Tiger Talk - Incredible school musicians
with Shea Mcdowell
Uxbridge Secondary School is known for its strong music program, which highlights and develops the immense amount of talent of our musical students. In particular, the Third Avenue Jazz Band and Fourth Avenue Combo have had the opportunity to travel to Niagara Falls to perform against other schools, exhibiting their abilities for the chance to win a first place standing. The USS Third Avenue Jazz Band and Fourth Avenue Combo were, in fact, awarded a Gold Standing at the Motorcity Jazz Festival, and earned an invitation to Nationals in May.
Led by the incomparable teacher, music director and conductor, Ms. Amy Peck, the students have practiced vigorously for this chance to attend Nationals!
Award-winning Uxbridge Secondary School trumpet player Bennet Sewell. Photo by Joanne Drynan
On Thursday, April 1, USS held a special Jazz Cafe and Silent Auction, which featured products from our local community, to fundraise for the opportunity to travel to Nationals in May. The event provided snacks and refreshments thanks to the support of the USS Hospitality class.
Another exciting announcement is regarding two of USS’s very own students, Bennett Sewell, and Mateya Briet, who have both won awards thanks to their musical talents and perseverance. Our Tiger Talk team interviewed both students to gain insight into the emotions and thoughts that they have on their musical experiences so far, and how they feel going into this new chapter in their lives.
Bennett Sewell is a grade 11 student who has been playing the trumpet for over seven years now! He has been nationally recognized by claiming a spot in a jazz band through an audition process, competing with student musicians and trumpet players nationally. Students from across Canada auditioned for this national jazz band, and Bennett was awarded a trumpet position in the Conn Selmer Honour Jazz Band. His music teacher, Ms. Peck, attributes his success to not only his incredible talent, but also his diligence and hard work.
Bennett says he felt personally confident going into this process, hoping there was a chance he would be successful but also knowing how high stakes the audition would be. Crediting his USS school experiences, he says, “All the work and performance with school bands and practice has paid off. I’m really grateful.”
Bennett also won a prestigious award for lead trumpet at the Motorcity Jazz Festival, where he was recognized for both musicianship and leadership at the competition.
He is thankful that he has achieved both recognition and opportunities, and he is thrilled that he is now one of the students he himself had previously watched win this award, all the while wishing that it was him winning it!
Another student quite worthy of highlighting is the multi-talented grade 11 student Mateya Briet, who also recently won awards for musicianship and leadership at the Motorcity Jazz Festival for her skills on the double bass and piano! Mateya feels grateful she was chosen for these two awards because it not only acknowledges her musical talent but also her leadership skills.
Only starting to play the double bass at the beginning of grade 10, Mateya now plays several instruments: she sings, plays the piano, the double bass, as well as the flute! She would like to continue her music journey now that she has the recognition, hoping to work with bigger musicians in the future.
A massive congratulations to both Bennett Sewell and Mateya Briet, as well as the rest of the Third Avenue Jazz Band and Fourth Avenue Combo members on their many accomplishments! Stay tuned for more music performance and information from the Uxbridge Secondary School musicians in the near future!