Latest news with #St.Anne
Hamilton Spectator
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
School Jazz Combo brings home gold at MusicFest Canada
St. Anne Catholic High School students Michael Bourdeau (Gr. 12 - piano), Luiz Correa (Gr. 11 - trumpet), Julien Lewis (Gr. 12 - upright bass), Andrew Matchett (Gr. 12 - drums), Matthew Verzosa (Gr. 11 - tenor saxophone), and Aiden Williams (Gr. 12 - trumpet) have been honoured with the gold medal at the 2025 MusicFest Nationals. Running from May 12-17 in Toronto, 'The Nationals' or MusicFest Canada celebrated its 53rd year this year. For the students from St. Anne, the event marked the culmination of months of hard work and preparation. 'These students formed the jazz combo on their own, back in the fall of 2024,' explains Grant Bergeron, St. Anne's art department head. 'They were committed early-on to preparing for MusicFest Windsor at the Capitol Theatre in March. They selected their repertoire, and rehearsed as a group over and above their involvement in the St. Anne High School Concert Band and Jazz Band. They were awarded a Silver+ rating at MusicFest Windsor, as well as an invitation to perform at The Nationals of MusicFest Canada in May. They then continued to work on their pieces and used the adjudication received in March to assist with improving to the next level.' According to Aiden, the group's trumpet player, everyone in the band's music journeys were formed in the later years of grade school, when music class became a requirement. 'For myself and the others in the band, that was where our passion for music, and my affinity for the trumpet was born,' explains Aiden. 'However, when the pandemic hit, music wasn't very prominent for me, and kind of became an afterthought. When the world returned back to normal, I decided to take a music class taught by our music teacher and band director, Mr. Bergeron. He has done an incredible job as our teacher and director and has not only been an outstanding supporter of the combo, but an inspiration and mentor to us musicians as well.' Aiden says the group prepared for The Nationals with an 'incredible' amount of practice. 'For the first few months, we often rehearsed two or three times a week, around 30 to 45 minutes each day. As Nationals drew closer, we began devoting more time and energy to perfecting our craft. We started rehearsing every weekday we could, with our rehearsal times spanning from 30 minutes to several hours. While it was a lot of time, energy, and dedication, our hard work has certainly paid off.' The group enjoy their trip to Toronto, with Aiden describing it as 'nothing short of surreal', as they took in Ontario's capital city and immersed themselves in the culture - especially its rich musical tapestry. 'The whole trip was an outstanding time, but our most memorable moment took place while we were waiting to perform,' says Aiden. 'The excitement and anticipation within the band was at an all-time high, as all our practice was finally about to be rewarded.' 'For all of us, the win at MusicFest Nationals was exhilarating. Every musician in the combo had done so much to make Nationals a possibility, and to see the pure elation within the band was nothing short of incredible. From the group's beginnings in October, to receiving the highest honour on the biggest stage seven months later, it was a storybook moment for the Jazz Combo.' Julien, their upright bassist, is set to attend Humber College to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree, and the rest of the combo still have music in their hearts and, if offered, would certainly consider an opportunity to pursue music in the future. 'In 30 years of teaching high school music, it has been rare to see a group of students with such collaborative initiative to accomplish their musical goals,' states Mr. Bergeron. 'It is extremely rewarding, as a music educator, to witness the motivation and passion toward a common goal of reaching a high musical standard. I am very proud of them, as well as the entire music program at St. Anne High School.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
St. Anne's girls capture A-pool title at Tilbury Titans soccer tournament
The 11th annual Tilbury Titans Soccer Tournament wrapped up in May with high-energy play, sportsmanship and fierce competition from high school teams across southwestern Ontario, including Windsor, London, Chatham and Sarnia. Hosted by Tilbury District High School, the long-running event has become a spring tradition, drawing top soccer talent to the community and giving young athletes a chance to compete at a high level. The 2025 tournament was no exception, with dozens of teams vying for titles in multiple pools. Among this year's standout performances was the senior girls' team from St. Anne Catholic High School in Lakeshore, which captured the A-pool championship. The team successfully defended its title for a second consecutive year, with support from four junior players called up for the tournament. 'Congratulations to the senior girls' soccer team (and four members of the junior team) in defending their title at the annual Tilbury Titan Cup,' the school shared in a post following the win. Parents and supporters packed the sidelines throughout the event, creating a festival-like atmosphere despite rainy weather during early matches. 'It's such a fantastic event,' said Megan Drouillard, a parent from Comber. 'You can really see how hard these girls work, and the sportsmanship from all the teams was impressive.' 'We've been coming to this tournament for years, and it just keeps getting better,' added Kevin Marshall, a parent from Chatham-Kent. 'It's well organized and a great showcase for high school talent.' Organizers say the tournament not only promotes healthy competition but also helps foster strong community ties through sport. As the tournament continues to grow, schools and families alike look forward to returning each year. St. Anne's championship win is expected to give the team momentum heading into the WECSSAA playoffs later this spring. With experienced leadership and a rising crop of junior players already making an impact, the Titans may have handed the crown over — but St. Anne's is proving it's a powerhouse to watch.
