CISMF 2023 Program

Conference of Independent Schools

Music Festival

Saturday, April 15, 2023 | 3PM

Roy Thomson Hall, Toronto

A Message from Sarah Craig

CIS Ontario, Executive Director

The Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario (CIS Ontario) is a provincial association of 44 independent schools dedicated to providing outstanding educational opportunities for their students. The composition of our member schools varies and includes Junior, Middle or Senior schools, single-gender and co-educational schools, boarding and/or day schools. At CIS Ontario, one of our key priorities is to connect students through a variety of inter-school programming. Engaging students to connect through athletics, leadership, design thinking, visual arts, drama, dance, and music enriches and supports their learning. It also provides students with opportunities to meet like-minded peers from other schools who share the same passions and interests.

Today, we celebrate the return of the association’s annual Music Festival (CISMF) after a three-year hiatus due to the global pandemic. For 36 years, CISMF has celebrated the collective passion for music shared by student musicians and educators from our member schools. So it is with great excitement that we anticipate the return of CISMF to the Roy Thomson Hall stage. It is our hope that today’s celebration of music uplifts and inspires both the student musicians and the audience.

On behalf of CIS Ontario, I would like to congratulate and thank all of the individuals who contributed to this dynamic musical experience.

First, I extend huge thanks to the music educators from our schools who have unselfishly given their time to prepare students for today’s special interschool concert. I acknowledge the contributions of all the music educators who served as lead organizers and conductors for each of the musical ensembles, bands and choirs. I also extend our sincerest thanks to Sandi Chasson, 2023 CISMF Coordinator, who led the coordination of this massive event. And, to the student musicians who found time in their very busy lives to make this commitment and share their musical expertise with us, we celebrate you and your performances. The combined contributions to the CISMF help to ensure that it is a fun and memorable experience for our performers, educators, and the audience here today.

As singer-songwriter Billy Joel once said, “I think music in itself is healing. It’s an explosive expression of humanity. It’s something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we’re from, everyone loves music.”

With that in mind, it is my hope that the CISMF 2023 experience is a reminder of the power of music to heal, unite and connect us in a powerful and uniquely human way. Today is a celebration for our student performers to learn, grow, and celebrate music together and to make new friends, too.

Welcome to the 36th Annual Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival

Welcome to the 36th annual CISMF – Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival – a collaborative celebration of music presented by students and music educators representing 32 of our 44 CIS Ontario member schools. After a three-year hiatus, we are back and thrilled to be performing together once again in the beautiful Roy Thomson Hall. The repertoire you are about to hear this afternoon has been prepared in advance, and today’s performance is the result of four intensive rehearsal days. This proves to be a challenging and rewarding experience for all participants. Bravo to every music faculty member, past and present, who has been involved with CISMF. It is obvious that our musicians could not perform at this high level without your instruction, talent, expertise, patience, sense of humour and enthusiastic support!

A special thank you to our school heads for their continued support and commitment to the performing arts in our CIS Ontario schools. A heartfelt thank you to Sarah Craig, CIS Ontario Executive Director. Her continued support has propelled this music festival to be the envy of all! I know you will be impressed by the energy and dedication of these talented young musicians.

Congratulations to the just over 1200 students who are participating in CISMF 2023! Your hard work, dedication, enthusiasm and love of music are truly inspirational.

Let the concert begin!

Sandi Chasson CISMF Coordinator 2023

CISMF 2023

Administration

Festival Coordinator

Sandi Chasson – CIS Ontario

Instrumental Coordinators

Julian Smerdon – Trafalgar Castle School

Garry Page – St. Andrew’s College

String Coordinators

Esteban Cambre – Appleby College

Adam Despinic – Branksome Hall

Choral Coordinators

Ellen Wells – Pickering College

Georgette Marshall – Holy Trinity School

Shanda Lee – Kingsway College School

Audition Committee

Agnes Ng – Branksome Hall

Anthony Mariano – Crestwood School & Preparatory College

Diane Drysdale – Bayview Glen

Eli Lewis – Holy Trinity School

Emily Johnson – Royal St. George’s College

Emma Crawford – Trinity College School

Esteban Cambre – Appleby College

Jaekwan Chong – The Country Day School

John Richardson – St. Andrew’s College

Jordan Zero – Holy Trinity School

Nancy Promane – TMS

Natalie DiNardo – De La Salle College ‘Oaklands’

Nicola Lee – Trinity College School

Patrice Barbanchon – The Country Day School

Richard Piasetski – Greenwood College School

Roger Marles – TMS

Sandi Chasson – CIS Ontario

Tom Wade West – Royal St. George’s College

Rehearsal Sites

Holy Trinity School, Richmond Hill

St. Andrew’s College, Aurora

Newmarket Old Town Hall, Newmarket

Program Cover Artwork Contest

Winner

Audrey Jiang – The Country Day School

A very special thank you to Cosmo Music for providing the percussion for the concert today. Thank you!

Learn more about Cosmo Music at: www.cosmomusic.ca

Participating Schools

Albert College

Appleby College

Ashbury College

Branksome Hall

Crestwood School & Preparatory College

De La Salle College ‘Oaklands’

Greenwood College School

Havergal College

Hawthorn School for Girls

Hillfield Strathallan College

Holy Name of Mary College School

Holy Trinity School

Kingsway College School

Lakefield College School

Matthews Hall

Montcrest School

Pickering College

Ridley College

Royal St. George's College

St. Andrew's College

St. Clement's School

St. John's-Kilmarnock School

St. Michael's College School

TFS – Canada's International School

The Bishop Strachan School

The Country Day School

The York School

TMS

Trafalgar Castle School

Trinity College School

Upper Canada College

Villanova College

Repertoire 2023

Wind Ensemble O CANADA Arr. Howard Cable

MALAGUENA by Ernesto Lecuona, Arr. Sammy Nestico

Conducted by Peter Jones (Villanova College)

Junior Choir

THE GHOST SHIP ........................................................................................ by Don Besig, Nancy Price

Conducted by Ellen Wells (Pickering College)

Accompanied by Caroline Heo (Upper Canada College)

THE SUN IS MINE by Laura Hawley, Robert Hogg, Robert Priest

Conducted by Ellen Wells (Pickering College)

Accompanied by Caroline Heo (Upper Canada College)

Wind Ensemble MARCH-BOU-SHU by Satoshi Yagisawa

Conducted by Dan Horner (St. Andrew’s College)

Junior Choir

J’ENTENDS LE MOULIN - Traditional Quebecois by Mark Sirett

Conducted by Lisa Yorke (The York School)

Accompanied by Caroline Heo (Upper Canada College)

OVER THE RAINBOW / WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD Arr. Roger Emerson

Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen

What a Wonderful World ..... by Weiss & Thiele, version by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Conducted by Lisa Yorke (The York School)

Accompanied by Caroline Heo (Upper Canada College)

Concert Band BLACK FOREST OVERTURE by Michael Sweeney

Conducted by Natalie Di Nardo (De La Salle College ‘Oaklands’)

Repertoire 2023

Intermediate Choir

STAND TOGETHER ............................................................................................................... by Jim Papoulis

COUNT ON ME ............. by Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars, Arr. Janet Day

