Music students achieve recognition during jazz festival
Countless hours of rehearsals in the early morning, after school, evenings and weekends paid off for Wellington Secondary School’s jazz academy students.
Individual musicians, as well as the school’s four jazz bands, earned several awards from the Envision Jazz Festival in Surrey last weekend where students competed against 26 other bands from around the province.
The Grade 12 students finished in the top four, earning the band a spot in Saturday’s evening showcase concert.
Students receiving individual honours include:
Amy McCartie, Grade 12 vocalist and baritone saxophone player, was awarded the Most Outstanding Overall Senior Musician;
Josh Rey, Grade 11 student, was awarded the Most Outstanding Senior Saxophone Player;
Rachel Skeeles, Grade 11 drummer, was awarded a $200 scholarship to the Courtenay Youth Music Camp;
Kenton Dick, Grade 8 student, on alto sax was awarded the Most Outstanding Junior Saxophone Player;
Connor Stewart, Grade 9 student, on tenor sax was awarded a $200 scholarship to the Courtenay Youth Music Camp.
The Envision festival is one of the largest annual jazz festivals in the country. This year, more than 2,500 students took part.
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