Eight students from St. Thomas More high school participate in massive concert in Richmond
By Laureen McMahon
The B.C. Catholic

VANCOUVER--Ten students from St. Thomas More Collegiate in Burnaby achieved the distinction of being invited by the B.C. Music Educators Association to join this year's Honour Choirs. They performed at Fraserview Mennonite Church in Richmond Oct. 21.

"The BCMEA Honour Ensembles Program is an opportunity for the province's student-musicians to come together to sing a challenging repertoire in a high-calibre performance setting," said Johnson Lui, the STM music teacher. The program, he added, gives students a host of wonderful opportunities to develop their skills and to make new friendships.

"These student-musicians bring back to their schools a wealth of knowledge which they are encouraged to share with their peers."

The student singers are only accepted into the honours choir after passing auditions, said Carrie Taylor of the Music Educators Association. She organizes the annual concert events for B.C. students.

The Honour Concert Choir was made up of about 110 students from around the province, eight of them from STM: Corbin Castres, Jason Wu, Victoria Tortora, Siobhan Ennis, Tiffany Doe, Tayler Tabernero, Jewel Del Rosario, and Natalie Evans.

In addition, two students, Paulina Atienza and Kayla Ramiro, were chosen to sing in the BCMEA Honour Vocal Jazz Choir.

St. Thomas More Collegiate, said Lui, has 120 students from Grades 8 to 12 enrolled in choir programs.

"We have six choirs in all," he said. "We also have the STM Chamber Singers and the STM Jazz Singers.

"We are proud to provide these programs, as we know how beneficial music education is to the development of our students."