Canadian Music Class Challenge 2022: national top 10s revealed

The Canadian Music Class Challenge is CBC Music's salute to music education in this country. In association with MusiCounts, every year we invite music instructors to teach their students a Canadian song from our pre-approved list.

This year, hundreds of teachers and thousands of students from coast to coast to coast signed up to learn and perform their best version of a Canadian song on every instrument imaginable. You can imagine how challenging it was for us choose the top finalists in each category this year.

Our judges now have the difficult task of choosing the winning classes in each category. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Until then, enjoy the work from our 2022 top 10s — our national finalists — with some honourable mentions, and congratulations to all the classes that made it, and thank you to all the teachers, musicians and schools that have taken part in the 2022 Canadian Music Class Challenge.

(Please note: Categories 1-8 are public schools, while Category 9 is for community/independent/private schools.)

Category 1: Primary Instrumental (kindergarten to Grade 3)

First prize: $3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.
Second prize: plaque.
Third prize: plaque.

Finalists:

• Capitol Hill Elementary, Burnaby, B.C. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Colborne Public School, Colborne, Ont. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• École Robb Road Elementary, Comox, B.C. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Glenwood Elementary, Burnaby, B.C. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Victory School, Winnipeg ("Back in Your Head" by Tegan and Sara).
• Millen Woods Public School, Waterloo, Ont. ("Where I'm From" by the Reklaws).

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 2: Primary Vocal (kindergarten to Grade 3) 

First prize: $3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.
Second prize: plaque.
Third prize: plaque.

Finalists:

• Bayshore Public School, Ottawa ("Little Spruce" by Rachelle van Zanten).
• Brown Junior Public School, Toronto ("Nikamo" by Burnstick).
• Calgary Arts Academy, Calgary ("Little Spruce" by Rachelle Van Zanten).
• École Holy Cross, Prince Albert, Sask. ("L'amour" by Karim Ouellet).
• École Templeton, Winnipeg ("Nikamo" by Burnstick).
• Nelson Rural School, Miramichi, N.B. ("Nikamo" by Brunstick).  
• Nesbitt Elementary School, Montreal ("Nikamo" by Burnstick).
• Sir Wildred Laurier Elementary School, Vancouver ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy) 
• St. Joseph Catholic Elementary, Oshawa, Ont. ("Back in Your Head" by Tegan and Sara).
• Tribune Drive Public School, Brampton, Ont.  ("Little Spruce" by Rachelle Van Zanten).

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 3: Elementary Instrumental (grades 4-6)

First prize: $3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.
Second prize: plaque.
Third prize: plaque.

Finalists:

• Campus View Elementary Orffestra, Victoria, B.C. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Capitol Hill Elementary School (Div. 7), Burnaby, B.C. ("Back in Your Head" by Tegan and Sara).
• Capitol Hill Elementary School (Resonance), Burnaby, B.C. ("Nikamo" by Burnstick).
• David Thomas King School, Edmonton ("End of Me" by Billy Talent with Rivers Cuomo).
• Dr. E. W. Coffin School, Calgary ("Bird Song" by David Myles).
• North Vancouver School District Strings, North Vancouver, B.C. ("The Girl" by City and Colour).
• Second Street Community School, Division 6, Burnaby, B.C. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Second Street Community School, Division 4, Burnaby, B.C. ("Sucker" by Mo Kenney).
• Tecumseh Elementary School, Vancouver ( "Back in Your Head" by Tegan and Sara).
• Victory School, Winnipeg ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 4: Elementary Vocal (grades 4-6)

First prize: $3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.
Second prize: plaque.
Third prize: plaque.

Finalists:

• Basinview Drive Community Choir, Bedford, N.S. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Hillcrest Elementary, Salmon Arm, B.C. ("The Rest of my Life" by Sloan).
• Jackman Avenue Junior, Toronto ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).
• James Thompson Elementary (Thompson Tigers), Richmond, B.C. ("Little Spruce" by Rachelle Van Zanten)
• Master's Academy (Gr. 4-6 Choir), Calgary ("Canadian Kid" by Brett Kissel).
• Honoré Mercier Elementary, Montréal ("Oublie-moi" by Coeur de pirate).
• Nelson Rural (Elementary Chorus), Miramichi, N.B.   ("Little Spruce" by Rachelle Van Zanten).
• Saint John Fisher Senior Elementary., Pointe Claire, Que. ("The Rest of my Life" by Sloan).
• St. Joseph Catholic Elementary, Oshawa, Ont. ("Back in Your Head" by Tegan and Sara). 
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier Intermediate Choir, Vancouver ("Nikamo" by Burnstick).

