HHS Music!: 2015

Monday 7 December 2015

Musical Furniture Closed Bid Auction

Hillcrest High School Music Department's

Musical Furniture Closed Bid Auction

We are hosting a closed bid auction in support of our Music Department! We have had a number of old instruments donated to the school that have been deemed 'un-salvageable' and irrepairable. We couldn't bear the thought of throwing them out. Instead, we have created an array of furniture and art!

These items are being offered through a closed bid auction (i.e. individuals write what they are willing to pay for an item on a ballot, and then the ballot is submitted.) At the end of the auction, the individual who submitted the highest bid wins! The auction will remain open until thursday, December 17th.
All bids must be submitted by noon on December 17th.

If you are interested in one of these items, please use the information below to indicate the item, and list the amount you are willing to pay. You may submit your bid by email (melanie.reeks@ocdsb.ca or jeannie.hunter@ocdsb.ca), fax (613-733-6126) or in person. Winners will be revealed at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 17th.

Friday 4 December 2015

Canada's Greatest Music Class is.....

HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL!!!

Thank you so much for all of the comments and support! This was a full school effort with contributions from every department, staff members, administration, and most of all, the students!!! We are so proud and grateful!!! Congratulations!

It's an honour to win this inaugural contest, granting us the title of Canada's Greatest Music Class. We would like to acknowledge the other amazing entries from across Canada! It was such an inspiration watching all of the submissions, knowing the hard work and dedication from all music students and teachers required.

Below is the online news release posted by CBC officially announcing our win as Canada's Greatest Music Class!

Thank you CBC!

More than 250 classes from across the country entered Canada's Greatest Music Class, but in the end we had to narrow it down to just one. It wasn't easy, but with help from our judging panel, including rapper Kardinal Offishall, mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah and musician Reuben Bullock, plus staff from CBC Music and MusiCounts, the winner is Ottawa's Hillcrest High School.

They blew everyone away with their imaginative cover of Serena Ryder's "Stompa," which incorporated things like Inuit throat singing, strings, horns, a cappella and step, to name a few. You can read the full inspiration for their performance on their YouTube submission.

Watch the winning submission here, and read a thank-you note from CBC Music's senior director, Mark Steinmetz, below.

The inaugural year of Canada's Greatest Music Class contest has come to an end, and I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the students, music teachers and parents who made it a resounding success. We received hundreds of video entries from all across Canada, showcasing a wide array of participants, from jazz groups to string ensembles, glee clubs to marimba acts and even a few guitar orchestras. CBC Music is proud to offer its platforms for the many and varied interpretations of this year’s Canadian songs. Each submission showed great creativity.

Performing a song heard on radio can be a great thrill for kids. It can bring them together as peers and help them feel connected to music as a living art, reflecting contemporary life. It really doesn't matter what kind of music you perform, or where you live, or even your level of proficiency; the gift of music is to give kids the chance to be in harmony with each other through a common purpose.

I thank all the students for the heart and hard work they put into their performances. While watching the videos, it was also hard not to be filled with pride at the outstanding commitment the teachers made to the project. At CBC Music, we often hear about the formative role music teachers play in the lives of this country’s musicians. This project has allowed all of Canada to watch the impassioned guidance that students receive day in and day out across the land. Thank you to our music teachers for their thoughtful arrangements, rehearsals and performances. And finally, thank you to our project partner, MusiCounts, who successfully keep music thriving in our schools. Keep up the good work — Canadian music is stronger thanks to you.

— Mark Steinmetz

Sunday 29 November 2015

Our Submission to Canada's Greatest Music Class!!

Our submission to CBC Music's Canada's Greatest Music Class is finished and has been uploaded to their Youtube site!! Check it out, and please share with everyone!

We are SO pleased and proud of this entire school effort! AMAZING JOB EVERYONE!!!

The direct link can be found here, where you can like the video, add to our view count, and read a description of our cover! While the video will ultimately be judged by a panel, a high number of likes and views can't hurt!!!

Tuesday 30 June 2015

Important Dates for the 2015-2016 School Year!

Important Dates for the 2015-2016 School Year -

October 28 Citrus Orders due
November 11 Remembrance Day (senior band)
November 17 Filming - CBC Contest
November 18 Awards Ceremony (Jazz Band)

Thursday December 10 Music Night (part I summative band)

December 21 – Jan 1 Christmas Break

Jan 26 - Feb 1 Exams

Feb 2 First Day Semester 2

February 12 Board Wide PD

February 15 Family Day

February 24-27 CRMF (Band/Small Ensemble Festival)

Hosted right here at Hillcrest High School

March 4-5 CRMF (Jazz Band Festival)

March 14-18 March Break

March 25-28 Easter Weekend
March 26 Johnny Reid Performance at TD Place
March 30 Jully Black Performs at HHS!!!!!

March 31 OSSLT

March 22-May 1 All-Star Band (invitation only)

Rehearsals: Tuesday, March 22, then Thursday March 31-April 28

Saturday, April 30 Dress Rehearsal

Sunday, May 1 Gala Concert

April 8 Sax Ensemble at Carleton U

May 2 Music Monday
May 9-14 Musicfest Nationals

May 26 Music Night (part II summative band)

May 23 Victoria Day

June 10 Bistro 142 (summative recital Sr Music Class)
June 11 Governor General's Performing Arts Awards

June 21-27 Exams

June 30 Commencement (9-11 band members only)

Fundraising: Campaign Dates

Fundscrip Gift Cards: Ongoing every two weeks all year beginning Sept. 18

Fall Bulb Fundraiser: September 10-24

Citrus: Approx. October 5-19 for Delivery November 26-December 7

Plantable Gift Wrap and Live Mistletoe: November 23-Dec 7

Thursday 26 February 2015

Festival Results and Recordings! (Updated: March 8)

A HUGE congratulations to both the Senior Band and Flute Choir who performed at festival today! Both groups earned a SILVER standing!!

AND, not to be outdone, Junior Band and Massed Band also both received a SILVER standing!!

Jazz Band competed at Longfield Davidson Heights SS on Saturday, March 7th. After listening to some great solo, improvisation, and ensemble playing, the adjudicators awarded them SILVER!

That brings our total to 5 Silvers for 5 Ensembles. For Jazz Band and Flute Choir, it was only your first time out! WELL DONE!!!

You should all be very proud of how you played and performed - we were both very pleased and proud of all of you :)

Here are the links to our recordings.
All the pieces are part of one long track, so you will have to fast forward through the breaks...

Senior Band (You will need to download, the file is too large)

Flute Choir

Junior Band

Massed Band (You will need to download, the file is too large)

Jazz Band (You will need to download, the file is too large)

Check out the photos tab for our festival photos!!