Conducted by Caroline Pai (TFS – Canada’s International School)

Accompanied by Jennifer Vincent (Montcrest School)

Concert Band LIBERTANGO by Astor Piazzolla, Arr. Paul Murtha

Conducted by Roger Marlés (TMS)

Intermediate Choir SISI NI MOJA by Jacob Narverud

THIS IS ME ...................................................................... by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Arr. Mac Huff

(from The Greatest Showman)

Conducted by Carol Macfarlane (Montcrest School)

Accompanied by Jennifer Vincent (Montcrest School)

Percussion: Trevor Falls (Montcrest School)

Jazz Band MUY CALIENTE by Erik Sherburne

Conducted by Eli Lewis (Holy Trinity School)

THE CHICKEN by Alfred James Ellis, Arr. Kris Berg

Conducted by Nicola Lee (Trinity College School)

Intermission

Symphonic Band THE WISHING WELL by Rossano Galante

Conducted by Anthony Mariano (Crestwood School & Preparatory College)

Repertoire 2023

Senior Choir WOODSMOKE AND ORANGES by Ian Tamblyn, Arr. Rebecca Campbell

WANTING MEMORIES by Ysaye M. Barnwell

Conducted by Cody MacFarlane (The York School)

Symphonic Band WHERE EAGLES SOAR by Steven Reineke

Conducted by Scott Vernon (Ridley College)

Senior Choir TURN THE WORLD AROUND ............................. by Harry Belafonte, Robert Freedman Arr. Roger Emerson

TaReKiTa by Reena Esmail

Conducted by Will Reid (Ridley College)

Accompanists:

Piano: Ken Hutton (Ridley College)

Electric Bass: Ben Wright (St. John’s-Kilmarnock School)

Percussion: Scott Vernon (Ridley College)

String Ensemble SUITE FROM PSYCHO by Bernard Herrmann

Conducted by Adam Despinic (Branksome Hall)

SERENADE FOR STRINGS - Mvt #1 Op. 6 by Josef Suk

Conducted by Esteban Cambre (Appleby College)

Finale THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC by ABBA, Arr. Sheldon Rose

String Ensemble Percussion and Mass Choirs

GUEST CONDUCTOR – Zimfira Poloz

Guest Conductor

Orebro University (Sweden), International Choral Conductor’s Seminar (South Africa), Ministry of Education and Culture in collaboration with Pedagogical Institute, Nicosia (Cyprus); Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan – International Scientific and Practical conference

“Musical VUCA World”; World Piece Festival (Austria); World Choir Festival (Hong Kong).

Zimfira established her musical credentials in Kazakhstan, where she served as founder and principal of the nation’s first choir school. Upon her arrival in Canada, Zimfira’s skill and passion found a home with Toronto Children’s Chorus, St. Michael’s Choir School, and eventually as Artistic Director of Hamilton Children’s Choir and Young Voices Toronto.

Zimfira Poloz

Zimfira Poloz is a passionate musician, educator, award-winning conductor, and internationally respected adjudicator and clinician.

Ms. Poloz has been decorated with numerous awards, including Honoured Representative of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the city of Hamilton’s VIP Award, and the Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting (Ontario Arts Council). Recent adjudication and guest conductor highlights include: Choralies – International Choral Festival (France); National Choral Competition (Japan); Europa Cantat (France); 1st International Choral Alberto Grau Composition Competition (Venezuela); Children’s Choir of Philharmonic Paris Orchestra (France); America Cantat 8 (Bahamas); World Choir Games – China, USA, Latvia, Russia, South Korea, National Choral Competition (Canada). Conductor in residence for Corfu Ionian University – Summer Academy in Choral Conducting Course (Greece),

Under Zimfira’s direction, the Hamilton Children’s Choir has won innumerable international and national contests and has transformed into one of the most widely acclaimed youth choral programs in the world, including several appearances at “Podium” Choral Canada Conference. HCC was invited World Symposium on Choral Music IFCM, Auckland (New Zealand), sharing stage with King Singers as a children’s choir in residence at the International Festival for Children and Youth Choirs (Hong Kong), ACDA National Conference (Minnesota), America Cantat 8 (Bahamas), Polyfollia, World Showcase on Choral Music (France), and IFCM World Symposium (South Korea), 1st Xinghai Prize International Choral Competition (China), “Let the People Sing”

Euroradio Choral Competition (Norway), Let the Future Sing, 70th International Festival, Adolf Frederik’s Music School (Sweden), Songbridge Choral Festival, Szczecin (Poland), and Tolosa Choral Competition (Spain).

From 2004-2011 – Zimfira Poloz led Young Voices Toronto (formerly High Park Choirs) as Artistic Director expanding the program from 3 to 5 choirs. Under Zimfira’s leadership YVT became Children’s Choir-in-residence at U of T. YVT was invited as a showcase choir to Germany for the 1125th anniversary celebrations for the town of Bodersweier; France, and to the World Choir Games (27,000 singers) in Latvia as a showcase choir & workshop choir for conductors. Unforgettable highlights were the Great Celebration Concert of the 8th WCG that took place in the Mežaparks – the Song Celebration grounds – where 10,000 Latvian and 5,000 international singers united in song, as well as the emotional Closing Concert in the Arena Riga.

In addition to her performance season with HCC and her travels as clinician and guest conductor, Zimfira teaches in the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. She is a Faculty Member & Canadian Representative for International Choral Space as well for the World Choral Council, Interkultur, ACDA International Activities, Mentor. In addition, she is a Board Member for the World Alliance of Children’s Choirs (A Global Network of Children’s Choirs and Conductors) and curator/editor for choral music publisher, Cypress Choral Music.

Programme Notes 2023

Wind Ensemble

MALAGUENA ..............................................................................

by Ernesto Lecuona, Arr. Sammy Nestico

That unmistakable Nestico touch gives this Latin standard a fresh new sound. Sammy’s brilliant brass, sparkling woodwinds, and driving Latin rhythms create a concert piece that’s truly exciting.

MARCH-BOU-SHU ..............................................................................................................

by Satoshi Yagisawa

Based on the traditional Japanese folk song “Boushu Oiwake,” this lyrical march offers a variety of sound to your program! The interesting use of percussion (tom-toms and bongos) adds to the effect of the piece, and woodwinds enjoy the spotlight during the fugue section before being joined by the full ensemble for a big finish!

Junior Choir

THE GHOST SHIP

.....................................................................................................

by Don Besig, Nancy Price

This spirited sea shanty tells the tale of an unforgettable encounter on the open seas. A young lad, standing watch alone one night, will forever be haunted by the deserted ship he witnesses drifting through the mist. The only sounds he hears from the silent decks are ghostly, wailing cries and a cold north wind blowing through the sails.

THE

SUN IS MINE ............................................................

by Laura Hawley, Robert Hogg, Robert Priest

A celebration of nature’s beauty is woven together by the poetry and music of three Canadian artists. The free and optimistic images in the opening verse contrast with the more sombre mood of the middle section. These powerful lyrics challenge all of us to reflect upon our responsibility to preserve nature’s beauty for future generations. The soaring notes in the final section end the song with a message of hope.

