Meet Alwyn Tong, a member of the graduating class of 2022. Alwyn has been a standout student in robotics and the performing arts, specifically band and choir. He joined the Wentworth band as a trumpet player in Grade 4 and has nurtured his passion throughout the years. Alwyn adores jazz music and joined the Senior Jazz Band in pursuit of his interest. He also learned to enjoy classical music thanks to his experience in the choir.
Collingwood’s system of scheduling Senior Jazz Band in the timetable and Choir as an elective has helped Alwyn engage in both of his passions. Although the extra time devoted to the activities can be demanding, he considers band and choir to be relaxing and not “just another class”. This sheds light on his work-play philosophy: although it can be tempting to load on AP courses or to collect leadership titles in different clubs, your enjoyment always comes first.
Outside of the arts, Alwyn’s passion for robotics is clearly evident. Alwyn joined robotics in the latter part of his 8th-grade year. He started because he was interested in the subject and loved playing with Lego. “Robotics is enjoyable with the endless opportunities to build and create solutions to difficult problems. The optimization and continual efforts all end up helping in creating a final product that is overall competitive”.
Collingwood’s system of scheduling Senior Jazz Band in the timetable and Choir as an elective has helped Alwyn engage in both of his passions. Although the extra time devoted to the activities can be demanding, he considers band and choir to be relaxing and not “just another class”. This sheds light on his work-play philosophy: although it can be tempting to load on AP courses or to collect leadership titles in different clubs, your enjoyment always comes first.
Outside of the arts, Alwyn’s passion for robotics is clearly evident. Alwyn joined robotics in the latter part of his 8th-grade year. He started because he was interested in the subject and loved playing with Lego. “Robotics is enjoyable with the endless opportunities to build and create solutions to difficult problems. The optimization and continual efforts all end up helping in creating a final product that is overall competitive”.
The process of learning difficult pieces and performing them in front of audiences thrills Alwyn. Competing with oneself is a powerful motivator, as it pushes one to persevere and define one’s limits. Alwyn does not just compete with himself. Alwyn has competed at the Idaho Jazz Festival and the local Kiwanis Music Festival. The groups have won silver and bronze accolades in these internationally recognized events. The Idaho Jazz Festival in particular holds a special place in Alwyn’s memories. Being able to play alongside some of the greatest musicians from across the globe was an unreplicable experience. He is also fond of the Anaheim Heritage Festival where the band, choir, and dance performed at Disneyland. Each performing group was placed on the podium, an impressive feat and a satisfying reward for the students' hard work. Choir and band gifted Alwyn many opportunities to make connections. Dedicated training in all arts can be gruelling but often made worthwhile with friends. A special friend to Alwyn is Mr. Buchan, the former choir director who retired in 2021. One of Alwyn’s favourite teachers, Mr. Buchan was a ray of sunshine, inspiring generations of artists at Collingwood. His absence greatly impacted the choir program, with many students grieving his departure. Alwyn reflects that “For us choir kids, it was hard to accept that he was leaving. He was such an integral part of our high school experience, supporting our mental health and offering an amazing creative outlet.”
For future or aspiring trumpet players, Alwyn offers some wise words: “A performance is
not just about singing and playing a piece of music, it is also about the presentation. Even if you make a mistake, no one will know unless you make it obvious that it was wrong. But at the same time, don't be afraid to make mistakes, music is about expressing yourself and it does not have to be perfect.” He believes that if you can talk, you can sing, and if you can sing, you can be in the choir.
For future or aspiring trumpet players, Alwyn offers some wise words: “A performance is
not just about singing and playing a piece of music, it is also about the presentation. Even if you make a mistake, no one will know unless you make it obvious that it was wrong. But at the same time, don't be afraid to make mistakes, music is about expressing yourself and it does not have to be perfect.” He believes that if you can talk, you can sing, and if you can sing, you can be in the choir.