CBS News
10-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
New Catholic non-profit organization takes ownership of Ste. Anne Basilica in Detroit
The Basilica of Ste. Anne in Detroit, one of Michigan's oldest and most historically significant Catholic churches, has been given future financial stability through the efforts of The Catholic Initiative. "To our knowledge, this is the first time in United States history that the Vatican has approved a shift in ownership of a parish church to a dedicated nonprofit," Kevin Doyle, president of The Catholic Initiative and chief operating officer of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation, said in the announcement. Msgr. Charles Kosanke, rector of the Basilica of Ste. Anne, announced the new partnership to parishioners during Masses on Sunday, shortly after learnings that the Vatican had approved the plan. The Archdiocese of Detroit and The Catholic Initiative jointly announced the initiative publicly the same afternoon. Under the arrangement, Ste. Anne Parish will have use of the basilica and campus through a 200-year lease. Ownership of the building shifts to newly formed 501c3 organization intended to preserve the church building and property. The Catholic Initiative will then take responsibility for maintenance and renovation. The Basilica of Ste. Anne, built in 1886, is considered an architectural icon in the city, overlooking the Detroit River near the Ambassador Bridge. The church building features neo-Gothic architecture, stained glass windows and statues; and is the final resting place of the Rev. Gabriel Richard, an important figure in Michigan history. The name of the parish honors St. Anne, whose story was mentioned in early Christian writings as the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus. Historically, she was considered the patron saint of mothers and women in labor. Vatican leaders approved a request in 2010 that declared St. Anne the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Detroit. St. Anne is the home to the second-oldest continually operating Catholic parish in the United States and the oldest such parish in Michigan, tracing its history to 1701. The congregation currently is a mostly Hispanic, with ministries and liturgies provided in both English and Spanish. The building is a popular wedding venue for Catholic couples and it earned basilica status in 2020. Because of its age, the facility is facing millions of dollars in maintenance and renovation costs. One example is a $5 million restoration of the two historic steeples in 2023. But that level of financial support was not sustainable in the long run. "Due to the Basilica's age and significance, Ste. Anne Parish would have needed to enter a state of perpetual fundraising, often at the expense of its missionary efforts, to undertake the extensive renovations and costly maintenance work required," Detroit Archbishop Emeritus Allen H. Vigneron said in a media release. During the next three years, The Catholic Initiative will work with the parish on a $30 million rehabilitation and restoration of the basilica and campus such as a new pavilion, lighting and walkways. A $20 million endowment also will be created to support future preservation and operational needs such as routine maintenance and support of an on-site priest. A significant part of the restoration funding will come from a $111 million commitment the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation has made for its 'Legacy of Hope' Projects. "Today, with this announcement, Ste. Anne is blessed to move forward into the future with a firm financial foundation, thanks to the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation and its new Catholic Initiative," Kosanke said in response to the support. "With God's blessing and a lot of hard work, their hope is to help other parishes like Ste. Anne all over the United States."
