Three UG schools compete at MusicFest Nationals

May 23, 2023

NIAGARA FALLS, ON – Between May 15 and 20, three Upper Grand District School Board secondary schools travelled to Niagara Falls, Ontario, to compete in the MusicFest Canada National competition.

This competition brings thousands of Canadian students and educators from across the country together for one week to celebrate music. This year, nearly 8,000 Canadian musicians were in attendance, making it the largest educational music convention in North America.

Participating from the UGDSB this year were music programs from Erin District High School, Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute and Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute.

Erin District High School’s “Tempo” Concert Band performed at MusicFest Canada Nationals for the very first time this year and brought home a silver medal for their performance.

Four groups from Centennial CVI participated this year. The CCVI spARTanS Symphonic Ensemble and CCVI sARTanS Stage Band were awarded bronze medals, and the CCVI spARTanS Concert Ensemble and CCVI spARTanS Acoustic Guitar Ensemble were both awarded a gold medal. This is the first time that CCVI has won a gold medal at MusicFest Nationals. This gives them a total of seven MusicFest medals overall including previous years.

GCVI had five groups participating at MusicFest this year. The GCVI Chamber String Ensemble and GCVI Orchestra were both awarded silver medals for their performances. The GCVI Jr. Symphonic Band, GCVI Sr. Symphonic Band, and the GCVI Gael Force Stage Band were all awarded a gold medal for their performances. This is the third year in a row that the GCVI Sr. Symphonic Band has won a gold medal at MusicFest Nationals, and the first time for the GCVI Jr. Symphonic Band and GCVI Gael Force Stage Band.

With more than 200 schools participating from across Canada, GCVI was one of three schools there to take home a gold medal in both the jazz and band divisions. This year’s medal count brings GCVI’s MusicFest medal total 37 medals over the past 11 years, the school is now part of a small group of Canadian schools who have won gold medals in all four divisions at MusicFest Nationals.

Congratulations to all the students who participated in this competition and to all the UG schools who brought home medals this year!