A delightful display of the talents of École H. J. Cody High School’s music students was performed at Red Deer College Mainstage last Wednesday evening as the school year wraps up.
The evening was a celebration of a “huge year” said director Kerry Heisler. Students performed in the musical production Once Upon a Mattress and 67 band and choir members spent six days at Disneyland learning and performing.
Heisler said the choir was “highly complimented by the clinician” there for being the fastest choir to be ready to record in her 16 years of doing workshops.
Video selections of the students’ performances were shown during the concert.
One of the messages from their workshops, said Heisler, was “be in focus”. She also noted the musicians form a huge family at the school. Most of them performed at the town’s Centennial Jubilee celebration at the multiplex, June 8 where they sang and played many of the same songs as during their final concert.
Among the highlights were Grade 11 student Alex Palm directing his piece ‘Belong’ which he rearranged for concert band and Sheldon Walker who played an original song he’d written on his guitar.
During the evening, Heisler presented awards in the categories of most improved, excellence in music, and musical citizenship. Following are the recipients.
Choir
Grade 9: most improved - Amy Seifert, excellence - Lauren Rowe, citizenship - Ceanna Muller.
Grade 10: most improved - Marie Geake, excellence - Brianne Hughes, citizenship – Hannah Shaxted.
Grade 11: most improved - Layne Zazalak, excellence - Breanna Allen, citizenship - T. J. Sloboda.
Warkentin Choral Award in recognition of outstanding contribution to the H. J. Cody Choir through leadership and personal commitment to excellence in vocal performance - Sheldon Walker and Bennett Hreherchuk.
Band
Grade 9: most improved (Boudreau Music Award) - Keenan Degenhardt, excellence – Nathan Sloboda, citizenship - Ceanna Muller.
Grade 10 - most improved - Derek Penman, excellence - Brianne Hughes, citizenship – Breanna Tait.
Grade 11 - most improved - Ethan Johnson and Jacqueline Starcheski, excellence - Alex Palm, citizenship - T. J. Sloboda.
Band 212˚ Spirit Award in recognition of outstanding contribution to the H. J. Cody Band through love and appreciation of music, effort and reliability, courtesy and respect towards others and willingness to go the extra mile - Shaye Lyons. Students voted for the winner of this award. Six Grade 11 and 12 students were nominated.