Last week at OBA, Woburn Music proved to be not only a school composed of outstanding musicians, but of outstanding people.

As part of the proceedings at Ontario’s annual band festival, adjudicators and teachers alike all meet and discuss the week’s events. Among these discussions, certain stellar bands are given different awards for standing out in a plethora of other high school bands. Woburn’s Wind Ensemble has consistently been given an award over the past few years, and this year is no different. Due to a memorable performance by Wind Ensemble, our band was given both the Harknett Music Award and the Conductor’s Award.

I would personally like to voice my praises of Mrs. Houghton for her commitment to excellence. Her conducting during our performance truly allowed our Wind Ensemble to ascend to the next level musically; however, credit must also be given to Mr. Farrow for his guidance during rehearsals and the members of Wind Ensemble for being so attentive to the intimate interpretations of Mrs. Houghton’s conducting.

Our second award, the Harknett Music Award, was awarded to a school with excellent musicality. Harknett is a well-known instrument manufacturing company. However, this award was special in the sense that a single person within the band was to be recognized with this award for their outstanding musicianship and leadership. This year, I was recognized with this award for going above and beyond my expectations as a member of the band.

Once again, it is apparent that Woburn Music’s commitment to excellence is duly rewarded. In my endeavors to achieve excellence, I held voluntary trumpet sectionals almost every late start Tuesday morning, and this greatly affected the quality of the trumpet section.

Each year, Woburn Music’s senior students will inevitably graduate and pursue their life’s ambitions. Though some of the most skilled musicians will leave the halls of Woburn, others will inevitably fill their places. Each new group of veteran player brings their own strengths to the band, whether it is leadership, musicianship, or hard work. Whatever the case, as long as the commitment to excellence remains, Woburn Music will continue to thrive upon the strengths and passions of its students.