Canadian Music Class Challenge 2023: the prizes

CBC Music's Canadian Music Class Challenge 2023 is officially open: you can now register here.

The prizes for this year's Canadian Music Class Challenge include thousands of dollars in gift certificates for instruments or any other audio gear. 

We are also thrilled to introduce a new $5,000 prize from MusiCounts, recognizing innovation in the music class. 

Here is a full list of our prizes:

• Seven first-place prizes of $3,000 in gift certificates will go to the top seven classes in each age category, as chosen by our judges, plus a gold-record plaque for the classroom or trophy case. The second- and third-place winners in each age category will also receive a gold-record plaque.
• $1,000 in new musical instruments will be awarded for the best performance of "Máhsi ts'enįwę" in Dene Kede, as chosen by our judges. (If your music class or classes perform "Máhsi ts'enįwę" you should enter in the age-appropriate categories 1-7. However, all submissions of this song will also qualify for this prize.)
• $1,000 in new musical instruments will be awarded to the best music class from a community program, outside of a regular public school curriculum, as chosen by our judges.
• $1,000 in new musical instruments will be awarded to the best non-live-off-the-floor performance (multi-tracked/recorded/mixed).
• $1,000 in new musical instruments will be awarded to the best performance from a public library location. 

MusiCounts Band Aid Passion Prize

$5,000 in new musical instruments will be awarded to one entry from all submissions demonstrating the most spirited and fun-filled, joyous music performance, regardless of musical ability, as determined by the judging panel, using standard approaches to music education (concert band, orchestra, choral, guitar/ukulele, Orff, etc.)

MusiCounts Innovation Passion Prize 

$5,000 in new musical instruments will be awarded by the judging panel to one submission from all entries of a performance that showcases the diversity of what music education in Canada can look like, through a technology-forward performance (hip-hop, beatmaking, electronic music, etc), or showcasing culturally specific musical instruments and traditions.  

Submit a video of your performance of one of the songs on our list by Nov. 22, 2023.

You can find out more about the Canadian Music Class Challenge by signing up for our newsletter below or reading this.