Multiple awards for Guelph CVI music department

May 24, 2022

GUELPH, ON — A big congratulations to Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute’s (GCVI) music department that had a lot to celebrate this past week.

GCVI Music teacher Dan Austin has been awarded the 2022 Musicfest Canada National Band Director Award. The I. Keith Mann Outstanding Band Director Award is given annually to just one music teacher in Canada.

At this year’s competition, GCVI’s brand new orchestra and the Gael Force Stage band both were awarded the National Silver Medals — this was the orchestra’s first time at Nationals. The GCVI Senior Symphonic Band also brought home the Gold Medal. This is the 7^th National Gold Medal won by a GCVI ensemble in the past 10 years.

Celebrating its 50th year, Musicfest Canada is the largest school music festival in North America. Thousands of schools from across the country compete during the winter in regional festivals. The top groups are selected to represent their region at Musicfest Canada Nationals each year in May. In the past 10 years, GCVI have qualified 30 ensembles to compete at Nationals and have won 7 National Gold Medals. GCVI regularly has ensembles performing in the Concert Band, Choir, Jazz Band, and String Orchestra divisions of Musicfest Canada.

Austin said he would like to thank Musicfest Canada and the National Arts Centre Orchestra for the award. He would also like to thank the UGDSB, all the administration and staff at GCVI, and the UGDSB SHSM program for supporting the GCVI Music program. And most importantly, he would like to thank his students.

“I believe that as band directors we show our students possibilities. What they can become if they want it. But they are the ones who have to take the journey and put in all the hours of hard work. I have been blessed to work with so many incredible students over the years. They are the ones who made this award possible.”

You can watch the GCVI performance videos and the awards ceremony at:

https://musicfest.ca/2022-streamed-performances/