PSG - Visual and Performing Arts

Students interested in taking part in the festival meet as follows: Grade 8/9 Monday lunch or after school, Grade 10-12 meet Thursday lunch or after school. Students are coached one on one with Mrs. McAllister, and they may enter one category or enter a Provincial class which involves performing a poem, prose, and monologue.

 

Senior Jazz Band has historically met twice weekly after school. Entrance and placement for the ensemble is by audition. Students participating in this ensemble should have at least two or three years of playing experience on a jazz band instrument (generally saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano/keyboard, drums/percussion, xylophone/vibraphone, bass guitar/upright bass, and guitar). Students will apply their advanced technique and knowledge to performance in a jazz band environment, focusing on jazz, R and B, funk and popular music. Topics in musicianship include development of playing techniques in styles and identification of elements defining these styles, instrumental techniques and performance practices specific to one’s chosen instrument, the history of jazz, improvisation techniques, basic composition and arranging, concepts in articulation, extension of range, an introduction to jazz harmonic concepts, and development of personal musical values and opinions pertaining to popular music. The band performs at school concerts, school functions and given adequate instrumentation may participate in jazz festivals during the year.

Note: In the past, some students have been able to complete Jazz Performance 11, which is a course based in large part on participation in Jazz Band.   This is an exceptional arrangement for students who have been consistent participants in the program in earlier grades, and who are available to complete the remaining curriculum at times that correspond to Mr. Jackson’s availability.

Choir has historically been  a multi-grade curricular class (not co-curricular).  Please see the course catalogue at the end of this guide for details. In the current school year, based on an audition, Grade 12s could be considered to participate in the afternoon rehearsal portion only, and without credit.  Format for the choir program in 2026-2027 will be finalized closer to September.  Students choosing Choir should do so with the understanding that one early morning (7am) per week will likely be required, and that the course will not compete for time with other courses in the regular 9-block rotation. 

This ensemble is  co-curricular, which provides an opportunity to play varied repertoire and is inclusive to various performance levels. The ensemble is open to any instruments traditionally found in a String Orchestra. Admission to the ensemble will be dependent on the instrumentation of the repertoire chosen (i.e. full orchestra, large string ensemble or small chamber group). The ensemble will rehearse weekly on Tuesdays, 3:45-5pm, and must rehearse as a full ensemble, so members accepted into the WPGA Symphony Orchestra are required to consider potential conflicts before committing to this ensemble. Students are expected to practice their parts individually in preparation for rehearsals. Students will perform in the winter and spring concerts. The ensemble prepares repertoire from a wide range of styles in both popular and classical idioms. Activities include performances at school concerts and other school functions, participation in local and international music festivals, attending group retreats for skill development, touring to local and international destinations, and working with guest musicians in clinics and rehearsals.

This ensemble is a co-curricular, auditioned ensemble which provides an opportunity to play challenging repertoire to meet elevated levels of ability. The ensemble will rehearse weekly on Tuesday afternoons, 3:45-5:45pm and must rehearse as a full ensemble. Invited and/or auditioned participants of the Wolfgang Chamber Orchestra are required to consider potential conflicts when committing to this ensemble. The ensemble prepares repertoire from a wide range of styles in both popular and classical idioms. Activities include performances at school concerts and other school functions, participation in local and international music festivals, attending group retreats for skill development, touring to local and international destinations, and working with guest musicians in clinics and rehearsals.

This ensemble is mandatory for students involved in grade 8-12 band classes but is open to students from outside of class time who have developed a competent playing skill on a band instrument at the level of the ensemble (grade 3, and higher, level band repertoire), and where room exists in the instrumental section. Entrance is by permission of the director and may require an audition. Commitment to regular, at home, practice is required, as well as regular attendance at twice-weekly full ensemble rehearsals and consistent participation in performances. The ensemble prepares repertoire from a wide range of styles in both popular and classical idioms. Activities include performances at school concerts and other school functions, participation in local and international music festivals, attending group retreats for skill development, touring to local and international destinations, and working with guest musicians in clinics and rehearsals.

Performing Arts students are required to attend all rehearsals, concerts and performances unless they are absent and excused from school or granted permission in advance by the director. Students are expected to maintain a year-long commitment to their ensembles, or dramatic production for the specified period. Performing Arts students who fail to meet the attendance requirements, effort, or standard of performance established at the beginning of the year may be excluded from participating in concerts or performance tours or be removed from ensembles or drama productions. Absences due to conflicting commitments are subject to the guidelines below:

 

Conflicting co-curricular programs.  Despite their best attempts at planning ahead, students may face conflicts when involved in a number of school co-curricular programs. Where such a conflict has a significant impact on group success or function, the student will not put in the difficult position where he or she is made to choose one over the other.  Instead, the following guidelines will be followed:

 

Conflicting outside commitments.  Conflicts due to commitments to outside, non-school activities fall into the following categories…