Honorable Mention:

• Nakoda Elementary School, Morley, AB ("Heart Of Gold" by Neil Young)

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 5: Junior Instrumental (grades 7-10)

First prize: $3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.
Second prize: plaque.
Third prize: plaque.

Finalists:

• Annapolis West Education Centre, Annapolis Royal, N.S.  ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).
• Austin O'Brien Junior Instrumental, Edmonton ("We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)" by Trooper).
• Dr. Annie B. Jamieson Elementary, Vancouver ("Oublie-moi" by Cœur de pirate).
• Grey Highlands Secondary, Flesherton, Ont. ("Bird Song" by David Myles). 
• Hartman Public School,  Aurora, Ont. ("Oublie-moi" by Cœur de pirate).
• H. D. Stafford Middle School, Langley, B.C. ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young). 
• JN Burnett Jazz Club,  Richmond, B.C. ("Bird Song" by David Myles). 
• Macdonald Drive Junior High School,  St. John's ("Lost Together" by Blue Rodeo).
• Rawlinson Community School, (Taylor 8) Toronto ( "The Girl" by City and Colour).
• Suzuki Charter School, (The Kewl Kids) Edmonton ("Bird Song" by David Myles).

Honorable mention:

• Sacred Heart and La Renaissance, Espanola, Ont. ("We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)" by Trooper)

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 6: Junior Vocal (grades 7-10)

First prize: $3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.
Second prize: plaque.
Third prize: plaque.

Finalists:

•  Arbutus Global Middle School, Victoria ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).
•  Beaver Valley Community School, Thornbury, Ont. ("The Girl" by City and Colour).
• Botwood Collegiate, Botwood, N.L. ("The Rest of my Life" by Sloan).
• Calgary Arts Academy (Afternoon Rock Band), Calgary ("The Rest of my Life" by Sloan).
• École secondaire Gabriel-Dumont, London, Ont. ("L'Amour" by Karim Ouellet). 
• Langley Fine Arts School, Fort Langley, B.C.  ("Somehow, Someway" by Chad Price).
• Karen Kain School of the Arts, Toronto ("The Rest of my Life" by Sloan).  
• New Glasgow Academy Choir, New Glasgow, N.S. ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier Chamber Choir, Vancouver, B.C. ("Little Spruce" by Rachelle Van Zanten).
• St. Francis Jr. High School, Lethbridge, Alta.  ("We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)" by Trooper). 

Honorable mentions

• Calgary Arts Academy grades 6-7, Calgary ("We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)" by Trooper).    
• Karen Kain School of the Arts, Toronto ("Somehow, Someway" by Chad Price).  

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 7: Senior Instrumental (grades 11-12)

First prize: $3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.
Second prize: plaque.
Third prize: plaque.

Finalists:

• All Saints Catholic Secondary (Popular Music Ensemble) Whitby, Ont.  ("Lost Together" by Blue Rodeo).
• Austin O'Brien Senior Instrumental, Edmonton ("Need You" by Emanuel).
• Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute, Scarborough, Ont. ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).
• Evan Hardy Collegiate Jazz Studies, Saskatoon ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).
• Fellowes High, Pembroke, Ont. ("Bird Song" by David Myles).
• Gladstone Secondary Jazz Band, Vancouver ("Bird Song" by David Myles).  
• L'école catholique Paul-Desmarais, Ottawa ("Bird Song" by David Myles).
• Lisgar Collegiate Flute and String Ensemble, Ottawa ("Lost Together" by Blue Rodeo). 
• Lord Beaverbrook High Jazz Band, Calgary  ("Breathless" by William Prince).
• Westgate Mennonite Collegiate, Winnipeg ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 8: Senior Vocal (grades 11-12) 

First prize: $3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.
Second prize: plaque.
Third prize: plaque.

