An Orillia high school doubled up on gold at a national music competition recently.
Both the senior concert band and the jazz band from Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School wowed the judges at the MusicFest Canada Nationals in Ottawa last weekend.
The senior concert band is no stranger to the competition or to winning gold, but it was the jazz band’s first time winning top marks.
“It’s very hard to accomplish,” said James Hilts, music teacher and band director.
The majority of the jazz band members are in Grade 12 and have competed at nationals more than once, so Hilts was happy they could end their high-school playing career on a winning note.
“I’m really proud of these students,” he said.
Heeding the advice adjudicators have given the band over the years helped the musicians prepare for this year’s event.
“The learning process evolves,” Hilts said. “We applied what we learned and what the adjudicators said to us.”
The bands also benefited from local talent in the lead-up to nationals, as Hilts brought in area musicians to work with the students.
“It’s nice that the community’s coming together to help out,” he said.
While winning gold is always the hope, Hilts reminds his students the ranking is based on the opinions of a few people.
“Yes, we want to do our absolute best, but no matter what the adjudicators say, it’s the opinion of three adjudicators,” he said.
The band members were able to explore the nation’s capital during their off-time. They caught up with Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton at Parliament Hill and, more importantly, had the time to bond with one another.
“Getting gold is kind of like the icing on the cake. The travelling together and the bonding are also important,” Hilts said.
Each band performed three pieces of music. The jazz band performed Coconut Champagne, Cathy’s Army and Blue Rondo à la Turk, while the senior concert band played Flashing Winds, Land of the Midnight Sun and Oracles of the Sirocco.