Programme Notes 2023

Junior Choir

J’ENTENDS LE MOULIN .................................................................................................................. by

Mark Sirett

This lively arrangement is a favourite Quebecois folk-tune full of ‘joie de vivre.’ The turning of the windmill is heard in the exciting piano and violin accompaniment.

OVER THE RAINBOW /...............................................................................................................

WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD ...............

by Harold Arlen

by Weiss & Thiele, version by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole

Arr. Roger Emerson

The late Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (Kah-MAH-kah-VEE-voh-OH-lay), did something rare in music. He redefined a beloved classic. His version of “Over the Rainbow” has the poignancy of Judy Garland’s and, combined with another classic, “What a Wonderful World,” became so popular that it is now the most requested version of the song by far, according to music publishing house EMI. That’s quite remarkable for a rendition with originally one voice, accompanied only by a ukulele.

Concert Band

BLACK FOREST OVERTURE ........................................................................................... by

Michael Sweeney

This exciting work by Michael Sweeney has all the bravado of his earlier successes! Bold, contemporary-sounding harmonies in a minor key are mixed with exciting, shifting accents for a neat effect. And the climactic ending is one of the best we’ve seen at this level!

LIBERTANGO ........................................................................................... by Astor Piazzolla, Arr. Paul

Murtha

This classic Argentinian tango has attained worldwide popularity, which continues to grow partly due to a colourful setting for the concert band. Written in a Latin-rock style, this version features woodwinds on the main melodic lines with well-crafted background figures appearing throughout.

Programme Notes 2023

Intermediate Choir

STAND TOGETHER ........................................................................................................................ by Jim

Papoulis

Jim Papoulis wrote this song as part of his series Songs For A Better World. The lyrics encourage us to strive toward our goals and to celebrate our unique strengths. This song was influenced by the Celtic singing of Noirin ni Riain, as well as the classical, jazz and world rhythms that are a signature of Papoulis’ compositional style.

COUNT ON ME ....................................... by Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Bruno Mars, Arr. Janet Day

Pop superstar Bruno Mars wrote “Count On Me” for his debut album in 2010, Doo-Wops and Hooligans. The laid-back groove of this song has a tropical vibe that is reminiscent of Mars’ Hawaiian roots. The lyrics remind us of the power of friendship and the importance of being present for those that are important in your life.

SISI NI MOJA .............................................................................................................................. by

Jacob Narverud

Composed by Jacob Narverud, the Swahili title means “We are one.” We can celebrate our differences in culture, language, and personal stories and know we are one in our needs and wants: to experience the joy of connection while “we stand here together and lift our hearts in song!”

THIS IS ME (from The Greatest Showman) .....................

by Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Arr. Mac Huff

“This is Me” is a beautiful ballad written for the musical The Greatest Showman. Its message of becoming who we are meant to be, often in the face of challenge and adversity, is an especially powerful one as we find our voices post-pandemic.

Programme Notes 2023

Jazz Band

MUY CALIENTE............................................................................................................................

by Erik Sherburne

This is a challenging samba for the more advanced jazz ensemble. From the beginning, the audience will engage with the Latin groove and writing for winds. There are solos for alto, tenor, trumpet, and trombone that highlight the players, and moments where the drummer will shine.

THE CHICKEN .........................................................................................

by Alfred James Ellis, Arr. Kris Berg

This is a showstopper! The chart, made famous by bass virtuoso Jaco Pastorius, gets kicking with a killer gospel chorale but is soon interrupted by one of the funkiest bass lines ever played! Soon the entire band is in on it with a Tower of Power-style sound that is sure to impress!

Symphonic Band

THE WISHING WELL............................................................................................................

by Rossano Galante

"The Wishing Well" depicts a touching musical scene of a child approaching a well and making a wish. The music ebbs and flows, utilizing solos and a full ensemble to describe the water at the bottom of the well. As we reach the climax, the central theme is stated as the child tosses the coin into the well with the hope that the wish will be granted.

WHERE EAGLES SOAR .........................................................................................................

by Steven Reineke

The majesty, beauty and strength of the eagle’s flight is portrayed with sensitivity and skill in this uplifting work! This is a simply magnificent piece with flourishes in the woodwind parts, and the result is spectacular. Each section is lovely, with idiomatic parts that show off what the musicians do best.

Programme Notes

2023

String Ensemble

SUITE FROM PSYCHO .................................................................................................... by Bernard Herrmann

Most people know this intense and chilling music from the Alfred Hitchcock thriller “Psycho!” What many don’t know is that the composer was a bona fide 20th-century classical composer! At the same time as you are listening to contemporary classical music, you are also listening to some of the best film music you have ever heard!

SERENADE FOR STRINGS - Mvt # 1 Op. 6 ................................................................................ by

Josef Suk

Josef Suk’s “Serenade for Strings” in E flat major, Op. 6 was composed in 1892 while Suk was studying at the Prague Conservatory. The lighter, cheerful music is a striking contrast to Suk’s signature melancholy style.

Senior Choir

WOODSMOKE AND ORANGES............................................. by Ian Tamblyn, Arr. Rebecca Campbell “Woodsmoke and Oranges” contain colourful text about the beauty of the geographic features found in the northern parts of Lake Superior, including Gargantua Bay, Old Woman Bay, and Pukaskwa National Park. It is a small part of a series of works that led songwriter Ian Tamblyn to receive the Order of Canada for “his enduring contributions as a folk music icon, adventurer and cultural ambassador for Canada.” This haunting choral arrangement by Rebecca Campbell uses wind and percussion instruments to add to the imagery of the forces of nature present in Tamblyn’s original song.

WANTING MEMORIES ..................................................................................................... by

Ysaye M. Barnwell

As a member of the renowned vocal ensemble Sweet Honey in The Rock from 1979 - 2013, Dr. Ysaye M. Barnwell brings her passion for singing in the African American tradition as well as community music-making as a vehicle for social justice. In “Wanting Memories,” Barnwell details the human experience of losing a close loved one and reflecting on the wisdom and joy that was gifted to the world during their lifetime.

Programme Notes 2023

Senior Choir

TURN THE WORLD AROUND ....... by Harry Belafonte, Robert Freedman, Arr. Roger Emerson

“Turn the World Around” is a song that was originally written by Harry Belafonte and Robert Freedman for Belafonte’s album of the same name. The album features interpretations of folk songs from various cultures. “Turn the World Around” is based on a song from Guinea that incorporates African mythology and carries an uplifting message. As Belafonte said, the song’s lyrics ask the question, “Do we care about each other? Because, if we do, together, we can turn the world around.”

TaReKiTa ...........................................................................................................................................

by Reena Esmail

“TaReKiTa” is a piece composed by Reena Esmail, featuring the popular raag - a melodic framework in Indian classical music - called Jog. The piece incorporates both major and minor modalities. Although the pronunciation of the text is very intentional, the text syllables used in the piece are onomatopoeic vocalizations of the table.

Finale

THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC

......................................................................... by ABBA, Arr. Sheldon Rose

With the success of the show Mamma Mia! the music of ABBA crossed over into the mainstream of popular music, and this is one of their biggest hits. This arrangement was arranged for CISMF by Sheldon Rose. It is the perfect way to celebrate the joys of music and singing. After the postponement of CISMF for the last few years, we all say, “Thank you for the Music.”

