Bianca Richter (flute, Charlie Lake) and Nisab Neupane (trombone, Fort St. John) from Bert Bowes Middle School have been selected again for 2026 for MusicFest Canada’s Soho Sound Canadian Junior Honour Band.

While the full 2026 roster has not been posted yet, last year’s published 2025 roster shows how competitive this is: only 55 students were chosen nationally, with just 14 from British Columbia. In that 2025 national group, Bianca was one of 14 flutists selected across Canada, and Nisab was one of only 4 trombonists—and our program earned two of the 55 national spots from the Fort St. John–Charlie Lake area.

Taken together, this is an exceptional, repeat achievement for a northern BC middle school music program.

Congratulations, Bianca and Nisab!