New Westminster's talented music students have earned themselves more honours.
The New Westminster Secondary School senior jazz band was named Best Senior Jazz Band at the 2012 Envision Jazz Festival, held in Surrey.
Their performances of Someone to Watch Over Me and Creole Love Call earned them standing ovations in the festival showcase on Feb. 11.
The Envision Jazz Festival, hosted by the Surrey School District, is Canada's largest and longest-running educational jazz event.
The school's WilKaz Duo, featuring Wil Chernoff and Kaz Takasugi, also impressed the adjudicators and was recognized as the Best Senior Combo of the festival.
All the adjudicators were impressed with the energy and enthusiasm of the NWSS groups.
They commented that: "The NWSS students showed their love for the music and respect for each other in their performances, and their win is recognition for their hard work and dedication."
Steve Clements, band director at NWSS, was pleased with the students' achievements.
"NWSS students brought their 'A' game to the festival," he said in a press release. "We were proud and inspired by all their performances. It was an amazing experience."
Many NWSS music students also received individual awards at the festival: Best Senior Bassist: Wil Chernoff, Best Senior Trumpet: Kaz Takasugi, Best Junior Trombonist: Tiger Xu, Best Junior Vibraphonist: Victoria Hebbard, Best Junior Pianist: Daniel Kweon, and Best Junior Vocal Jazz Soloist: Sophie Labrosse.
Envisions also presents scholarships to provide exceptional young musicians the opportunity to pursue further musical study.
Scholarships were awarded to Madeleine Elkins and Ivy Chao to attend the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre.
For more about the NWSS music department, or to see videos of the senior jazz band performances, see www.nwssmusic. com.
