Children's Performances

Fairview Orffestra

The Fairview Orffestra is a unique ensemble within Halifax Regional Arts for Grades 5-7 students, directed by Orff Specialists Jenn Cleveland and Jenny Trites. These 18 students combine vocals, movement, recorder, xylophones, and percussion to create their own musical arrangements.

Jenn Cleveland teaches at Fairview Heights Elementary School, is an accomplished vocalist and an international gold medalist with her barbershop quartet, Synergy.

Jenny Trites (on leave) is a pianist, composer, choral musician, and Orff Levels Instructor. She teaches music at Westmount Elementary and with Halifax Regional Arts.

École Burton Ettinger

École Burton Ettinger grade 4 and 5 students are taught by Caitlin Bowers. We are a half English, half French Immersion school and along with their love for all things Orff, many of these students are members of our school choir, musical theatre club, running club, and basketball team.

Caitlin Bowers is a skilled pianist, singer, and holds an Orff Level I certificate. Outside of teaching, she co-hosts The Big Sing, and sings lead in the Halifax-based cover band, Clusterfunk.

St. Stephen's Elementary and

Sir Charles Tupper Elementary

St. Stephen's Elementary and Sir Charles Tupper grade 4, 5 and 6 students are taught by Brenda Haughian. Many of these students are also in band and string programs and share a love of hockey and basketball!

Brenda Haughian taught many years in middle school music and band and recently returned to the elementary classroom and her love of Orff, taking Orff Level I in 2024.

Belle Voci Honour Choir

Belle Voci Honour Choir is a vibrant group of auditioned singers in grades 4-6 within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education. Belle Voci recently appeared on The Christmas Daddies Telethon, performed at the Admiral Long Term Care Facility and sang with Woody the Talking Christmas Tree! We are proud to consistently achieve a Gold standing at the Kiwanis Music Festival and receive first place in the 2023 FCMF National Music Festival. Belle Voci has been a part of HRA for over 20 years. We are delighted to perform at Passages 2026.

Melissa Hartery was raised in a musical family in Stephenville, NL. A music education specialist with HRCE since 1997, she has directed choirs with HRA for 20 years. A past-president of the NS Orff Chapter, Melissa prides herself in making the highest quality of music with youth. She considers it a privilege to help young students become life-long musicians.

Cynthia Kennedy Davies is recognized as one of Nova Scotia’s most versatile accompanists. She has performed and recorded as pianist and vocalist with CBC Radio and Television, the Charlottetown Festival and Symphony Nova Scotia. Cynthia taught for 36 years and continues to accompany young choral musicians. She is the proud accompanist for the Halifax Gay Men’s Chorus.

Shannon Parksters Orff Ensemble

The Shannon Parksters Orff Ensemble is from École Shannon Park Elementary, Dartmouth, NS. This vibrant school of 500 students, holds both English and French Immersion programs. Mr. Tuck has built the music program with musically active classes, ukuleles, African drumming, bucket drumming, choir (The Sharktones), guitar club (The Shannon Park Strummers) and most recently the Shannon Parksters Orff Ensemble. We hope you enjoy!

For 17 years in Alberta, Darren Tuck taught classroom, band, choir, private lessons plus did administration while staying active playing saxophone, keys, guitar and percussion. Returning to NS, as a substitute, James Jackson drew him to Orff I and II. Darren is forever grateful for having met some of the greatest people and musicians through Orff!

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