Hot on a cold Jazz night
Senior Student commons 7:00 p.m. Featuring the heavyweights Brass Band
6 Thursday, February 5
Message From the Director of arts
Welcome to another wonderful season of theatre and performing arts at HSC! It is always a joy to gather as a community to celebrate the creativity, imagination, and extraordinary talents of our students. At HSC, the arts flourish because they are deeply woven into the cultural fabric of our College, championed by dedicated faculty and wholeheartedly supported by families.
This year is a vibrant showcase of that spirit. We opened the season with the Senior School’s high-energy production of High School Musical. Their enthusiasm is matched by our extraordinary Middle School students in the upcoming production of Annie Jr.! Looking ahead, our Spring Play, the classic comedy Arsenic and Old Lace, will thoroughly entertain audiences with its delightful eccentricities and comedic timing.
The Junior and Montessori productions are always highlights, reminding us of the pure delight, magic, and unfiltered joy that only early-years performers can bring.
Our music program continues to thrive, too. Throughout the year, our bands and choirs present an impressive array of concerts and community performances, showcasing collaboration and artistry at events like Carol Service and Remembrance Day.
None of this would be possible without the entire HSC community. Thank you to our engaged families, enthusiastic audiences, and dedicated colleagues for your passionate support of the arts. And to our students— whose dedication, talent, and courage continue to inspire us—we are immensely proud.
Thank you for joining us to celebrate and share in our vibrant arts community.
Nora Hammond ’98
Program Order
HSC Junior Jazz Band
HSC Senior Jazz Band
heavyweights Brass Band
Junior Jazz Set
No Way Out - George Shutack
Fly Me To The Moon - Arr. Mark Taylor
Uptown Throwdown - by Zachary Smith
Chameleon - by herbie Hancock
Senior Jazz Set
Afternoon In Paris - Arr. Mark Taylor
Vehicle - Arr. Ralph Ford here’s That Rainy Day - Arr. Rick Stitzel
Tank! - Arr. Paul Murtha
heavyweights Brass Band
Junior Jazz Band
Directed by Nora Hammond ’98
Trombone/ Baritone
Evie Dawn
Ethan Hu
Yunjing Sheng
Saxophone
Rachael Xu
Kieran Donovan
Kaiden Li
Andy Gu
James Fong
Alex Szpakowski
Trumpet
Madelene Bentham
Joshua Willems
Rhythm Section
Charlie Chou, Logan Li piano
Shawn Zheng bass
Ariel Zare guitar
Tessa tierney drums
Senior Jazz Band
Directed by Allan Gaumond
Trumpet
Lauren Calbeck
Gavin Lee
Patrick Hammond
Saxophone
Alina Zhi
Clara Lam
David Shcherbatykh
Giaus Atse
Trombone
Eddie Clark
Nathan Chan
Rhythm Section
Nicholas Szpakowski piano
Ismael Eyyubov bass
Daren Zhang guitar
Rosiela Chen drums
heavyweights Brass Band
This Toronto-based, New Orleans-inspired powerhouse is known for its highenergy blend of groove and virtuosity. They have performed with legends like The Roots and their latest album, Stir Crazy, is a masterclass in brass. We are thrilled to welcome them back for the first time in a decade—their last visit was one of our most uplifting concerts ever!
john pittman horns
Award-winning trumpeter John Pittman is a cornerstone of Toronto’s jazz and salsa scenes, known for his work with the Heavyweights and his dedication to music education at The Sterling Hall School.
PAUL METCALFe saxophone
Paul is a high-energy saxophonist known for his sophisticated, funky sound. A Western Canadian Music Award winner for his work with Moses Mayes, he is a staple of the Toronto scene, performing with diverse ensembles including the Heavyweights, the Toronto Jazz Orchestra, and King Cardiac.
Nolan Murphy voice
Nolan is a Torontobased musical director and multiinstrumentalist who has shared the stage with Herbie Hancock and Anderson .Paak, while maintaining an active leadership role in the Heavyweights Brass Band and the Nolan Murphy Orchestra.
KAE MURPHY trumpet
Kae is an award-winning trumpet player and tubist known for a genre-blurring career. From appearing on a Grammynominated track with BadBadNotGood to touring with indie-rockers Whitney, Kae’s versatility has taken them to stages like Coachella and the Newport Jazz Festival. They are the recipient of the 2023 Emerging Jazz Artist Award.
RJ SATCHITHANANTHAN trombone/bass
RJ is a sought-after Toronto multi-instrumentalist, composer, and arranger known for his bold, genrecrossing style. From recording with Hip-Hop royalty like Kardinal Offishall to orchestrating for the Cape Town Philharmonic, RJ’s career spans the Heavyweights Brass Band, the Hogtown Brass Quintet, and countless jazz ensembles.
LOWEll WHIttY drums
Lowell is an infectiously energetic drummer and Soulpepper Theatre resident whose recording credits include Jane Bunnett and David Clayton-Thomas, and who proudly endorses Dream Cymbals.
Land Acknowledgment
Hillfield Strathallan College is situated upon the traditional territories of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Mississaugas. This land is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, which was an agreement between the Haudenosaunee, Anishinabek and other Indigenous nations to share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes. As members of the learning community at HSC, we are committed to honouring this covenant by working alongside our Indigenous neighbours and building a sustainable relationship with the land that we all cherish.