Here are the winners of the 2021 Canadian Music Class Challenge
Check out the winning classes from every age category
This is it! Our judges have finally made their decisions in all categories of the 2021 Canadian Music Class Challenge. They have chosen the winning classes from thousands of Canadian music students — some who overcame extraordinary challenges in various parts of the country — to create these amazing video performances.
On behalf of everyone at CBC Music and MusiCounts, congratulations to our winners and a heartfelt thank you to all the music teachers and students who took part in this year's Challenge. It was overwhelming to witness what you were able to achieve this year, and it's a great salute to the importance of music education in this country.
Check out the entire list of winners below.
Category 1: Primary Instrumental (kindergarten to Grade 3)
First prize ($3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "C'est l'aviron," Lake Hill Elementary, Victoria, B.C. Music teacher: Yra Binstead.
Judge's comment: "Loving the use of multiple instruments and how well the students worked as an ensemble without any teacher accompaniment! A great feat at such a young age. Excellent work, Lake Hill Elementary!" — Jasmine Denham, Juno-nominated songwriter and CBC Music producer.
Second prize (plaque): "Sandwiches," Glenwood Elementary, Burnaby, B.C. Watch their video.
Third prize (plaque): "Hey Dum, Diddley Dum," Bancroft Elementary School (Grade 2), Montreal. Watch their video.
Category 2: Primary Vocal (kindergarten to Grade 3)
First prize ($3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "Strawberry Moon (Ode'min Giizis)," Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary, Vancouver. Music teacher: Jeeyeon Chung.
Judge's comment: "These beautiful voices blend together in such a pure and angelic way! I felt so moved by this powerful yet so innocent choral performance. Goosebumps everywhere! Bravo!" — Jasmine Denham, Juno-nominated songwriter and CBC Music producer.
Second prize (plaque): "Small But Mighty," Nelson Rural School (Grade 2), Miramichi, N.B. Watch their video.
Third prize (plaque): "Sandwiches," Porter Street Elementary (Grade 3, Division 7), Coquitlam, B.C. Watch their video.
Category 3: Elementary Instrumental (grades 4-6)
First prize ($3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "Sandwiches," Dr. Annie B. Jamieson Elementary, Vancouver. Music teacher: James Colpitts.
Judge's comment: "Absolutely outstanding performance by these young musicians who demonstrate an incredible level of skill and musicianship as they blend and offer the listener a magical ride through Fred Penner's 'Sandwiches' composition!" — Jasmine Denham, Juno-nominated songwriter and CBC Music producer.
Second prize (plaque): "Slow Fade," Suzuki Charter School, Edmonton. Watch their video.
Third prize (plaque): "Warrior," Sir Richard McBride Elementary, Vancouver. Watch their video.
Category 4: Elementary Vocal (grades 4-6)
First prize ($3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "Wonder," St. Joseph Catholic Elementary, Oshawa, Ont. Music teacher: Steven Parker.
Judge's comment: "I was truly moved by the creativity, ingenuity and commitment of each class to put on a great show. Loved the boom whackers and Home Depot percussion! Loved the road trip car tune! Loved the sweet and soulful singing of the soloists! (I'm not crying, you're crying.) A huge, heartfelt thanks to all the teachers and students who came together to make this happen during a global pandemic. My heart just grew 10 times its size." — Julie Nesrallah, opera singer and host of CBC Music's Tempo.
Second prize (plaque): "Knocking at the Door," Second Street Community School, Burnaby, B.C. Watch their video.
Third prize (plaque): "Wonder," Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary, Vancouver. Watch their video.
Category 5: Junior Instrumental (grades 7-10)
First prize ($3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "I Got Love," Austin O'Brien High, Edmonton, Alta. Music teacher: George Koufogiannakis.
Judge's comment: "Love the variety of music instruments and the music-making. An excellent ensemble performance, and you look like you're having fun. How 'bout that tuba player?! Way to go!" — Odario Williams, hip-hop artist and host of CBC Music's After Dark.
Second prize (plaque): "Top of My School," Dr. Annie B. Jamieson Elementary, Vancouver. Watch their video.
Third prize (plaque): "I'm Like a Bird," Marymount Academy International, Montreal. Watch their video.
