The 38th annual MusicFest Canada, a national week of competition, set itself an ambitious target - to inspire young musicians.
The event brings together more than 10,000 of Canada's finest musical youth who perform for recognition. They range in age from 12 to 25 years and are drawn from elementary, secondary, college and university levels for a week-long event of music, learning and fun.
It seems as if the inspiration has worked. The Elphinstone Secondary School jazz band, an ensemble of over a dozen young performers under the direction of Tom Kellough, were invited to attend this year's competition, and after a flurry of fundraising resulting in $3,000, the musicians, along with Kellough and music teacher Janice Brunson, travelled to Ottawa last week for the festival.
Tiegan Daniels, a trumpeter in the band who has been playing piano since the age of seven, said a highlight for her was meeting some of the other high school jazz bands.
"The dedication and passion they had and the level they've been able to achieve was so inspiring," she said.
Hearing the choirs singing was also an inspiration for band saxophonist Robin Maser Housden.
"There was tons of music everywhere," she said of Ottawa during the festival week. Robin, who also plays flute, has studied the tenor sax only since last September, but has developed a whole new appreciation of jazz after performing with the band.
The group arrived late Tuesday and performed early Wednesday at the National Arts Centre.
"The kids performed well and were given a one-hour clinic with Steve Jones," said Kellough.
They played the funky Hit the Ground Running, a swing tune, A Walkin' Thing, arranged by Bob Cornew, and another slower piece, North Shore Evening, by Matt Harris.
"We were pretty jet lagged, but we had a good clinic afterwards," Robin said.
Another adjudicator recorded his comments on a voice-over track while they were performing. Both adjudicators awarded the group a silver standing.
On Wednesday evening, the band took in a performance at the impressive National Arts Centre by the Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra. (Coincidentally, the famed Montreal-based jazz musician Jensen was born in Sechelt.)
On Thursday evening, they heard the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute Chamber Choir, an outstanding high school choir. Students were free to attend jazz band, concert band, concert choir and vocal jazz performances at three different venues or go to workshops of interest. Some students heard violinist James Ennis perform with the NAC Orchestra.
They also became sightseers, touring the various museums, visiting the Parliament buildings and enjoying a boat cruise and DJ dance on the river with a chance to party with the Neelin High Concert Choir from Brandon, Man.
Overall, it was a very successful trip, noted Kellough. A traditional jazz ensemble can have up to 21 members, he said. Currently, the group could add more trombones and trumpets, but they have a full complement of saxophones.
The jazz band has been running for about nine years and was started by Brunson as an extracurricular activity. Now it is offered for credit and has been assured of its place in the curriculum for next year, too.
