The John McGregor Secondary School Concert Band has earned a Gold Standard at MusicFest Canada “The Nationals,” marking a major milestone for a program that began just three years ago with students who had never previously played an instrument.
The ensemble, based in Chatham-Kent, performed in Niagara Falls on May 11 as part of the national festival, which brought together more than 8,000 student performers from across the country.
Under the direction of Curtis Clarke, the 26-member Grade 9 to 12 group has rapidly built its program since its creation. Clarke said the group was rebuilt from the ground up, with all students initially learning instruments from scratch during his first year at the school.
“During my first year, every student enrolled in a Music class was taught how to play an instrument,” he said. “Going from not being able to play any instruments to winning gold at the national level in just three years is such an incredible accomplishment for the students at JMSS.”
The Concert Band officially formed last year, making its debut at the school’s Panther’s Palette arts night. Since then, the group has expanded its performance schedule, including tours to feeder schools, a revived winter concert drawing more than 250 attendees, and a Silver Plus rating at MusicFest Windsor that qualified them for the national event.
The national performance required the ensemble to perform three contrasting pieces and complete a one-hour adjudication session that included sight-reading an unfamiliar piece without preparation.
Despite the demands of the competition, the students delivered what adjudicators recognized as a strong, expressive performance, earning one of the event’s top distinctions.
The achievement was celebrated at the school with a “Walk of Gold,” where students and staff recognized the ensemble’s accomplishment.
Clarke said the result reflects the students’ dedication and the growth of the program over a short period. “The students worked so hard for this,” he said. “I’m incredibly proud of them.”
The Gold Standard finish marks a significant milestone for the JMSS music program and its continued development within the Lambton Kent District School Board.