Participating Schools

Albert College

 albertcollege.ca

Albert College in Belleville is Canada’s oldest co-educational boarding and day school. A closeknit atmosphere and diverse student body make the school a truly unique learning environment for students from Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12.

Albert College offers a unique Arts Period program that provides access to the arts for every student, complementing their academic and athletic programs. Participation in the arts is required at Albert and gives students the opportunity to try something new in an encouraging and inclusive way. This allows us to have many students participating in our musical ensembles, including Junior School choirs and bands, a 40-member Wind Ensemble, a 12-piece Jazz Ensemble, a 15-member Middle School Band, and a 65-member SATB Choir, all with a school population of just 300 students. At Albert College, we believe that the arts are essential to the development of well-rounded students at every age.

Music Faculty: Erin Paul, Andy Seguire

Appleby College

 appleby.on.ca

Appleby College offers an exceptional creative outlet for those with an interest in creating music. Our music programme provides a curriculum that includes vocal, instrumental, jazz and strings, as well as AP music theory. The co-curricular programme includes choral, guitar, orchestral programming, and Appleby Rocks, a programme that facilitates student-led rock bands. The artistic talents of our students are featured in several performances throughout the year, including Arts Week – a celebration of the Arts which showcases such disciplines as Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music, Visual Arts and others. Each year, Appleby students also put on a full-feature musical at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, complete with full cast, tech crew, and pit band. In addition to local performances, Appleby students often perform more broadly. A small ensemble of musicians performed “Amazing Grace” during the National Commemorative Ceremony in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which took place at Christ Church Cathedral in Ottawa in September. In December 2022, choral students went to Spain on an intercultural trip, performing across the Andalusia region and Madrid. Appleby also has a rich recording programme where students learn to record and mix their own music. An extension of this programme is Appleby’s Spotify channel, where EPs of student performances are released annually.

Music Faculty: Borys Boytchuk, Esteban Cambre, Sara Joy, Sarah Morrison

Ashbury College

 ashbury.ca

Founded in 1891, Ashbury College is an independent day and boarding IB World School for 750 students in Grades 4 to 12 located in Canada’s capital and the traditional, unceded territory of the Anishinàbe Algonquin Nation. We serve a diverse community of over 60 nationalities from around the National Capital Region, the diplomatic community, and international and domestic boarding students.

Ashbury’s Music and Arts programs take place in the Creative Learning Centre, with its first-rate facilities and equipment. Music is very much alive at Ashbury and permeates and enhances a number of school community events throughout the year. Music instruction is provided at both the Junior and Senior levels, and the performing ensembles include Concert Bands, Jazz Bands, Choirs, Pit Band, Small Ensembles and a String Ensemble. In addition to performing, the rich curriculum promotes diversity and includes music theory, composition and IB Music at the Senior level. The concert bands are regularly recognized for musical excellence at the Capital Region Music Festival and at MusicFest Canada. The bands have had the opportunity to work with several guest conductors in recent years, including Maestro Alexander Shelley, Dr. Wendy McCallum, Dr. Colleen Richardson and Dr. Darrin Oehlerking. Recent international tours include Cuba and Italy, and the bands look forward to performing at MusicFest Nationals in Niagara Falls this year.

Music Faculty: Simone Gendron, David Kaye, Stefan Sikorski

Branksome Hall

 branksome.on.ca

Branksome Hall (JK-12) is an IB continuum World School for girls that has been located in the downtown Toronto neighbourhood of Rosedale since 1903. The Junior School (JK-6) offers a wellrounded music curriculum including singing, recorder, baritone ukulele and transdisciplinary connections. The range of co-curricular offerings includes choirs, instrumental ensembles, musical theatre and more. In Middle School (7-8), all students choose between band, strings and vocal streams of music. Each of these streams of music continues as arts options in the Senior School (9-10), culminating with the option of IB Diploma students (11-12) choosing to study at either standard or higher level music. Branksome supports a robust Senior & Middle School co-curricular program with ensembles such as Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Jazz Band, String Orchestra, Chamber Strings and Concert Choir. Ensembles have opportunities to share their music with the community by performing at the annual Carol Service and Senior Spring Concert and other school events. The Arts Department stages a largescale theatre production every year, often featuring a majority-student pit band or orchestra. Recent shows include Narnia (2018), The Wizard of Oz (2019) and Seussical (2022). Branksome actively participates in CIS Music Festival, Ontario Band Association

Provincial Festival, Ontario Strings Association

Provincial Festival, and Toronto Kiwanis Music Festival. Branksome also has a sister school, Branksome Hall Asia, located on Jeju Island in South Korea.

Music Faculty: Adam Despinic, Agnes Ng, Luanne Schlueter, Angie Tang

Crestwood School & Preparatory College

 crestwood.on.ca

Crestwood Preparatory College is a university preparatory school for grades 7-12, which opened its doors in 2001. As part of the school’s motto of inspiring excellence and nurturing individuality, music is offered to all students, with the 7s and 8s learning as a semester course. At the same time, full-year classes are provided for students in grades 9-12. Gr. 7s spend the semester in music, learning percussion instruments, while Gr. 8-12 classes are centered on concert band instruments and performance. Beyond the core music program, Crestwood offers extracurricular music groups, including Jazz Band, Strings Club, Crestwood Voices choir and our popular Rock Band. Performance opportunities for all our groups include participation in the annual Arts and Technology Festival (one held in December and the other in May) and various school and community events ranging from Remembrance Day to graduation ceremonies and, in past years, various provincial music festivals and band trips. Another musical highlight is the Senior Concert Band performing as a pit band for the school plays, which included in past years: Treasure Island (2018), The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2019), and Clue (2022). The band looks forward to providing music for this year’s production of She Kills Monsters. This year marks Crestwood Prep’s first time participating in CISMF, and we look forward to sending participants for years to come.

Music Faculty: Claudia Gurassi, Anthony Mariano

De La Salle College

‘Oaklands’

 delasalle.ca

The Music program at De La Salle is a performancebased, concert-band (brass, woodwind and percussion) program. We have an active and vibrant music programme at De La Salle College. Students play instruments from grade 5 through to grade 12. Everyone uses their own instrument, and instruction is offered from beginners to more experienced players. Classes and rehearsals are held in a State of the Art, acoustically balanced rehearsal space. De La Salle runs 7 Concerts Bands, 2 Jazz Bands, 2 Choirs, a Marching Band, and a Pep Squad, providing students with many different performance opportunities.

