St Michaels University School - Black Red and Blue Yearbook (Victoria, British Columbia Canada)

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This report so far deals only with the 3 major tournaments. Other items are worthy of note and it would be proper to thank Mr. Salvador for his interest and hard work put in on behalf of the junior participants. He was brand new to debating and is now a great believer who is at present busy preparing for October, 1976, debates with Pearson College in Spanish and Cantonese! For the Newman HSA debates Jay Kuster came in as a very late replacement, and he debated most competently. Thanks are due to Dr. Rompkey for taking some of his English class time to promote this worthwhile skill and for accompanying the teams to Crofton House, Vancouver. Dermod Travis has already received many mentionsg but, apart from his debating skills, he is also an outstanding organizer. Paul Veerkamp and Robert Higgin debated in only one tournament but both took an active interest throughout the year. Next year should be most enjoyable, we have many young debaters who should achieve greater success and we can also look forward to the 4th Western Canadian Debating Seminar which is to be held in Victoria, BC, on December 2, 3, and 4th, 1976. Also, we have the prospect of travelling some distance tothe Hammerskjold Cup Tournament, which in March 1977 will be held at Prince George. R.VV.W. MUSIC Music at our school has made concrete if undramatic moves forward this past year, evident in a greater optimism and consolidation than heretofore. After your reporter's illness in November and December, it seemed that little in the way of progress might have been achievedg but thanks largely to the way in which the student body has taken hold, the year has ended with an uplift and enlivenment which has been most gratifying and encouraging, not only to yours truly, but to all concerned. The visit of the Pacific Wind Quintet must be noted though it took place while I was in hospital, I hope we can look forward to a return visit so that I can enjoy their artistry here on home ground. Missing as I did all the Schools Christmas music, I can only thank Mr. 81 Mrs. Greenwood for their kindness and industry in pulling it off. When I returned to school in January we immediately began learning the music of the two one-act operas which we were to produce in June: THE TELEPHONE by Menotti and DOWN IN THE VALLEY by Kurt Weill. Both casts worked with a will and enjoyed the experience immensely, unfortunately, examinations and other difficulties forced the postponement of these works till next fall, when we expect to give them in conjunction with Norfolk House School in their well-appointed auditorium. After this unhappy decision had been taken, we bent our energies with a will to the formation of a school choir which should really be something - with our eyes trained on the Music Festival. Late April came and we presented ourselves at Victoria High School for the competition which involved friendly rivalry with Olenlyon School, also entered in our class. Speaking for myself, I seemed unable to shake the conviction that the clobbering we undoubtedly were to receive was really quite an unnecessary and tasteless procedure, one we could all do without. Imagine my disbelief when I heard the adjudication - we had come first! Next year I am sure, we shall get that clobbering in spades, but for this year our win has had wonderful side benefits in terms of spirit and enthusiasm, and I do thank the adjudicator for the uptrend resulting from her decision. After the Festival we sang our pieces for the Senior School in Chapel, and for the Junior School at their Friday assembly. Open House followed swiftly and we were beginning to feel the pinch of our 22

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Debating Teams at Crofton House School, Vancouver for Newman - FISA Toumament Back: lvlr. C. Skinner, D. Travis, l. Burcnett, D. Yzenorandt, K. Lawson-Williams, R Wilson, Mr. T. Pieteg Middle: J. Spencer, H. Fraser, D. Copeland, K. Riggs, Front: Mr. G. Salvador, D. Dales, M. Dempsey, G. Reader, W. Vanderspek, R. l-liggin, L. Giles, Dr. R. Rompkey. a startling performance out individually Randy Wilson placed 13tn in tne Affirmative and lan Burcnett Stn in tne Negative, Otnerdeoaters on tnis occasion vvere Dirk Yzenprandt, Lindsay Giles, Ken Riggs, Hugn Fraser, Ken Lavvson-Williams and Geoff Reader. Tne junior teams finisned a disappointing f3tn and Mtn vvitn only Dermod Travis and lvlike Dempsey making a good snovving. Dtner junior deoaters vvere Jeff Spencer, Jay Kuster, Ropert l-liggin, Wim Vanderspek, Dale Copeland and Danny Dales. Tne nignlignt of tne year nad to oe tne l-lammerskjold Cup Tournament in Kelovvna. lt vvas a long vvay to go for a days debating out it vvas a tnorougnly vvortnvvnile endeavour to attend a vvell run tournament, tne first Provincial Cnampionsnip neld away from Vancouver Island and tne Lovver lvlainland. In tne senior group, drama commitments took avvay some of our team and Keitn Jones and Wake lVlcAlpine were recruited to fill tne gap and accompany lan Burcnett and Lindsay Giles. Keitn and Wake must oe congratulated for giving us tneir assistance, tney prepared some fine speecnes and acduitted tnernselves vvell. Unfortunately tney lacked tournament experience and Wake lVlcAlpine's 37tn out of 80 vvas our pest performance. ln tnis tournament eacn team nad to present ootn the affirmative and negative arguments and nad to depate a total of 41 rounds, a good out demanding cnange from previous formats. Tne junior team fared mucff oetter and vvon 6 out of 8 depates and finisned Qtn out of 20 teams. Botti teams prepared vvell and it vvas a vvell deserved result for tnis junior team of Dermod Travis, Mike Dempsey, Jay Kuster and Jeff Spencer. Tne pest individual result vvas lnat of Dermod Travis. At tlie time of tne avvards Dermod vvas placed Stn, out py tne follovving morning ne vvas rltn Wnen tne results were finally computed a furtner error vvas found and Dermod vvas finally put in 2nd place. 21

