Canterbury Choirs
CANTERBURY SINGERS
The Canterbury Singers is our intermediate treble-voiced choral ensemble, and is under the direction of Mr. James Caswell. Performances historically include Feeder School Concerts, Music Nights, Christmas Lobby Concert, Canterbury After Hours, and the end-of-year Lobby Concert. This choir is mandatory for all Grades 9 and 10 treble-voiced vocal students, and is open to other intermediate students by audition. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday lunch and every Thursday lunch (11:45AM-12:45PM). For performances, choir shirts are provided by the Music Department, but students are asked to provide black dress trousers, black belt, black socks, and black dress shoes.
CANTERBURY HIGH SCHOOL'S VOCUM
Vocum is the senior treble ensemble under the direction of Mr. James Caswell. A cappella or with instrumental accompaniment, Vocum sings many styles: from classical to contemporary. Performances historically include Feeder School Concerts, Music Nights, Christmas Lobby Concert, Canterbury After Hours, ChoralFest, and the end-of-year Lobby Concert. Vocum is also invited to perform at many events in the community. They enter Choral Canada's National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choir every other year. Vocum is a mandatory ensemble for all female vocal students in Grades 11 and 12, and is open to other senior students by audition. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday morning and every Friday morning (7:45-9:00AM). Formal black dresses are provided by the Music Department for performances, but students are asked to provide black nylons/tights, and black dress shoes.
CANTERBURY HIGH SCHOOL MALE CHORUS
Male Chorus is our male-voice choral ensemble under the direction of Mr. James Caswell. Traditional African chants, Barbershop pieces, and sweet melodies are all included in the repertoire of this amazing ensemble. Performances historically include Feeder School Concerts, Music Nights, Christmas Lobby Concert, Canterbury After Hours, ChoralFest, and the end-of-year Lobby Concert. They enter Choral Canada's National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choir every other year. Members of this group sing in barbershop quartets and have entered a city wide competition in past years. Male Chorus is mandatory for all male vocal students, and is open to all other students by audition. Rehearsals are held every Monday afterschool (3:30-5:00PM) and every Wednesday lunch (11:45AM-12:45PM). Ties for performances are supplied, but students are asked to provide a black dress shirt, black dress trousers, black belt, black socks, and black dress shoes.
CANTERBURY HIGH SCHOOL CHAMBER CHOIR
Chamber Choir is our only mixed-voice choral ensemble. The group is generally open to senior students wishing to gain experience in a smaller ensemble of mixed voices, and is under the direction of Mr. James Caswell. A varied, mainly a cappella, repertoire includes pieces by U2, Manhattan Transfer, R. Murray Schafer, Stephen Hatfield, Morten Lauridsen and many others. Performances historically include Feeder School Concerts, Music Nights, Christmas Lobby Concert, Canterbury After Hours, and the end-of-year Lobby Concert. The Chamber Choir is often invited to perform at many events in the community, including annual performances at the Memorial Vigil for the families of fallen peace officers, and CHEO's Butterfly Release for families whose children have passed away. They enter Choral Canada's National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choir every other year. In 2007 the group won the CBC Music in the Schools award of $2,000 for their performance at the Kiwanis festival. Auditions for Chamber Choir are held in June for the following school year and are open to anyone wishing to try out. Rehearsals are held every Wednesday morning (7:45-9:00AM) and every Friday at lunch (11:45AM-12:45PM). Dresses and tuxedos are supplied for performances, but students are asked to provide black socks nylons/tights, and black dress shoes.
Concert Bands
The Intermediate Band is made up of gr 9 & 10 wind and percussion students under the direction of Mr. Jason Sinkus Marches and Suites are favourites of this band. Performances include: Music Night in the Fall and in the Spring, and a lobby concert in June. MusicFest is also entered annually. Intermediate Band is mandatory for all grade 9 and 10 winds students in the music program, but anyone is welcome who would like to gain band experience. Rehearsals are on Wednesday mornings from 7:45-9:00 and Fridays at lunch. A uniform of a black golf shirt (ordered through the school) and black dress pants are needed.