Along with our annual Christmas and Spring concerts, the bands compete in the Kiwanis Music Festival and the Ontario Band Association Festival. The Senior students also travel to participate in the Worldstrides Heritage Festival held in the United States as well as numerous charitable and fundraising initiatives. In the last few years, student musicians have been awarded 9 gold and 5 silver medals at the Heritage Festival. Graduating Music students also perform in a Recital Night held in the Heritage House. Students can audition for the CISMF and honour Band made up of students from all the CIS Ontario schools. This ensemble performs at Roy Thomson Hall in the spring annually. The Marching Band, 100 music students and a colour guard provided by our Cadet Corps, have participated in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade for the past ten years and our Pep Squad performs at Homecomings, Megan’s Walk kick-off ceremonies and the Scotia Bank

breakfast fundraiser for Scouts Canada, Haliburton Scout Reserve. If band instruments are not your thing, the music department hosts several coffee houses throughout the year. These are more intimate events open to all students and staff who wish to sing, dance, or tell jokes. It is a fundraising event where all proceeds are donated to a school-sanctioned charity. Along with Coffee House, as part of our Share Life Day to raise funds for our sister school in Naka Nigeria, the dept hosts Lasallian Idol, complete with judges and audience voting. Students explore, perform, and respond to music from various cultural influences, styles, composers, and historical periods. They develop a lifelong community engagement with music as a performer, listener, audience member, supporter, advocate, and consumer. Students examine the relationships of music to other fine arts and fields of knowledge and explore connections between music skills and those required beyond the classroom and the workplace. There is plenty to do in music at DEL, from arranging private lessons to creating small chamber ensembles that perform at different functions. There is something for everyone.

Music Faculty: Natalie DiNardo, Larry Shields

Greenwood College School

 greenwoodcollege.org

Greenwood’s music program is designed to provide students with rewarding and authentic performance opportunities. The school offers a band and vocal program for Grades 7-12, as well as a school choir and junior and senior jazz bands. These ensembles regularly perform at school events and around our community. Our music students have paired up with the GCS Drama department this year to put on Newsies, which will feature a pit band made up of Greenwood students and incorporate the artistic contributions of over 100 students. In the spring, we will gear up for our annual school Arts Show with performances and showings from our Instrumental Music, Film, Media, Visual, Drama, and Vocal Music programs.

Music Faculty: Lindsay Newman, Richard Piasetski

Havergal College

 havergal.on.ca

Havergal College offers an outstanding Music Program for girls from JK to Grade 12. Opportunities to study band, strings, guitar and voice through challenging repertoire are widely available to all students. The school offers a number of concerts throughout the year for our Junior and Upper School musicians. In addition, students perform at Remembrance Day Services, Harvest Festival, Founders’ Day, Closing Ceremonies and Carol Service, held at St. Paul’s Bloor Street Anglican church. The school’s Performing Arts Program is

a supportive environment where students can express themselves as they develop their talents. Music holds a prominent place at Havergal College because it allows students to learn about themselves as they build confidence and communication skills through performance.

Music Faculty: Alice Malach, Cissy Goodridge, Jeff MacLean, Paul McCulloch, Carling Pang, Rachel Read, Sara Spigott

Hawthorn School for Girls

 hawthornschool.com

Hawthorn provides a unique, well-rounded education that develops both character and intelligence so that our students become confident women of integrity and faith committed to the betterment of society. The music curriculum at Hawthorn recognizes that love and appreciation for music is a key aspect in a person’s development. Our Lower School Choir performs in concerts and serves at school assemblies, liturgical events, and other special occasions throughout the year. All students in the Lower School receive vocal training as members of the choir as well as lessons in music theory and history. In addition, all students in grades 4-7 learn string instruments as part of our regular curriculum. Hawthorn also offers an extra-curricular string ensemble program open to students in both the Lower and Upper Schools.

Music Faculty: Magdolna Hamza, Theresa Kim, Sarah Marchack

Hillfield Strathallan College

 hsc.on.ca

Located on a 50-acre campus in Hamilton, Ontario, Hillfield Strathallan College (HSC) is an independent, co-ed, non-denominational day school with a student population of over 1200. HSC inspires its students to reach their full potential and to better the world around them. Our College provides a full, independent educational experience for students from toddler to Grade 12, including rigorous academics, sound social and emotional development, and student-centred, Project Based Learning (PBL) within a welcoming community. HSC nurtures imagination and creativity early through an integrated Arts program taught by accomplished specialists. Students can get involved with our major theatrical productions, award-winning choral groups and bands, or visual arts groups.

Music Faculty: Kate Boose, Brent Fifield, Allan Gaumond, Ona Gutauskas, Nora Hammond, Amber Mills

Holy Name of Mary College School

 holynameofmarycollegeschool.com

Holy Name of Mary College School (HNMCS) is a progressive and vibrant independent Catholic school that provides girls in Grades 5-12 with rich educational opportunities and a multitude of co-curricular activities to ignite interests and broaden horizons. Located in a picturesque 25-acre setting in Mississauga, HNMCS empowers young women to transform the world through intellectual curiosity and personal growth. An appreciation of music inspires and fosters the expression of a creative spirit, and at HNMCS, students are involved in all aspects of music – performing, creating and listening. The vocal music programme is a key focus, allowing each student to build their confidence and work towards developing a high level of performance ability in voice. Individual creativity is encouraged through a tapestry of co-curriculars like songwriting, theatre, drama, improv, dance and instrumental music clubs. HNMCS’ award-winning choirs (junior, intermediate & senior) have consistently placed first and second at regional competitions and regularly perform both inside and outside the school. The Senior Choir has also performed on tour alongside the SMCS band in Boston, Chicago, Montreal and New York. Additionally, students have performed in various musical productions such as Beauty and the Beast, Fiddler on the Roof, Oklahoma, Children of Eden and the Addams Family.

Music Faculty: Anne Morrone, Carson Freeman

Holy Trinity School

 hts.on.ca

Founded in 1981, Holy Trinity School (HTS) is a co-educational, independent day school for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12, located in Richmond Hill, Ontario. Music is an essential component of the integrated arts curriculum at HTS, which actively engages students, encouraging the development of technical skills, creativity, artistry, and performance. In the Lower School, choral repertoire, musical theatre, handbell, and ukulele programs are part of the fundamental curriculum. The Wind and Percussion Ensemble program commences in Grade 6 and continues throughout Middle and Senior School featuring three Concert Bands, three Jazz Bands, and multiple chamber ensembles. Vocal music is an essential feature of the music curriculum, and it culminates in Senior School when students participate in the Senior Choir and HTS’s musical theatre productions.

The HTS Integrated Arts Department facilitates many performance opportunities for students within the school, in our local community, and on international tours. Students partake in seasonal recitals, assembly presentations, Arts Week, and concerts for Chapel liturgy. Our award-winning Concert Bands regularly compete in the Ontario Band Festival and Musicfest Canada. HTS proudly supports its musicians by encouraging travel throughout Europe every other year.

Music Faculty: Eli Lewis, Georgette Marshall, Lyndsay Promane, Jordan Zero, Evan Morrison

Kingsway College School

 kcs.on.ca

Located in Etobicoke over two campuses, Kingsway College School serves students from JK to Grade 11. At KCS, students learn the Habits that matter most for success in life through our Four Doors of Academics, Arts, Athletics, and Citizenship. In our innovative program, students strengthen their independence and readiness for real-world challenges through experiential learning and making a difference. Integration with a broad variety of subject areas are a central part of Arts education at KCS. Our school is a living art gallery that welcomes artists-in-residence and experts into our learning community. Our music programming includes recorder, Orff, ukulele, band, choral, guitar, an annual Junior School musical production, and a monthly “Wake Up with the Arts.” Music is a valued part of school life at KCS, and students have many opportunities to create and perform.

