Inside King's-Edgehill School

The typically quiet Convocation Hall was rocking this week and filled with cheering and applause, as two KES bands performed for staff, students, and parents. 

Organized by our very own Junior School teacher and songwriter/performer, Mr. Patrick LePoidevin, the night kicked off with the band Alcazar. This group of KES students has been together for several years and group members include Nick Cheverie (drums), Max Cole (guitar),Linus Mulherin (guitar), (Grace Gallant absent last night, but plays bass guitar in the band), and Aria MacDonald (lead vocalist). This group lit up the stage with covers from Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Radiohead, and the crowd went wild. 

Next up was Pat LePoidevin with drummer David Wolf (Teacher and Middle Inglis Houseparent), playing songs from their new album that is being released on June 8, 2018 (Captain Myles and the SPR). The songs on this album revolve around a story written by Pat about two children who accidentally build a rocket ship and fly through outer space. There was also a guest appearance by Mr. Brodi Robinson for a country number called “Cha Cha”. This is Pat’s 5th full length album, and this summer he and David Wolf will be playing for fans in Eastern and Atlantic Canada on a summer tour. 

The performances were truly “out of this universe”, and the KES audience was captivated listening to both groups' talent. Our community is beyond fortunate to have such gifted role models who are not only enthusiastic to share their own music with others, but also encourage and motivate our youth to dream big and get out there and perform for others!  Click here for a quick preview. 

Thirty-four Grade 8 students took learning on the road in May with a five-day trip to Quebec City, and the annual voyage was a tremendous success. Chaperoned by three Junior School teachers (and veteran travelers) – Monsieur Rochon, Madame Belliveau and Monsieur Hollett – the students took part in a wide variety of activities that were chosen to give them the opportunity to explore and enjoy the culture and history of this amazing city and the surrounding region.

The last three weeks have been a whirlwind for Grade 8 student William Ahern. After a year of debate practices and tournaments with the King’s-Edgehill School debating team, William, and his debating partner Grace Gallant, qualified for the Junior National Debates held in Calgary, Alberta. At this national debating tournament, William and Grace competed for two days and placed in the top 20. 

In the days prior to debating nationals, however, William showcased his musical talent in the Annapolis Valley Music Festival, which is an annual music festival held in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, involving over 3000 competitors of all ages and musical disciplines. William entered into four advanced piano disciplines (grade 9 and 10 Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) level music) and claimed first place in each. Furthermore, he was awarded the “Acadia University Rose Bowl/Mary Montgomerie Award”, which is an engraved bowl given annually to the most outstanding performer in any one discipline who has achieved the highest average marks in three or more solos; the “Senior Piano Trophy” for having a consistently high standard of solo performance in a number of classes; and the “Hester Jackson Baroque Award”, which is an engraved shield that recognizes excellence in baroque performance. A video is available here of his award-winning performance of Liszt’s Consolation #3. Watch his winning performance.

William’s interests not only span the arts, but also stretch to encompass the sciences where he is currently attending the Canada Wide Science Fair at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. His project is entitled “Fruit Flies Away”, and proposes a new innovative, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly method for eliminating fruit flies.

Congratulations to William for striving for excellence in each of his recent achievements and for role-modelling King’s-Edgehill School’s Be More motto.