Carli Whitwell

  The Hamilton Spectator - (Feb 16, 2008)
It's a different kind of battle of the bands at the Golden Horseshoe MusicFest. Instead of guitars, drums and keyboards, think brass, woodwinds and horns.

The festival boasts performances from about 100 concert and jazz bands from all over southern Ontario. This is Hamilton's third consecutive year hosting. School and community bands will perform in a variety of categories in front of a panel of adjudicators.

If they impress the judges, they have the chance to play at MusicFest Canada in Ottawa this May.
But it's not just about the competition, says Ron Palangio, regional co-ordinator for the competition and a music teacher at Cardinal Newman High School.

The fest's goal is to encourage instrumental music in schools and the community.

The Ontario high school curriculum requires only one art credit to graduate and music is often overlooked, says Palangio.

"We have to sell our programs to show that they are worthwhile ... we are always faced with the threat of cutbacks and programs folding."

Since each school usually has only one music teacher on staff, the competition is a great forum for teachers to compare notes and get feedback on their school's music programs.

Before the Golden Horseshoe MusicFest, the nearest regionals were in St. Catharines.

When the St. Catharines co-ordinator retired, Palangio took the reins - er, baton - and brought the festival to Hamilton.

He says Hamilton needs a MusicFest because local bands would often have to travel long distances to competitions and sometimes could not show up at all.

MusicFest helps local kids improve their skills and it gives them exposure to the industry, says Palangio.
He recalls when he was a music teacher at St. Thomas More High School and entered his band in the St. Catharines MusicFest.

The band went on to win gold at the nationals that year and one of the students from that group has since achieved great success.

David Braid, now 32, is a Juno award-winning jazz pianist.
Palangio says Braid got a head start from MusicFest.

"One of the adjudicators in Toronto was a professor at the University of Toronto who granted him a scholarship."

That's another bonus about MusicFest -- scholarships are also available to exemplary players.

The MusicFest takes place at Redeemer University College, Ancaster, Tuesday to Thursday, starting at 9 a.m.
Admission is $5 for parents. Students and children are free. 
 
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