Finalists: 

• Calgary Arts Academy High, Calgary ("The Rest of my Life" by Sloan).
• Eastwood Songwriting and Recording Class, Kitchener, Ont. ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).
• Education Centre Jazz Ensemble, Truro, N.S. ( "The Rest of my Life" by Sloan).
• Holy Heart Chamber Choir, St. John's ("We're Here for a Good Time Not a Long Time"  by Trooper).
• JH Bruns Collegiate, Winnipeg ("Nikamo" by Burnstick).
• Laura Secord Jazz Choir, St. Catharines, Ont. ("Somehow, Someway" by Chad Price).
• Sentinel Secondary School (RnB Band) West Vancouver ("Tell me Something" by Tanika Charles).
• Sir William Mulock Secondary, Newmarket, Ont. ("Go Get It" by Dominique Fils-Aimé).
• St. Theresa of Lisieux Vocal Ensemble, Richmond Hill, Ont. ("Somehow, Someway by Chad Price"). 
• Vincent Massey Collegiate, Montreal ("The Girl" by City and Colour).

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 9: Community/Independent/Private School Class  

First prize: $1,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.

Finalists:

• Calgary French & International School, Calgary ("We're Here for a Good Time Not a Long Time"  by Trooper)
• Childrens Garden School, Toronto ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy)
• Cross Canada Fiddle, Nanaimo, B.C. ("Little Spruce" by Rachelle Van Zanten)
• Leahurst College (AIRBAG SHAKQ), Kingston, Ont. ("The Rest of my Life" by Sloan)
• Marymount Academy, Montreal ("Oublie Moi" by Cœur de pirate)
• The Mildenhall School, Toronto ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young)
• Parascolaire Chorale de Félix Leclerc, Longueuil, Que. ("Nikamo" by Burnstick)
• Rundle College Elementary, Calgary ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young)
• Victoria Conservatory Of Music BC Fiddle Orchestra, Victoria ( "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young) 
• Yamaha Music School, Markham, Ont. ("Need You" by Emmanuel)

Honorable mentions

• Leahurst College, Kingston ("Need You" by Emmanuel)
• Society for Talent Education, Edmonton ("Wintergreen" by East Pointers)

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 10: Indigenous Languages Prize (favourite performance of 'Nikamo' by Burnstick)

First prize: $1,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.

Finalists:

• École Lansdowne, Winnipeg.
• Etobicoke School of the Arts, Toronto.
• London Waldorf School, London, Ont.
• Marlborough Elementary School, Burnaby, B.C. 
• Master's Academy, Calgary.
• Oak Creek Public School, Kitchener, Ont. 
• Sage and Sunshine School, Peterborough, Ont. 
• St. Angela Merici Catholic Elementary School, Chatham, Ont. 
• St. George's School of Montreal, Montreal.
• St. Martin Catholic Secondary School, Mississauga, Ont.

Enjoy the videos below!

Category 11: MusiCounts Passion Prize (most spirited, fun and passionate performance)

First prize: $5,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque.

Finalists:

• Ellenvale Junior High, Dartmouth, N.S. ("Wintergreen" by East Pointers).
• Esther Starkman, Edmonton ("Somehow, Someway" by Chad Price).
• Glamorgan Junior, Scarborough, Ont. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Laura Secord Secondary Concert Choir, St. Catharines, Ont. ("We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)" by Trooper).
• Master's Academy, Calgary ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Montessori School of Milton, Milton, Ont. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Parkland Elementary, Farmington, B.C. ("Heart of Gold" by Neil Young).
• Pickering High, Ajax, Ont. ("Paper Heart" by Jeremy and Jazzy).
• Rickson Ridge, Guelph, Ont. ("Banner" by Lights).
• Waterford Valley, St. John's ("We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time)" by Trooper).

Enjoy the videos below!

Good luck to all of these amazing music classes, and to all the others who registered and participated! The winners will be announced on Wednesday, Dec 14.

Questions? Please email us: [email protected].