École Secondaire Highwood High’s Senior Symphonic Band Honoured at Provincial Festival

Foothills School Division is proud to announce that the École Secondaire Highwood High School Senior Symphonic Band has been awarded the prestigious Adjudicator's Choice Award at the Alberta Band Association Provincial Festival of Bands, marking it as the most outstanding group at the provincial festival. This accolade is particularly significant given the competition included over 160 groups from Western Canada.

Band Directors Dylan Wiest and Jace Stearn expressed their immense pride in their students' hard work and dedication. “Our students have continued the legacy of excellence in our program, a tradition that spans decades and culminated two years ago when we won back-to-back adjudicator’s choice awards in Whistler and Red Deer. To achieve this once again is truly unprecedented in the band community,” stated Wiest.

This success is attributed to the strong foundation laid by junior high band programs, including those at Senator Riley and the High River Regional Band Program. These programs equip students with the necessary tools to excel and develop a passion for music. Additionally, the enthusiastic and knowledgeable teachers, along with robust support for the arts from school administrators, have fostered a culture of excellence and student agency at Highwood.

The band's achievements have sparked interest among colleagues around the province, eager to learn the secret to Highwood's success. Wiest emphasized that while the students' hard work is paramount, the support of feeder school programs at Senator Riley, Cayley, and Blackie schools, as well as committed school-based administrations, has been crucial.École Secondaire Highwood High School 
Senior Symphonic Band

"Our Highwood bands consistently being recognized as the most outstanding group at provincial and national festivals highlights that there truly is a formula for success. Strong junior high band programs such as Senator Riley and the High River Regional Band Program provide students with the tools they need to find success and become passionate about music. Success is contagious, and when you pair that with equally passionate and knowledgeable teachers, as well as strong support for the arts from school administrators, you create culture. Culture is student agency at the highest level and is the reason that Highwood has been continually recognized on a provincial and national level."

École Secondaire Highwood High School and Foothills School Division invite the community to join in congratulating the band students on this historic achievement. The unwavering commitment to student excellence has made this recognition possible.

Media Contact:

Sara Fox
 Manager, Communications & Community Engagement
 communications@fsd38.ab.ca