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slender repertoire, but we were assisted by several students who volunteered musical items to comprise a very interesting programme, particularly our two Grade 8 accordionists, Bruce Hill and Paul Modos,whose contributions were enthusiastically received. Dur afternoon musicale closed with our audience-friends joining us in a hymn twith descanti When l Survey the Wondrous Cross, it being mid-Lent. Later, on Ascension Day, David Cousins repeated his Festival piece ln Native Worth from the Creation by Haydn, for the Senior student body at a special Chapel observing the day. Just before the close ofthe year fJune 16thJ the choir appeared again at the Junior Schools Festival of the Arts organized by Mr. Skinner. We sang three numbers - And the Glory fHandelJ, Tune Thy Music fFlowleyj and He Watching Over Israel fMendeIssohni. The Choir's final appearance was for the visit of the Bishop, the Fit. Reverend Roy Gartrell on June 18th,when the new Chapel officers were installed by the Chaplain - one of whom fHeadmaster's Wardenj is also a member of the choir in the person of Marcus Endean. I would like to make mention of the happy association this year's Grade 12 Music class has been, I think as much for the students as myself. The class commitment to the choir made an enormous difference, and the willingness of Tom Hung and Hugh Fraser fboth possessors of fine baritonesi to sing the Alto part, really made the year's achievement possible, They, together with the Grade 8 Altos, did a fine job and I take this opportunity to thank them publicly. Indeed, each member of the class made a vital and positive contribution while racking up impressive gains in facility and musicality during the year, Sam Wong, Charles Mak and Keith Jones in the Bass section, Flon Pettapiece in the Tenor and Fred Gentz as research librarian. Having invited the class to tea and recordings at my home, they returned the compliment by inviting me to dinner downtown, complete with birthday greeting in Japanese! Our social activities ended with a bang-up dinner completely prepared by Sam Wong and Tom Hung at Keith Jones' home in Cordova Bay after exams. Mr. Si Mrs. Jones agreed with us that this was the real highlight of our year, one that we have all enjoyed immensely. Finally, it gives me distinct pleasure to make mention of Padre l3Iencoe's splendid gift to the Music Department of a magnificent new trophy to be awarded to the Grade 12 boy who shows the greatest excellence in music. My own thanks as well as the thanks of the first recipient, Hugh A. Fraser, go to Mr. Blencoe as we realize that we now have a trophy worthy of our Art and of the high talent and achievement which it represents. N.W.l-l. BAND The School Band this year numbered 14 musicians t7 Woodwinds and 7 Brassl drawn from both the Junior and Senior Schools. We were fortunate in having such instruments as a Bassoon fStephen Danceyi and Bass Clarinet lDavid Maxwellj. The School Woodwind Ensemble, augmented by 3 musicians from Norfolk House School, entered the Victoria Music Festival and gained 3rd place. The Adjudicators remarks were most encouraging to the group. Concerts given during the year were two at Christmas lNorfolk House and Junior Schooli, and an Easter concert at the Senior School and a Summer concert for an evening of Fine Arts, presented at the Junior School. Outstanding musicians in the Band this year were Mark Finnis fClarineti and Brian Goodwin fTrumpetJ, Highly commended as 1st year musicians are Stephen Dancey and Adrian Proctor. Larry de la Haye 23