Category 6: Junior Vocal (grades 7-10)
First prize ($3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "Strawberry Moon (Ode'min Giizis)," Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary, Vancouver. Music teacher: Jeeyeon Chung.
Judge's comment: "I would like to extend a huge congratulations to the Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School chamber choir on an absolutely beautiful arrangement and performance. Your version of Tara Williamson's 'Ode'min Giizis (Strawberry Moon)' is as equally beautiful as it is musical, and I hope that your first-place finish in this year's CBC Music Class Challenge brings you amazing opportunities and inspires you to continue to create and sing." — Carter Chiasson, MusiCounts Teacher of the Year 2020.
Second prize (plaque): "Working for the Weekend," Heritage Regional High, Saint-Hubert, Que. Watch their video.
Third prize (plaque): "Safe and Sound," Arbutus Global Middle School, Victoria, B.C. Watch their video.
Category 7: Senior Instrumental (grades 11-12)
First prize ($3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "I'm Like a Bird," Langley Fine Arts School, Fort Langley, B.C. Music teacher: Nico Stephenson.
Judge's comment: "This is a highly engaging, expressive performance that features all sections of the ensemble and even a student conductor! The sense of community among these students is evident through this performance." — Cait Nishimura, classical composer.
Second prize (plaque): "Working for the Weekend," Windsor Secondary School's Jazz Band, North Vancouver. Watch their video.
Third prize (plaque): "Working for the Weekend," Austin O'Brien High, Edmonton, Alta. Watch their video.
Category 8: Senior Vocal (grades 11-12)
First prize ($3,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "While We Wait," St. Roch Catholic Secondary, Brampton, Ont. Music teacher: Mark McCallen.
Judge's comment: "This is a great arrangement that really features the voices of the students with minimal instrumentation for the voices to compete with. The harmonies were tight and the lead vocalists sang passionately and had great vocal tone. I really enjoyed the finger snaps, the use of the cajon, the added rap section and the call-and-response section between the bass player's vocal chant and the choir at the end. This was a very creative arrangement and performance." — Darren Hamilton, gospel choir director.
Second prize (plaque): "Knocking at the Door," All Saints Catholic Secondary, Whitby, Ont. Watch their video.
Third prize (plaque): "Slow Fade," Sir William Mulock Secondary, Newmarket, Ont. Watch their video.
Category 9: Community/Independent/Private School Class
First prize ($1,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "Top of my School," Cross Canada Fiddle's Fiddelium, Nanaimo, B.C. Music teacher: Trish and Geoff Horrocks.
Judge's comment: "Another outstanding performance and arrangement from Fiddelium that demonstrates an exceptional level of skill. I keep watching this performance over and over again ... I'm mesmerised! These young musicians are performing at a professional level — it's crazy to think that they are teenagers! Amazing! Just ... wow!" — Jasmine Denham, Juno-nominated songwriter and CBC Music producer.
Honourable mention: "Salvation," Fraser Campbell Music School, Victoria, B.C. Watch their video.
Honourable mention: "The Anthem," Le Club Sportif et Culturel Ouest Can, Montreal. Watch their video.
Category 10: Indigenous Languages Prize (favourite performance of 'Strawberry Moon (Ode'min Giizis)'
First prize ($1,000 in new musical instruments and a plaque): "Strawberry Moon (Ode'min Giizis)," Nesbitt Elementary, Montreal. Music teacher: Caroline Derome.
Judge's comment: "A very strong group of young vocalists and musicians accompanying themselves with multiple instruments. Great unison, pitch and musicality. An incredible group performance with impressive music skills. The full package!" — Victoria Duffield, platinum-selling singer, songwriter and musician.
Honourable mention: "Strawberry Moon (Ode'min Giizis)," London Christian Elementary, London, Ont. Watch their video.
Honourable mention: "Strawberry Moon (Ode'min Giizis)," Assumption College School, Brantford, Ont. Watch their video.
Congratulations again to all of these victorious classes and music teachers, and to every single student and teacher who took part in the challenge in this year! Long live Canadian music education.
Questions? Email us at musicclass@cbc.ca. Happy holidays and see you next year!
