Benny Peng
By: Mahasti Mofazali
During our Speak Week showcase, Benny Peng (grade 12) delivered a truly memorable spoken word performance that blended humour, heart, and powerful storytelling. His poem, centered on the simple yet meaningful ritual of choosing the best watermelon at the market with his dad, transformed an everyday moment into something deeply human and poetic. With confident delivery and natural stage presence, Benny drew the audience into the scene—capturing the sounds of the market, the careful inspection of each watermelon, and the quiet wisdom passed from father to son. What made his performance exceptional was not just the creativity of the concept, but the authenticity behind it. The poem felt real, personal, and emotionally grounded, allowing listeners to connect instantly with the story. Benny’s voice, pacing, and expressive delivery elevated the piece, making the audience feel both the warmth of the relationship and the significance of shared traditions. His performance was a perfect example of how spoken word can turn ordinary experiences into powerful moments of connection and reflection. Benny’s piece was thoughtful, original, and beautifully executed—an outstanding contribution to Speak Week and a performance that truly stood out.
By: Mahasti Mofazali
During our Speak Week showcase, Benny Peng (grade 12) delivered a truly memorable spoken word performance that blended humour, heart, and powerful storytelling. His poem, centered on the simple yet meaningful ritual of choosing the best watermelon at the market with his dad, transformed an everyday moment into something deeply human and poetic. With confident delivery and natural stage presence, Benny drew the audience into the scene—capturing the sounds of the market, the careful inspection of each watermelon, and the quiet wisdom passed from father to son. What made his performance exceptional was not just the creativity of the concept, but the authenticity behind it. The poem felt real, personal, and emotionally grounded, allowing listeners to connect instantly with the story. Benny’s voice, pacing, and expressive delivery elevated the piece, making the audience feel both the warmth of the relationship and the significance of shared traditions. His performance was a perfect example of how spoken word can turn ordinary experiences into powerful moments of connection and reflection. Benny’s piece was thoughtful, original, and beautifully executed—an outstanding contribution to Speak Week and a performance that truly stood out.
By Jialu Yang
Benny Peng first picked up a pair of drumsticks in the 6th grade when he joined his elementary school band. Two years later, Benny joined Collingwood and worked with the band teacher at the time, Mr. Smith, to lay a foundation for his drumming. Benny attributes his experience with his mentor as being characterized by Mr. Smith’s patience which helped Benny to make his first noticeable improvements. One of the skills that he has cultivated as a drummer is strong limb independence, which is when your arms and legs are playing different rhythms all at the same time.
As a drummer at Collingwood, Benny has had many interesting experiences, from performing at local events like Pumpkinfest to large ones such as the Anaheim Heritage Festival. His favourite of these experiences was the Anaheim trip that band and choir students attended where they were able to visit Disneyland and Hollywood. Trips like these will help showcase talented young artists in our community like Benny to a greater audience and open new opportunities to them. They also allow for more collaboration in preparation for them, which Benny believes is important to the art form because everyone is working to the same goal of simply playing good music together. His favourite people to work with are “the ones who are genuinely passionate about the things they do, as the process of working together becomes a lot smoother and a lot more enjoyable”.
However, there are challenges to being a drummer as well. Benny’s biggest tip to others is to build a strong foundation through patience before learning more advanced techniques. He also said that starting to sight-read early on can make your future in music a lot easier.
Benny Peng first picked up a pair of drumsticks in the 6th grade when he joined his elementary school band. Two years later, Benny joined Collingwood and worked with the band teacher at the time, Mr. Smith, to lay a foundation for his drumming. Benny attributes his experience with his mentor as being characterized by Mr. Smith’s patience which helped Benny to make his first noticeable improvements. One of the skills that he has cultivated as a drummer is strong limb independence, which is when your arms and legs are playing different rhythms all at the same time.
As a drummer at Collingwood, Benny has had many interesting experiences, from performing at local events like Pumpkinfest to large ones such as the Anaheim Heritage Festival. His favourite of these experiences was the Anaheim trip that band and choir students attended where they were able to visit Disneyland and Hollywood. Trips like these will help showcase talented young artists in our community like Benny to a greater audience and open new opportunities to them. They also allow for more collaboration in preparation for them, which Benny believes is important to the art form because everyone is working to the same goal of simply playing good music together. His favourite people to work with are “the ones who are genuinely passionate about the things they do, as the process of working together becomes a lot smoother and a lot more enjoyable”.
However, there are challenges to being a drummer as well. Benny’s biggest tip to others is to build a strong foundation through patience before learning more advanced techniques. He also said that starting to sight-read early on can make your future in music a lot easier.