The Piedmont Highlander

The Student News Site of Piedmont High School

The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

March Crossword Key
March 6, 2024

Band travels to Canada

Band+travels+to+Canada

Band, Orchestra, and Jazz Band trIMG_1161aveled to Canada on May 23-27 to compete in the Heritage Festival. Orchestra won a gold medal for string orchestra and the Adjudicator Award, Band received a silver medal, Jazz Band also received silver.

“The Jazz Band won silver, but it should be noted that their system of awards is kind of really confusing and silver doesn’t necessarily mean 2nd place,” said Jazz Band member senior Joe Chellew.

Jazz Band played three songs, It Don’t Mean a Thang, Summertime, and You Win Some, You Blues Some.

“Paul Kim, specifically, rocked the bari,” Chellew said.

Band member Allison Quantz said she thought band did pretty well competing, but it was a little harder because not everyone went on tour so it was different than how they’ve practiced in class

“I personally thought it was some of the best we’ve played some of the pieces,” Quantz said.

Quantz explained the ratings are by score so if your average score is in the 90s you get gold, 80s you get silver, 70s you get bronze.

Orchestra member senior Molly Niemuth said they only play for 20 minutes, but afterward have workshop sessions with judges.

“A judge came on stage and worked with the Orchestra,” Niemuth said. “You also get judged on that, how much you improve and work cooperatively with the judge.”

Quantz said since they only competed for one day, but they were there for 5, they got to do things like go to the Vancouver Aquarium, Grouse Mountain quicksilver park, Capilano suspension bridge park, Butchart Gardens, and the awards ceremony was at a theme park.

“My favorite part of the trip was probably the Lumberjack show we saw on grouse mountain with a world champion lumberjack who also happened to be very attractive,” Quantz said.

“We toured all over the Vancouver area, and took some sweet instabangers at an aquarium, a flower garden, an amusement park, and more,” Chellew said.

Chellew said one of the best parts would probably be the freestyling on the bus.

“Shoutout to Hanke Panke, the Two Line Spitter. Kid kills it on the beat,” Chellew said. “Overall, I suppose you could say tour was truly an adventure”

Niemuth said her favorite part was bonding with everybody.

“In previous years we’ve gone to disneyland and people just separate into groups, but this year a lot of the things we did we did together, like long bus rides got to bond with other kids.”

Niemuth said every year the orchestra/band travels to different places. In the past they’ve gone to New Orleans, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Las Vegas.

 

Donate to The Piedmont Highlander

Your donation will support the student journalists of Piedmont High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

More to Discover
Donate to The Piedmont Highlander