CBC Music Class Challenge 2025 spring edition: Top 10s

The finalists have been revealed for the 2025 spring edition of the CBC Music Class Challenge presented by MusiCounts.

As a reminder, these are the prizes that are up for grabs:

• Categories 1-9: First place winners will receive $2,500 in music instruments from MusiCounts. First, second and third place will receive plaques.

• Category 10: First, second and third place will receive plaques.

• Categories 11 and 13: First place winners will receive $1,500 in music instruments from MusiCounts. First, second and third place will receive plaques.

• Categories 12 and 14: First place winners will receive $1,500 in music instruments, plus first place plaques.

Congratulations to all the classes that made it, and thank you to all the teachers, musicians and schools that have taken part. The winning classes will be revealed on June 9.

Category 1: Elementary Instrumental (grades 4-6)

• Braemar, Canyon Heights, Larson Continuing Strings from Vancouver performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk.
• Centre scolaire Étoile de l'Acadie from Sydney, N.S., performing Au chant de l'alouette 
• Dorothy Lynas and Ross Road from Vancouver performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Kerrisdale Elementary School from Vancouver performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk. 
• Nesbitt Elementary School from Montreal performing Au chant de l'alouette 
• Nootka Elementary School from Vancouver performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Ron Southern School from Calgary performing Life Is by Arkells.
• St. Angela Merici (SAM Grade 6) from Chatham, Ont., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Saint John Fisher Senior Elementary School from Pointe-Claire, Que., performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk. 
• Torquay Elementary School from Victoria performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.

Category 2: Junior Instrumental (grades 7-9)

• Broadview Public School from Ottawa performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk. 
• Capital Strings and Voices Collective from Ottawa performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• École André-Piolat from North Vancouver performing Au chant de l'alouette 
• École La-Belle-Cloche from Souris, P.E.I., performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk. 
• H.D. Stafford Middle School from Langley, B.C., performing The Returner by Allison Russell.
• Lisgar Collegiate Institute from Ottawa performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• St. Angela Merici (Grade 8 B) from Chatham, Ont., performing Life Is by Arkells.
• St. Joseph Catholic Elementary from Tilbury, Ont., performing Yohahi:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School from Lethbridge, Alta., performing Takin' Care of Christmas by Randy Bachman and Beverley Mahood. 
• Queen Mary Elementary from Hamilton performing The Returner by Allison Russell.

Category 3: Senior Instrumental (grades 10-12) 

• Brookfield High School from Ottawa performing Life Is by Arkells.
• Dundas Valley Secondary from Dundas, Ont., performing Life Is by Arkells.
• Langley Secondary from Langley, B.C., performing The Returner by Allison Russell.
• Lisgar Collegiate from Ottawa performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk. 
• Nepean High School from Ottawa performing Here and Now by Aysanabee.
• O'Donel High School from Mount Pearl, N.L., performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• St. Peter Catholic High School from Orleans, Ont., performing The Returner by Allison Russell.
• Windsor Secondary from North Vancouver performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk. 

Category 4: Elementary Vocal (grades 4-6) (a capella or instrumental accompaniment)

• Arthur Stringer Public School from London, Ont., performing We Remember by Allan Crossley.
• Churchill Alternative (School of Rock) from Ottawa performing Life Is by Arkells.
• Crichton Park (Grade 4) from Dartmouth, N.S., performing Au chant de l'alouette.
• École Donat-Robichaud from Cap-Pelé, N.B., performing Au chant de l'alouette.
• Essex Public School and Hawthorn II Alternative School from Toronto performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Margaret Park School from Winnipeg performing Life Is by Arkells.
• Nelson Rural School from Miramichi, N.B., performing Little Breeze by Bobs & LoLo.
• OrKidstra (Herongate KidSingers B) from Ottawa performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Parkside Elementary from Toronto performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• University Highlands Elementary (Little Stars) from Burnaby, B.C., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.

