyond the competition itself. "This achievement reflects the tireless hard work of our students and celebrates the collective effort of all of the music educators who have guided them along the way," he said.
Kevin, a Grade 8 student at Forest Trail Public School and a member of Halton Junior Jazz, described what the experience meant to him and his fellow musicians. "Competing at MusicFest Canada Nationals was an incredible experience and an amazing opportunity that we all truly felt honored to be a part of," said Kevin. "It gave us the chance to perform alongside some of the best musicians in the country and to proudly represent the HDSB on a national stage. Winning gold was really rewarding, but what mattered the most to me was the journey of how we got there and improved throughout the year, through dedication, practice and teamwork. The experience was unforgettable and it created memories that I'll carry with me forever."
Sarah Patterson, Instructional Program Leader for the Arts at the Halton District School Board, noted that achievements like these reflect something deeper than a single performance. "Halton Junior Jazz winning gold at MusicFest is a wonderful celebration of why music education matters so much in our schools," she said. "Driven by the passion of two music educators who volunteered their time beyond the classroom day and immense student effort, this success reflects our Multi-Year Strategic Plan commitment to creating engaging, supportive learning environments. Through this incredible performance, our intermediate students beautifully demonstrated the teamwork, critical thinking and dedication we value across the HDSB."
The results from MusicFest Canada Nationals reflect the HDSB’s commitment to Learning, Engagement and Achievement through our 2024–2028 Multi-Year Strategic Plan, celebrating the diverse talents of students and the educators who nurture them.
To learn more about Halton Junior Jazz, watch the HDSB feature video on YouTube. Congratulations to all students, directors and school communities who represented the board at this year’s national competition.
