Wellington Secondary School students took home the second-most awards at one of Canada’s largest student jazz festivals.
In the last weekend of February, Wellington Jazz Academy students performed at the Bell Performing Arts Centre for the 42nd year of the Surrey Schools Jazz Festival – touted as one of the longest-running and largest educational jazz festivals in Canada with more than 1,500 secondary school jazz musicians.
Emmalee Armour, Milana Dronova, Ivy Holmberg, Rowan Long, Maddy Mitchell, Molly Racz and Lola Woods made up the Grade 9 jazz combo and came away from the festival with the Outstanding Junior Combo Award and were invited to perform in the evening showcase.
Individuals awards went to Dukane Podrtiske for junior saxophone player; Emmalee Armour for junior saxophone player; Lola Woods for junior trombone player; Bexon Pley for junior auxiliary percussion; and Garrett Tomkins for senior drummer.
Grade 9 and 10 students Podritske, Jack Keltie, Rowan Long and Grade 11 students Tomkins and Cash Hanratty were part of the festival rep bands.
READ MORE: Wellington Secondary School jazz students earn top honours at U.S. festival
