Music
Resource
With three bands, a choir, and the chance to perform at events throughout the year, music is well-integrated into life at BCS.
Our band and choir students have four major events during the year: the Spring Concert, Annual Cadet Review, Remembrance Day performance, and Holiday Concert. Along with practising and performing a wide variety of tunes, our talented musicians learn about different styles of music and master new skills throughout the year.
Our Band Director, Mr. Benson, was excited to show off his students' hard work this year while recording the virtual Holiday Concert. Since mid-November, the junior and senior bands have been practising for the Holiday Concert—check out the virtual event below! Psst... make sure to watch until the end for a performance from our choir.
Band
Throughout the school year at BCS, Band students will develop their skills in an instrument of their choosing by learning various pieces of music. Classes consist of individual and group practice. Through practice, students learn performance by playing with other students and appreciation of music when learning and analyzing the pieces of music being performed in class. Additionally, students practice composition when learning to write their own music.
In addition to the Band classes, there is also the opportunity for students to join one of the three school bands, which take place outside of class time.
The three school bands are the Junior Band, which consists of students from Forms II and III. The Senior Band, which is primarily made up of students from Forms IV – VII. Lastly, students can join the Stage Band, a smaller group comprising of students who already have previous music experience.
Each group meets Wednesdays and Thursdays after school to rehearse music in preparation to perform at events throughout the year. The bands perform for our Remembrance Day celebration, the Holiday Concert, the Spring Concert, and the Annual Cadet Review.
Choir
Led by our Choir Director, Mme Maryse Simard, our typically 30-50 member-strong choir prepares for four major music events every year: the Remembrance Day Ceremony, the Holiday Concert, the Spring Concert, and Annual Cadet Review. The choir practises once a week during the school year, preparing a repertoire of holiday classics for the Holiday Concert in the winter and pop music hits in the spring.
The choir also regularly performs in chapel, at local churches and retirement homes, and elsewhere on special occasions. They join our 'alumni choir' in December for the Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols Service.
Chapel Performances
We regularly have students (and alumni!) perform in chapel during the week. It's a great way for students to share their talent with the community and practise performing in front of an audience.
If a student is interested in sharing their talent (whether it be singing, playing an instrument, or performing spoken word poetry—just to name a few!) they simply need to reach out to our Interim Choir Director, Mrs. Melinda Enns.