Join the junior and senior bands from Nantyr Shores Secondary School, vendors, local dancers, musicians and artists at the Town Square (971 Innisfil Beach Rd.) on Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., for the inaugural Music at the Market event.
The Triton Music Parent Council is organizing this event to help fund the Triton music program, whose students won gold at the MusicFest Nationals in 2023 and 2024.
“We would like to introduce the music program to the community so more students would be interested in enrolling,” council head Liann Ackerman said.
“The bands have the desire to travel more of Ontario this year in order to participate in many more festivals and competitions. To do this costs a lot of money for the families of the students and this fundraiser will help in alleviating some of those costs. Some families are not able to send their students on these trips so this fundraiser will provide funds for those students to participate as well,” she explained.
“I like being part of the Triton Music ensemble because we’re more than just a club,” Grade 12 trumpet player Cael Chabrzynski said. “We have spent years working together and spending time with each other on various trips and performances. The community means everything to me because Triton Music feels like a second family… It means a lot to me that our community gets to enjoy us and our music.”
Juniors and seniors will play a few pieces separately, then musicians from grades 10 to 12 will join forces to perform as a mass band on Saturday. They will be playing pieces worked on since the beginning of the school year, as well as a few hits from last year.
“We've been saying that we've been a community band instead of just a high school band since we've had so much support from the Innisfil community these past few years,” music teacher Danny Vaz said. “Fundraising and donations have helped us guarantee that all of our students have been able to afford to go to Nationals with us.”
When asked what the community’s help means to him and his students, Vaz explained, “Access to music education is super important to our students and program, and we're trying everything we can to make sure that's spread throughout Innisfil. We've got a lot planned for this year and those to come, and we're definitely going to need support.”
“This group is one of the best groups of people you could ever meet. You can always rely (on) and trust everyone. To me, music isn't only a extracurricular activity, but also a way to forget every worry that I may have. I am really looking forward to playing at the market,” said Grade 12 alto saxophonist Syenna Smith.
More than 20 vendors will be selling products at the market, including home decor items, jarred preserves, ceramics and pottery, and handmade soaps and lotions. The Around the World in 80 Tacos food truck will be onsite as well as local dancers and musicians including Kyle Wauchope, The Fitzees, and Patty & Friends.
“Triton Music has given my son purpose during his high school years,” said Triton Music parent council member Jennifer Mckay. Her son is in Grade 11 and plays the alto saxophone. “It's teaching him responsibility, inclusion and provides a safe environment to be himself.”
"It’s like everyone is a part of the puzzle, but when they come together in the right spot, it becomes a complete and beautiful image that everyone admires,” said Grade 12 flutist Malay Shah.
Jeffery Kerr is an artist who will be featured at the market. He will be creating a Bob Ross-type painting during the event in addition to selling a selection of his works.
For every $2 donation that community members provide, they will get a ticket which gives them a chance to select a 'thank you' prize, more than 30 of which have been donated by local businesses and vendors. Draws for these prizes will happen at 4:30 p.m. and the winners will be notified if they are not in attendance.
“Some of these businesses are just starting up and it would be great to have the community support them. We have quite a variety and there should be something for everybody,” Ackerman said.
“It truly means the world to be in something as special as Triton Music," Grade 11 trumpet player Malcolm Desjardins said. "We have discussed in class about how most people go through their whole lives not being a part of something whether it be a sports team or a club. So it really is a life moment to kind of step back and reflect on what this is and what we have done over the last three years. And the community support has just been icing on the cake."
Grade 11 trumpet player Philosophy Camastro called the music room a "home."
"The friendships I have made over the years are everything to me, and music has gotten me through so many tough times in my life. To see parent's volunteer work and our community's support means a lot because it shows that they see our effort and love, and they share what that means to us."
Ackerman hopes this becomes an annual event.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor or have a product that would make a great gift to donate, contact Ackerman at [email protected].
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