Music Faculty: Rachel Hasen, Shanda Lee, Ljiljana

Markovic, Edgar Wedig

Lakefield College School

 lcs.on.ca

Lakefield College School provides an enriching co-educational day and boarding experience for Grades 9 through 12. LCS programs are grounded in principles of community-minded leadership, character education, and environmental sustainability. The academic, artistic, athletic, and outdoor programs take full advantage of the school’s extensive facilities and 315-acre waterfront campuses. Lakefield College School is inspired by a belief in the fundamental value of each person: caring teachers, advisors, coaches, and directors challenge and enable students to reach their individual potential, inspiring them to be leaders who care and make positive contributions to their communities. At LCS, we are proud of our music department as it plays an important role in the development of the mind, body, and spirit of our students. Lakefield’s music program highlights include co-curriculars such as Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Rock Choir, Lorelei Consort Choir, String Ensemble, and full-length musicals. LCS enjoyed a successful run of Something Rotten!, this year’s musical theatre production, in February. In addition to our music faculty, a number of professional musicians offer private instruction and workshops for students throughout the school year.

Music Faculty: Geoff Bemrose, John Braeckman, Cathy Colling, Emma Drinnan, Sarah Mayo, Chip Mihailescu, Sarah Young

Matthews Hall

 matthewshall.ca

Matthews Hall is London, Ontario’s leading independent school providing a rich and dynamic music program to elementary students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. From the youngest children to the graduating class, our students enjoy an integrated curriculum in which music plays a central role. Our school believes that music education is essential to the intellectual development of the whole child. Beginning in the early years, our students sing, play an instrument, study music theory, and perform. A talented music faculty comprised of professional musicians and educators inspire students in classes from voice and concert band to strings, piano and beyond. We share our love of music during the school year through community service outreach, school performances and annual celebrations. We are proud of our participation in the Conference of Independent Schools Music Festival and hope this showcase of student talent from across Ontario will inspire, uplift and entertain you!

Music Faculty: Kaeleigh Campbell, Georgina Galba, Marius Debick

Montcrest School

 montcrest.ca

Montcrest School is proud of its music program where every child from JK to Grade 8 participates in a vocal, ukulele, or band class and performs on stage each year. Students are enjoying a return to more dynamic arts offerings in the classrooms and have the opportunity to engage in a variety of co-curricular ensembles.

The Montcrest Singers and our primary students were the first to perform this year. They presented their songs and poems at our Winter Concert, One Small Voice. This was our first concert since 2019, and a highlight for our community. This spring the grade 4’s and 5’s took the stage with their ukuleles and performed their songs for appreciative and excited parents, and we are looking forward to performances by our band students in May.

As we celebrate a return to school concerts and assemblies, our students are very excited to be performing in the Intermediate Choir. Montcrest congratulates all other schools participating in this year’s concert.

Music Faculty: Carol Macfarlane, Jennifer Vincent

Pickering College

 pickeringcollege.on.ca

Pickering College has a long-standing and proud tradition of musical excellence. We provide a dynamic vocal and instrumental music programme for students from kindergarten to Grade 12. Our vision is to develop the individual musical potential of all students through a wide range of opportunities for excellence in collaborative music-making. All Pickering College students benefit from our unique Global Leadership Program, which teaches students how to deeply consider global contexts through their engagement with the arts. We encourage students to engage actively with their community so they will hear and see our ensembles at many community events throughout the year. The instrumental music programme is thriving with two concert bands and three jazz bands. The choral programme includes Primary, Junior, and Senior choirs. To share our music with our local and international community, performances are broadcast on our own radio station, 102.7 CHOP FM. Performance highlights for this year include our annual Holiday and Spring concerts, and performances at MusicFest Nationals in Niagara Falls.

Music Faculty: Rebecca MacDonald, Jessica Puskar, Heather Suters, Ellen Wells

Ridley College

 ridleycollege.com

Since 1889, music has been a central feature of campus life at Ridley College. Vocal, instrumental and strings instruction is offered to students from over 55 countries worldwide. Specialist music teachers present the music curriculum from Kindergarten to Grade 12, and many students also take advantage of private lessons offered by fourteen different music specialists. A wide variety of music co-curricular activities are offered, which provide students with many opportunities to perform. These activities include a school Orchestra, Jazz Band, Cadet Marching Band and Choir. In addition, school musicians also participate in an annual school musical production and various evening events that showcase the spectrum of musical involvement on campus, from choral performances in our chapel to a Battle of the Bands in our 350-seat school theatre. Off-campus, our musicians perform for large audiences during Santa Claus parades, at the First Ontario Place in conjunction with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and at various smaller venues.

Music Faculty: Ken Hutton, Steve Fralick, Duane Nickerson, William Reid, Scott Vernon, Eugenie Wiley

Royal St. George's College

 rsgc.on.ca

RSGC is located in the Annex area of downtown Toronto and founded CISMF in 1983 when the Festival took place at Massey Hall. At RSGC, our Junior music program focuses on the fundamental skills of creating and exploring music using ukuleles, guitars, singing, and electronic music platforms. In the Senior School, students choose to specialize in either band or choir. RSGC musical ensembles regularly perform at the school, in the community and overseas. This year, the Junior School’s musical production of Beauty and the Beast was a smash hit. The 59th annual Service of Lessons and Carols, held at St. James Cathedral, was and is a musical highlight for the RSGC family and the wider community. In March, members of the Senior Band travelled to New York City. In June (of this year), the Chapel Choir will tour Spain, with performances in Madrid, Valencia, Avila, Montserrat and Barcelona.

Music Faculty: Douglas Jamieson, Emily Johnson, Troy Lebane, Gary Martin, Tom Wade West

St. Andrew's College

 sac.on.ca

Located on 126 beautiful acres in Aurora, Ontario, St. Andrew’s College has a 123-year tradition as a premier boarding school. Music is everywhere at St. Andrew’s. The arts are featured heavily in the school’s strategic plan. Students and staff of all art departments have benefited from many recent investments, including multi-million-dollar, stateof-the-art music, drama, and fine arts facilities. Students participate in traditional concert bands, jazz bands, rock bands, pep bands, guitar clubs, and choirs and can explore deejaying and digital recording with high-tech equipment. The Pipes & Drums are a highlight of the SAC music program. In November, they performed at the Royal Winter Agricultural Winter Fair alongside Blue Rodeo and Sasha. They have also been invited to perform at The World Finals in Edinburgh this summer. The Wind Ensemble has travelled around the globe, performing at the London Olympics in 2012 and last spring performing at Carnegie Hall during the WorldStrides Festival. The yearly fall play incorporates production teams and equipment from the Stratford Festival and is led by award-winning individuals with experience in London’s West End. All groups look forward to the annual holiday performance at Roy Thomson Hall, which regularly sells out and features all students, plus stage and lighting production designed by some of the best technicians in Canada.

