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Head of Music Lynn Janes with members of the Senior Choir at Carol Service 2016.
for exams. Old Girls who live in other countries watched, as did
people who were sick and unable to attend. It doesn’t replicate the
beauty and serenity of attending the event, but it was an excellent
new opportunity for many.” Not to mention being the best way to
expand the service’s reach, now that numbers at St. Paul’s Bloor
Street have reached capacity at 1,500 attendees. “This makes my
heart so very happy as it is an event that often starts people on their
Christmas season of peace and joy.”
The Music program would not be what it is today without the
contributions of Caroline Spearing (Head of Music from 2001 to
2007), who Janes explains was “instrumental in hiring excellent
music educators for the Band and Strings program and helped
continue to build the choral program with an emphasis on
the Middle School Vocal program, overseas trips and yearly
participation in Kiwanis Festivals.”
Asked what distinguishes music at Havergal from other schools,
Janes says she believes it comes down to the people involved. “I
think we’re lucky at Havergal that the arts are so well respected
by staff, students and our parent community. We are one of a few
schools in the Conference of Independent Schools (CIS) that still
has a vibrant Strings program and there are 75 girls in Senior Choir.
Not many schools have that much buy-in to choir and singing.”
Today, Band, Vocal and Strings classes are offered throughout
Grades 7 to 12. Then there’s the plethora of performance groups:
five bands, three orchestras and three choirs, plus a piano trio and
“
“
[Today] there is more
attention given to music
of different countries
and cultures—not just
listening, but exploring
through instrumental
music and singing.
—Lynn Janes
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HAVERGAL COLLEGE
Traditions