CBS students strike right note at national musical competition

By Mark Squibb

Students from Conception Bay South (CBS) were among the more than 9,000 who participated in the 2026 MusicFest Canada national competition this May in Niagara, Ontario.
The Queen Elizabeth Regional High School jazz Band and Frank Roberts Junior High School choir both performed in the prestigious competition. The Corner Brook Regional High School concert band also performed.
“The students were awesome, and they rose to the challenge,” said Queen Elizabeth music teacher Heather Woodman. “They played to the best of their ability.”
The Queen Elizabeth jazz band played “You Must Know” by Ryan Meeboer, “Crunchy Frog” by Gordon Goodwin, and “Sing, Sing, Sing” arranged by Victor Lopez, and won silver in their category. Queen Elizabeth student Maddison Peddle, meanwhile, was awarded the MusicFest Student Honour Award.
The Queen Elizabeth band consists of 18 students from grades 10 through 12.
“I like the feeling you get from playing the music, and experience the depth of it,” said Alex Little, 16. The grade 11 student has tried his hands at a number of instruments, and has been playing the bass guitar, which he plays in the band, since grade 7.
Another member, Gavin Day, 16, quips that he joined band in grade 5 so that he could skip class, but has since become a skilled trombone player.
“I like being able to perform, and being a strong member of the band,” said the grade 11 student, who added that he has also enjoyed meeting new people and learning a new skill.
Katlyn Butler, 18, plays flute in the band.
“My grandma got me into music,” said the grade 12 student. “I started playing piano, and then when I joined band I switched to clarinet, and then switched a couple of years ago to the flute.”
Melissa Cooper is the music teacher at Frank Roberts Junior High.
“I feel very lucky to have this opportunity to travel to MusicFest Canada,” said Cooper. “It was the first time that I’ve taken students to this festival, so it was a big deal for me and a big deal for them as well.”
Cooper herself competed in the competition when she was a student at Prince of Wales Collegiate.
“So, this is a full circle moment for me to be able to bring my own students back to a festival that I got to participate in as a student,” she said.
The Frank Roberts students, who are in grades 7 through 9, performed “Changes” by Audrey Snyder, “mitêh” by Sherryl Sewepagaham in Cree, and “Kusimama” by Jim Papoulis in both English and Swahili.
Cooper said students loved the trip, and have asked if they can go again next year.
“Overall, they had a great experience, with lasting memories and friendships that you could just see blossom,” said Cooper.
Woodman, meanwhile, said skills learned in music class can last a lifetime, even if students choose not to pursue music as a full-time career.
“What you learn in band can transfer to other areas of your life, particularly confidence, and learning work ethic, and having to practise things over and over, and improve each and every time,” said Woodman. “Those are things that you can take with you into any other space or any other area.”
While in Ontario, students were able to hit a number of tourist attractions, including the Eaton Centre, Ripley’s Aquarium, and CN Tower in Toronto. At Niagara, they explored the famous Clifton Hill and took a boat tour behind the falls. Students also had a chance of attending either a Blue Jays game or a musical.
You can view livestreams of all performances at MusicFest.ca