Music Faculty: Dan Horner, John Clements, Matt MacIsaac, Major Brian McCue, Jim McGillivray, Eric McMillan, Garry Page, John Richardson

St. Clement’s School

 scs.on.ca

St. Clement’s School’s robust Arts program provides students at every grade level with opportunities for creative expression through both vocal and instrumental music. Despite the ever-evolving COVID-19 restrictions over the last few years, St. Clement’s students continued to thrive. By leveraging inherent technological infrastructure in the School, SCS musicians continued to enjoy meaningful opportunities to showcase their musical talents through live-streamed productions of our annual Carol Service, Recital Night, and Spring Arts Festival. In addition, student-led co-curricular initiatives like the Virtual Music Ensemble highlighted our willingness to adapt as a community and leverage contemporary music technologies, multitrack production, and live-studio recording. We carry these experiences in our hearts with a profound appreciation for what the pandemic has taught us: no matter the obstacle, music can transcend boundaries and inherently connect communities. This year, our Primary Choir, Junior Choir, Senior Choir, and Chamber Choir continue to share their love for singing with the School and broader community in school assemblies and at our first in-person church services back at St. Clement’s Church and St. Paul’s on Bloor. The Chamber String Orchestra, Middle School Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Band are also thriving, performing at assemblies and services.

St. Clement’s School is thrilled to be participating in CISMF 2023.

Music Faculty: Derek Monson, Edmee Nataprawira

St. John’s-Kilmarnock School

 sjkschool.org

St. John’s-Kilmarnock School (SJK) is the leading independent school in Waterloo and the surrounding region. Established in 1972, the school is located on a beautiful 36-acre natural campus. SJK offers enriched educational programming for students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 through its accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum. The program focuses on creativity, arts and service, providing opportunities for students to try new things and discover their passions. SJK offers a vibrant Arts Program for students of all ages. With choirs and bands, drama clubs and full-scale productions, studio art classes, and dance clubs, there are many opportunities for students to develop their love of and talents in the Arts. Students perform and exhibit their work at events such as Founders’ Day, Arts and Jazz Night, Carol Service, and Arts Around Us. At SJK, students find their excellence within, love to learn, and graduate as confident, well-rounded individuals, fully prepared for post-secondary education and life beyond.

Music Faculty: Andrea de Boer Jones, Ben Wright

St. Michael’s College School

 stmichaelscollegeschool.com

St. Michael’s College School is a private, all-boys Roman Catholic day school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1852 and administered by the Basilian Fathers, it is the largest school of its kind in Canada. St. Michael’s has a rich tradition of instrumental music where students from grades 7-12 participate in a variety of ensembles: Gr. 8 Band, Gr. 7-8 Honour Band, Gr. 9 Introductory Band, Gr. 9 Advanced Band, Gr. 10 Band, Gr. 9-10 Honour Band, Sr. Concert Band, Jr. & Sr. Jazz Ensembles, Sr. Jazz Combo as well as a very successful Drumline program. Our bands travel each year to destinations such as New York, Boston, Chicago, Florida, California and Europe. In April of 2023, almost one hundred music students from grades 9-12 will be participating in a performance tour to Chicago, IL. The school produces a fully staged Broadway musical each spring in our new state-of-the-art Centre for the Performing Arts. This year, the school will be producing its own unique musical, Love and Revolution, which runs from April 17-22, 2023.

Music Faculty: James Oatt, Christopher Plock, Amy McLennan, Anne Morrone, Brad Harrison, Andrew Busch, Ian Borak

TFS – Canada’s International School

 tfs.ca

TFS – Canada’s International School is a coeducational, bilingual and IB continuum World School for students from age 2 to Grade 12. Founded in 1962, we were the pioneers of French immersion education in Canada and are now celebrating our 60th anniversary.

Arts education starts with our youngest learners and continues throughout the TFS journey. Our Senior School music program has continued to grow in size and excellence, as evidenced by the accolades and awards our student musicians and their teacherconductors have brought home from performances at Kiwanis, the Ontario Band Association and Musicfest Nationals. A key aspect of our program is mentorship; students are nurtured to become supporters of their classmates as musicians. Beyond graduation, a number of our alumni have gone on to become highly accomplished performers or composers, studying music at the university level and entering their professional lives in the performing arts.

Given TFS’ diverse student population, we perform a wide cultural and eclectic repertoire from all corners of the globe. This year, our choir and wind ensemble were also honoured to perform at the unveiling of the Amicitia monument in Ottawa, celebrating the shared history and deep relationship between France and Canada. Thank you to our exceptional and dedicated music teachers who are at the heart of our music program and ensure that all of our performances are reflective of TFS’ motto: Individuals who reflect, citizens who act.

Music Faculty: Rupert Price, Caroline Pai, Abigail Freeman, Jennifer Savov, Amaury Suchon, Nila Rajagopal

The Bishop Strachan School

 bss.on.ca

The Bishop Strachan School is Canada’s oldest independent day and boarding school for girls. For over 150 years, BSS has been inspiring girls to be fearless and educating them to be leaders. As an Inclusive Girls’ School, we foster a sense of belonging in all aspects of the BSS experience and strive to maintain a safe environment for all our students. Financial assistance is a cornerstone of our commitment to providing inclusive and accessible education. With $2.1 million in need and meritbased assistance, BSS has more financial assistance available than any girls school in Canada.

At BSS, we believe learning happens everywhere, all the time, which is why we provide our students with a wide range of co-curricular activities, from sports to music to leadership and service.

With a focus on music, our students begin taking classes as early as Junior Kindergarten, with a band and strings program starting in Grade 7. These programs continue through Middle School and Senior School, with many students participating in ensembles in Senior School, including String Ensemble, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Senior Choir, Middle School Choir and Chamber Choir. In addition, students have access to international music exchange programs, which allow them to bridge differences and build understanding. In addition, students are presented with an opportunity to consider how music is a cultural artifact, a tool for selfexpression and can serve as a marker of identity.

Music Faculty: Courtney Dakers, Danette Dickinson, Greg Gallagher, Tom Marcaccini

The Country Day School

 cds.on.ca

The Country Day School is a JK-12 school located on 100 acres in King. This year, we are immensely proud to be celebrating 50 years of Education with Balance, and thrilled to be performing once again in-person at CISMF! CDS offers music instruction from JK to Grade 12. Students are introduced to the recorder and Orff instruments in Grade 3 and take up either a brass or woodwind instrument in Grade 5. Vocal music instruction begins in JK and carries on within the classroom through Grade 7, with options to continue vocal course work in Grades 9-12. Starting in Grade 2, students become part of a formal choir that prepares them for the Primary and Junior Choirs, as well as extracurricular options to join the Junior, Middle or Senior Choirs, Jazz Ensembles and Middle and Senior Concert Bands. Junior School drama productions (Grades 4-6) are musicals held annually, including James and the Giant Peach Jr. and Lion King Jr. Recent Middle/Senior School productions have incorporated a faculty/student pit-band or accompaniment, including Matilda, In the Heights, and Ahead by a Century. Each September, our senior music students have the opportunity to take part in an intensive music camp with professional musicians coaching and supporting their learning in a beautiful natural setting. CDS ensembles enjoy performing at assemblies, winter and spring concerts, community events and competitions throughout the year.

