Ontario Vocal Jazz/Contemporary Festival held at Mayfield Secondary School

Students from over 25 different schools enjoy festival in Caledon

By ZACHARY ROMAN

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A recent music festival held in Caledon hit the right note. 

On March 21 and 22, the Ontario Vocal Jazz/Contemporary Festival was held at Mayfield Secondary School. It featured student vocal groups from more than 25 different schools, and at the festival students got to perform in a professional environment and learn in workshops with professional vocalists.

Mayfield Secondary School's auditorium has all the bells and whistles of a real concert hall, from the sound system to the lighting.

Jennifer Moon, a music teacher at Mayfield Secondary School, helped run the festival, which saw several vocal groups from Mayfield Secondary School perform. For example, Mayfield showcased a 200-voice choir, an 80-voice gospel choir, and performance from the “Magnetics”, a vocal group from a music class Moon teaches.

“It's a lot of fun,” said Moon of the festival.

She explained it's in a growth phase right now as it had to be put on hold during the pandemic.

This year, there were approximately double the number of groups performing as there were at last year's festival. 

Moon said groups from as far east as Oshawa and west as Waterloo came to Mayfield for the festival. In the past, groups from even further have come to the festival, and Moon hopes to see them return in the coming years.

“We're lucky here because we have an amazing facility,” said Moon. “We're really happy to host because many kids walk in and they're used to performing in their cafeteria. You'll hear kids say, ‘Wow, this is impressive'.”

Moon said hosting the festival is a way that Mayfield can give back to the greater music community. She said the workshops held at the festival are a great way for music students to learn about music and the music industry. 

“You get a good, long clinic… with esteemed musicians. They work with the kids and as a teacher, they give you ideas,” said Moon. “It's a really great experience for everybody… no matter what level your ensemble is, come and do it because you get so much out of it.”

One of the best parts of hosting the festival is seeing students get inspired, said Moon.

Some of the tunes performed by Moon's students included Adele's “Rolling in the Deep” and a funk-meets-swing arrangement of “My Favourite Things”.

Moon said Mayfield is planning to host the festival again next year and continue to try and grow it. 

“The more the merrier, I always say,” said Moon. “Next year it'll be even bigger and better.”

To any students thinking of getting involved in music, Moon said it's an amazing experience.

She said students get to explore so many different genres of music in school and can become very well-rounded musicians.