Kwalikum Secondary School’s (KSS) music students came back from Ottawa with several medals they picked up at MusicFest Nationals.
The prestigious hardware that will be added to the host of other awards garnered over the years by the KSS music department includes four golds.
The jazz band, concert band and two jazz combos took top honours.
The three groups that picked up sliver medals included the choir, vocal jazz and another combo.
Grade 11 student Katie Kershaw, who plays flute in the concert band, said one of the gold medals was for sight reading.
“They gave us a piece of music we had never seen before and we got gold for sight reading. It was an easy piece,” she admitted.
The man behind the music program, David Stewart took 40 of his students to the nation’s capital and Kershaw said the trip to Ottawa was a lot of fun.
Tour Band, Jazz Band and two Jazz Combos received gold standing, Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz and a Grade 9 Jazz Combo received a silver standing.
“We watched the Yamaha All Star Band and went to a couple of museums … it was cool.”
Kershaw has a lifetime of memories from the trip which she has recorded in the more than 300 photos she snapped.
The Springwood Middle School Band earned a silver for its performance. An honour award also went to Jonathan Dorsay (percussion).
For all results, visit www.musicfest.ca/results_e.asp?year=2012.