Music Faculty: Kirsten Baird, Patrice Barbanchon, Marney Curran, Jaekwan Jung, Michael Moore, Jenna Romanowich

The York School

 yorkschool.com

The goal of The York School’s IB Music programme, in and out of the classroom, is to foster a lifelong appreciation of and connection to music in its many forms. In our gender-inclusive environment, students receive training in recorder, Orff and Kodaly, ukulele, African drumming, guitar, concert band, jazz band and vocal music. Our students create original music by exploring composition, recording and sound editing, using the latest technologies from the primary level and up. In addition to performing for our school community, such as at school concerts, assemblies and ceremonies, our bands and choirs participate and win awards at festivals such as the Kiwanis Music Festival. Our senior students perform in many parts of the world; past trips have taken our students to various cities in North America and countries in Europe and Asia. In February 2023, our senior music students will have travelled to Cuba; in May 2023, our grade 10 music students will have travelled to New Orleans. Both excursions provide our students with incredible performing opportunities.

Music Faculty: Cody MacFarlane, John Pittman, Fabio Biagiarelli, Lisa Yorke

TMS

 tmsschool.ca

TMS, established in 1961, is a leading co-ed independent school in Richmond Hill, uniquely combining the Montessori and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. TMS develops a love of music in our students at the earliest levels, beginning in the Toddler Program (18 months) with our Music Keys Program and progressing through Children’s House (3 to 6 years). When students reach Elementary (Grades 1 to 6), they have options to participate in the annual Musical/Play, and Choir (one for each of Grades 1 to 3 and Grades 4 to 6). The TMS Music Program continues to engage students as they enter our Upper School (Grades 7 to 12) through bands and choir, as well as opportunities for solo and small ensemble contributions at School Community events. The TMS Community also enjoys a wide range of performances from student-driven initiatives such as ‘Strummers’ and ‘A cappella’ groups that are initiated through our students’ entrepreneurial thinking and desire to make an impact. TMS is in the midst of a significant campus master plan that includes building spaces to animate students’ learning and performances. Our students are very excited to be participating in the CISMF Concert and warmly congratulate all performers.

Music Faculty: Rachel MacDonald, Roger Marlés, Colleen Prince-McInnes, Amanda Portanova, Nancy Promane

Trafalgar Castle School

 trafalgarcastle.ca

The Arts play an important role in the balanced life of Trafalgar Castle School students. Students enjoy a full life outside of the classroom that includes a variety of musical opportunities. We believe that the Arts are fundamental to each student’s emotional, social and academic well-being as they deepen relationships and build connections across the classroom, the school and the community.

Over one-third of Trafalgar students from all grades are involved in co-curricular music ensembles. Those vocal and instrumental ensembles include Castle Band, Castle Singers, Lower School Choir, Class Choirs, Flute Choir, Clarinet Ensemble, String Ensemble, and Brass Ensemble.

Student performances take place throughout the year at both school and community events including Remembrance Day, Holiday Market, Winter Concert, Holiday Music and Reception, Arts Night, May Court Festival and Trafalgar Day. In collaboration with our Visuals Arts department, our music students also play an integral role in Trafalgar’s musical production that takes place in March. Our students are also excited to perform in several festivals each year, including many students in today’s CISMF performances.

Music Faculty: Fiona Hopkins, Julian Smerdon

Trinity College School

 tcs.on.ca

Trinity College School is an independent boarding and day school for students in Grades 5-12, located in Port Hope, Ontario. Established in 1865, TCS is one of Canada’s oldest and most respected educational institutions. The School places a balanced emphasis on academics, service-learning, athletics, and arts –as both a long-held TCS tradition and a reinvigorated approach to a 21st-century education. At the Junior School (Grades 5-8), our Grade 5 music program focuses on exploring and creating music through the Orff-Schulwerk process. Orff education provides an excellent foundation for students to continue their musical development in the concert band program from Grades 6 through 8. At the Junior School, our co-curricular program is an essential part of the school day. Music offerings include: Tottenham Band, Orff Ensemble, Grade 7 and Grade 8 Band, and small ensembles. Members of our Tottenham Band enjoy performing in the Ontario Band Association Music Festival. In our Senior School (Grades 9-12), music courses are offered in all grades and at the Advanced Placement level. The Senior School co-curricular music program offers a dynamic range of ensembles including Trinity Winds, Trinity Jazz, Trinity Singers, Chapel Choir, Bell Ringers, Trinity Strings, String Quartet, Drumline, Rock Band, as well as various small ensembles.

Students also benefit from a large private music instruction studio. “Week Without Walls” is a schoolwide community service initiative where music students perform at local community centres and retirement homes. The music department also hosts a local jazz band festival each year and is proud to host the Canadian Drumline Association competition.

Music Faculty: Jeff Biggar, Emma Crawford, Nicola Lee

Upper Canada College

 ucc.on.ca

Located in central Toronto, Upper Canada College delivers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme, providing transformational learning experiences for boys from Senior Kindergarten through Year 12 in an exceptional day and boarding environment. Arts at UCC consist of visual, musical, and theatre arts and film studies. Students will explore choir, ukulele, recorder, Orff, and instrumental programs, not to mention composition techniques and historical studies. Co-curricular arts programs at UCC include 4 Concert Bands, 5 Jazz Ensembles, 2 Wind Ensembles, 3 Choirs, and a string ensemble. There are also numerous theatrical musical sessions, including Adventures of a Comic Book Artist (Year 7) and multiple plays throughout various year levels. UCC ensembles take part in numerous on and off-campus performances. Highlights this year include Festival of Carol Service, Blue Note Jazz Cafe, Montreal Jazz Trip (Senior Jazz) and International Festival Participation in the Heritage Music Festival (Year 7–12).

The Year 4–7 choir and Upper School instrumentalists are very proud to be part of this year’s CISMF.

Music Faculty: Tony Gomes, Chris Cigolea, Daniel Webb, Paul McGarr, Caroline Heo

Villanova College

 villanovacollege.org

Villanova College is an independent co-educational Catholic day school rooted in the Augustinian education tradition and committed to living out its values of unitas, veritas and caritas, meaning unity, truth and love, in all aspects of school life.

The Villanova music program has been a vital part of the school since 2001. Our performance ensembles include Concert Bands, Choirs, Jazz Bands, and Chamber Ensembles. These ensembles perform at Christmas and Spring Concerts, assemblies, liturgies and masses, and various competitions. Next month more than 50 of our talented singers, dancers, and actors will be performing in our school’s musical, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Our Senior Concert Band has just returned from an enjoyable trip to New York City where one of the highlights was performing for the students at Cornelia F. Bradford Public School.

Music Faculty: Susan Bennett, Samantha Etchegary, Danielle Kolenko, Peter Jones

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Program Cover Artwork

Contest Winners

First Place: Audrey Jiang – The Country Day School

Thank you to all CIS Ontario member school students who submitted their art for the front cover of the CISMF 2023 program. We thoroughly enjoyed viewing all of the submissions. Congratulations to the winner and runners-up. We hold this contest yearly, so remember there will be another chance to send your artwork next year for CISMF 2024.

Second Place: Shuiyi Zhao – St. Andrew's College

Third Place: Angela Zhang – Trinity College School

Fourth Place: Felix Yu – Holy Trinity School