The year in the arts at Trinity College School ended on a high note, as Senior School students were honoured for their leadership, commitment and achievement at the annual Arts Awards, held in the Dick and Jane LeVan Theatre on Thursday, June 2nd. In recent weeks, our students have revelled in the opportunity to perform live for audiences, but the ceremony was also a chance to pay tribute to the creativity and flexibility shown by both students and arts leaders over the course of the year, including in the face of shifting pandemic restrictions.
Some highlights of the year included the fall play, Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (the School’s first live theatre production since early 2020), and the quick move online by cast and crew for the winter production of Play On. More recently, Arts Week saw the return of live music with the Spring Concert and Jazz Night, as well as the TCS Film Festival and several visual arts initiatives. Finally, the co-curricular performing arts wrapped up with the Grade 9/10 spring production of A Play on Words.
Honouring students’ dedication to their arts involvements, 99 Commendation awards were presented to 92 students (with seven students earning awards in two different areas of the arts). Awards of Excellence were presented to 19 students, four of whom were honoured for two arts involvements.
Distinction, the School’s highest award for the arts, which recognizes a superior level of skill and dedication on the part of the recipient, was attained by three students: Valentina Conrad (theatre), Ava Becker (visual art) and Neyha Billing (visual art).
The ceremony was also a chance to present several individual honours, with the Stevenson Award for Acting going to Ezekiella Ezeoba, who starred in the fall, winter and spring plays this year. The Cosmo Music Award went to Robin Xu, recognizing dedication as a member of the Rock Band, Jazz@4, guitar ensemble, Chapel Choir and Johnson Ringers, and as a music steward. Allen Tang was named the recipient of the John H. Basset Award, which goes to a student who displays a true passion for music. In addition to serving as a music steward, Allen plays in Jazz@4, the Chapel Choir and Johnson Ringers, and has excelled in the Grade 11 music program.
Also recognized during the event were the visual arts stewards, as well as this year’s keen group on the arts committee: Neyha Billing, Bria Chalovich, Isolde Ardies and Ava Becker.
Thank you to our students and to our arts faculty and leaders for their efforts to inspire, educate and entertain us over the course of the 2021-2022 school year!
Click on the links below for multimedia from the ceremony:
