When in Rome and off they went! This year's Spring Café was the story of Felician Sister Michael Francis played by Kiara Mowat and Sister Carmella Agatha played by Caitlin Galetto finally going to fulfill a lifelong dream of meeting the Pope. Their travel to Rome seems like a series of unfortunate events but Sister Michael Francis and Sister Carmella Agatha heed Pope Francis' words “We must restore hope to young people, help the old, be open to the future, spread love. Be poor among the poor. We need to include the excluded and preach peace.”

The Senior School Choir was the vocal orchestra to this year's production singing a wide range of music from Linda Spevacek's “Danza” to Caccini's “Ave Maria”. The Middle School Choir dazzled audiences with “Feel it Still” by Portugal. The Man and the Intermediate Choir brought Abba to the stage with "Dancing Queen".

There were beautiful performances throughout the entire show featuring Yixin Zhang on guitar, Geon Hee (Angela) Kim on flute, Lian (Julia) Zhuo on piano. Traditional dances performances by Talya Dolban and Ellen Yu and Runa A. Vocal ensembles featured Angela Souza, Isabella Osadet, Anjali Sharma, Alexandria Blackford, Beatrice Carcao, Justine Lou, Jenny OuYang, Julianna Corbett, Tara Kemper, Muleba Chailunga.

The Ukulele Club joined the Grade 9-12 music classes and performed a wonderful mashup for the Drama Department's fun-filled performance of The Wizard of Oz.

The show ended with Sister Michael Francis and Sister Carmella Agatha finding Pope Francis played by Muleba Chailunga as all the choirs joined forces performing a medley from Sister Act. They truly followed him!

Special Thanks to Arts Prefect Julia Di Luca and Ms. Anne Morrone for putting together a spectacular evening of Arts highlights!

The Grade 9-12 Drama Class represented HNMCS at the CIS Drama Festival for the first time ever. Not only was it our first time at the festival, but the girls had to perform first on the first day of the festival with many of the girls performing on stage for the very first time. You wouldn’t have known it. They were great.

Be sure to check out this video to experience some of the fun.

The girls’ 20 minute version of The Wizard of Oz had both the audience and adjudicator crying with laughter. Of course, going first has its perks. The girls were able to enjoy the remainder of the festival and participate in a variety of workshops, such as stage fighting and improv.

Special thanks to Mr. Clayton Martino for ensuring our inaugural year was a success!

The Senior School Choir joined St. Michael’s College School Band for an action packed five day trip to New York City from April 25 to 29.

First stop: St Catherines, Denis Morris Catholic High School. The Choir and Band each played their own repertoires and joined forces to perform a Beatles Medley, “Viva La Vida” by ColdPlay and were joined by three HNMCS Senior School Band performers to rock out “Feel It Still” by Portugal The Man.

Next stop: Syracuse University. The students toured the campus and took part in a Choral Clinic where the SS Choir performed “Give Us Hope” from Sounds of a Better World and Caccini’s “Ave Maria”. Our final concert was in Newark New Jersey at East Side High School where the Choir and Band entertained the Grade 9 and 10 classes.

Now, for the sights! Dinner at Time Square and live music at the Opry City Stage Off to Chelsea Pier for a fun filled afternoon where the competition between the SS Choir and Band was full on! An amazing performance of A Bronx Tale on Broadway and a surprise meeting with actor and author of A Bronx Tale Chazz Palminteri. Mr Palminteri inspired with a special message about making the right choices and reinforcing that anything is possible.

Our final day in the Big Apple was memorable and moving, the students spent the morning at the 9/11 Memorial Site and then had an amazing tour of One World Observatory. After exploring lower Manhattan the group walked to Pier 16 for a 60 min Harbour tour where there were plenty of photo-ops with The Statue of Liberty. Our final stop: the beautiful St Patrick’s Cathedral for mass.