By Greg Sutherland,
Huntsville High School teacher
Over the past five years, the staff and students of the Huntsville High School (HHS) music program have instituted a co-operative venture with their Family of Schools.
A team-teaching strategy at the high school has allowed small groups of four to six students, accompanied by one teacher, to visit the elementary classrooms from junior kindergarten to Grade 8 in their class period and provide valuable musical exposure for the younger students. During that time, the high school students’ presentations have included an introduction to various instruments exploring the sound and technical differences, a short performance and a chance for all elementary children to explore an instrument.
As luck would have it, three years ago, the music program was able to broaden its base even further when it partnered with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA). In a co-ordinated effort to expose young people to the Algonquin Theatre, the festival agreed to underwrite the costs of a number of performances and workshops for both elementary and secondary students.
Since then, the HHS music department has been able to use the theatre for a variety of events including two fundraising performance/workshops by the professional vocal touring group Cadence, six band concerts and two performances of the Song Project, for more than 800 elementary students, plus one sold-out evening performance for the public.
The partnership has been extremely beneficial to all parties. Funding by the festival has allowed the high school students an opportunity to perform in a professional forum, along with providing theatre exposure to the younger students. In addition, it has created enthusiasm and creative opportunities for staff and students alike.
The Song Project is a perfect example of what the partnership has produced. The collective features an ensemble of five amazing HHS vocalists, singing a variety of pop, rock and new country songs, backed by an all-star faculty/student seven-piece band.
Over the past three years, this ensemble has opened for performers such as Jully Black and the Canadian Tenors, along with headlining their own sold-out performances and playing for private functions. The group’s success is directly related to having had the opportunity to hone their skills in a professional forum like the Algonquin Theatre.
This year’s version features Rachael Wright, Jenny Smith, Kaitie Dafoe, Sarah McNeil and Taylor Petman on vocals, faculty members Jordan Riley on keyboards and Louis Tusz on percussion and trumpet, Kevin Bell, Tyler Ayles and Nick Harris on guitar, Blaine Mackie on bass and Shane Connon on drums.
For those interested in seeing and hearing the fruits of the collaborative efforts of the HFA and the HHS music program’s partnership, there are two upcoming opportunities at the Algonquin Theatre: Fanfare on May 28, featuring the HHS concert bands, stage bands and vocal ensemble; and the Song Project in a two-hour performance of rock, pop, rhythm and blues, and new country classics on June 4 and 5.
For more on the HFA and to check out the exciting 2009 summer lineup, go to www. huntsvillefestival.on.ca. Look for more stories and photos on the festival blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com.