SENIOR CONCERT BAND
The Canterbury Concert Band is an ensemble of gr 11 & 12 wind and percussion instrumentalists, who perform advanced repertoire under the direction of Mr. Jason Sinkus. They play everything from Bach to Whitacre, orchestral arrangements to marches. Performances include: Awards Nights, feeder school concerts, both Music Nights in the Fall, a Holiday concert in December, both Music Nights in the Spring, and an end of the year performance on the lawn in June. The Concert Band also enters into the MusicFest festivals. This ensemble has won many awards, usually obtaining a gold standard at music festivals. The Concert Band is mandatory for grade 11 and 12 winds students in the music program, but students from junior grades or in the general program can also be called upon to audition for a position. The band rehearses on Tuesday mornings from 7:45 - 9:00 and Thursday at lunch. Concert dress consists of a supplied tuxedo or long black dress which are supplied by the music department for performances.
​INTERMEDIATE STRING ENSEMBLE
The Intermediate String Ensemble is made up of approximately 30 string students led by Ms. Janice Mah, Britten, Debussy, and Warlock are just a few of the many composers this ensemble's repertoire encompasses. Performances include: the feeder school concerts in October, Music Night in the Fall and the Spring, as well as lobby performances throughout the year. Entry into Musicfest also happens yearly. The Intermediate String Ensemble is mandatory for all grade 9 and 10 string students, but other junior students, no matter what program, can also audition. Rehearsals for the Senior String Ensemble are on Tuesday mornings from 7:45-9:00, and Fridays at lunch. Uniform for performances is a full black outfit of dress shirt and pants supplied by the student.
​SENIOR STRING ENSEMBLE
The Senior String Ensemble is a group of approximately 40 string students under the direction of Ms. Janice Mah. Concertos, Suites, and Airs from the 1300s to the 2000s make up this group's repertoire. Performances include: both Music Nights in the Fall, the Christmas concert in December, Musicfest in February, and both Music Nights in the Spring. Impromptu lobby performances and recording sessions are also common throughout the year. Senior Strings is a mandatory ensemble for all grade 11 and 12 string students, but students from junior grades or in the general program can also audition for a chair in the ensemble. Rehearsals for the Senior String Ensemble are on Tuesdays at lunch and Friday mornings from 7:45 - 9:00. Concert dress consists of a supplied tuxedo for the men. For the ladies, long black dresses are supplied by the music department for performances.
​The CHS Honours Orchestra is made up of strings, winds, and percussion students to perform a variety of traditional orchestral repertoire and contemporary works. The ensemble is co-conducted by Mr. Jason Sinkus and Ms. Janice Mah. Performances include: the feeder school concert in October, Music Night in the Fall, Music Night in the Spring, in addition to possible festivals. Auditions for the Orchestra are held in September and are open to grade 11 and 12 students, but junior students may also be asked to audition. Rehearsals are Monday mornings 7:40-9:00. Concert dress consists of a supplied tuxedo for the men. For the ladies, long black dresses are supplied by the music department for performances.
INTERMEDIATE JAZZ BAND
The Intermediate Jazz Band is an ensemble of approximately 20 instrumentalists and is led by Mr. Jason Sinkus. This group learns to improvise with blues, funk, rock, and many other styles of jazz. Performances include: Music Night in the Fall, a jazz concert in the Spring, and Music Night in the Spring. Intermediate Jazz also enters MusicFest each year. Auditions are open to any junior Canterbury student. Rehearsals are Thursday mornings from 7:45 - 9:00. Uniforms are a black golf shirt and black dress pants, with perhaps a few accessories supplied.
​SENIOR JAZZ ENSEMBLE
The Senior Jazz Ensemble is a small jazz group of approximately 18 instrumentalists and is led by Mr. Jason Sinkus. This ensemble plays all genres of jazz: funk, rock, swing, and the blues. Performances include: feeder school concerts, Music Night in the Fall, a Jazz concert in the Spring, Music Night in the Spring, and the Ottawa International Jazz Festival in June. MusicFest may also be entered. Auditions for the Senior Jazz Ensemble are held in September and are open to grade 11 and 12 students, but junior students may also be asked to audition. Rehearsals are Friday mornings 7:45-9:00. A uniform of a black shirt and black dress pants are needed.
Other Ensembles
At Canterbury, there are many opportunities to form many different ensembles. Some are formed every year, like small ensembles in grade 10, 11, and 12 winds, or barbershop quartets from the Male Chorus. There are many opportunities to form a small ensemble and many opportunities to perform at concerts or anywhere around the city. Just ask if you need any assistance with music or scheduling for a performance and any of the music teachers should be happy to help. Canterbury is constantly asked to have small groups perform at various events around the city, so don't be afraid to try.