Category 5: Junior Vocal (grades 7-9) (a capella or instrumental accompaniment)

• Aberfoyle Public School from Puslinch, Ont., performing Little Breeze by Bobs & LoLo.
• Betty Huff Elementary from Surrey, B.C., performing Old Love by Dominique Fils-Aimé.
• Britannia Secondary School from Vancouver performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• École Dugald School from Dugald, Man., performing Takin' Care of Christmas by Randy Bachman and Beverley Mahood.
• École Secondaire Michelle O'Bonsawin from Toronto performing Au chant de l'alouette. 
• Ken Danby Public School from Guelph, Ont., performing Life Is by Arkells.
• Nelson Rural School from Miramichi, N.B., performing Life Is by Arkells.
• St. Peter Catholic High School from Orleans, Ont., performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• University Highlands Elementary (Heart and Soul) from Burnaby, B.C., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• University Highlands Elementary (Dreamers and Achievers) from Burnaby, B.C., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.

Category 6: Senior Vocal (grades 10-12) (a capella or instrumental accompaniment)

• Austin O'Brien High School from Edmonton performing Old Love by Dominique Fils-Aimé
• Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School from Toronto performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk.
• Huron Heights Secondary School from Newmarket, Ont., performing The Returner by Allison Russell.
• Laura Secord Secondary School from St. Catharines, Ont., performing Life Is by Arkells.
• Lisgar Collegiate Institute from Ottawa performing Life Is by Arkells.
• St. Thomas Aquinas High School from Tottenham, Ont., performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk.
• West Credit Secondary School from Mississauga, Ont., performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk.
• Westmount Secondary School from Hamilton performing Life Is by Arkells.

Category 7: Elementary/Junior Contemporary Ensemble (grades 4-9)

This category is for pop/rock ensembles and technology-forward performances.

• École Élémentaire Catholique Notre-Dame from Cornwall, Ont., performing Dans ma tête by Etienne Dufresne.
• École Héritage from Falher, Alta., performing Dans ma tête by Etienne Dufresne.
• École Polyvalente Lavigne from Lachute, Que., performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk. 
• The Centre for Arts and Music from Edmonton performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Salisbury Regional School from Salisbury, N.B., performing  Here and Now by Aysanabee.
• Spring Park Elementary from Charlottetown performing Here and Now by Aysanabee.
• St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School from Oshawa, Ont., performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• University Highlands Elementary from Burnaby, B.C., performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk. 

Category 8: Senior Contemporary Ensemble (grades 10-12)

This category is for pop/rock ensembles and technology-forward performances.

• Cairine Wilson Secondary School from Orleans, Ont., performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Charlottetown Rural High School from Charlottetown performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• École McTavish High School from Fort McMurray, Alta., performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• École St. Patrick High School from Yellowknife performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Jean Augustine Secondary School from Brampton, Ont. performing Here and Now by Aysanabee.
• R.A. McMath Secondary School from Richmond, B.C., performing The Returner by Allison Russell.
• Saint Paul Catholic High School from Niagara Falls, Ont. performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• St. Francis Xavier High School (St. FX Rock Band) from Edmonton performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Three Oaks Senior High School (R&B band) from Summerside, P.E.I., performing The Returner by Allison Russell.
• Three Oaks Senior High School from Summerside, P.E.I., performing The Returner by Allison Russell.

Category 9: Non-Live-Off-the-Floor Performance (all grades) 

This category is for fully produced multi-track or mixed music video-style performances. 

• Eastwood Collegiate from Kitchener, Ont., performing The Returner by Allison Russell.
• École Notre Dame Des Monts from Canmore, Alta., performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches
• John Martin Junior High from Dartmouth, N.S., performing Reggae Party by Kirk Diamond.
• Lambton Central Collegiate & Vocational Institute from Petrolia, Ont., performing A Little Bit Happy by Talk. 
• Lambton Central Collegiate & Vocational Institute from Petrolia, Ont. performing Reggae Party by Kirk Diamond.
• Mayne Island School (All Your  Fault) from Mayne Island, B.C., performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Mayne Island School (The Daily's) from Mayne Island, B.C., performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Mayne Island School (The Treblemakers) from Mayne Island, B.C., performing You Can be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Sir Robert Borden High School from Nepean, Ont., performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Stephen Lewis Secondary School from Mississauga, Ont., performing Life Is by Arkells.

Category 10: Private Schools 

• St. John's-Kilmarnock School from Breslau, Ont., performing The Returner by Allison Russell.
• Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy from Ottawa performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Sing House Studios (Teen Troop) from Ottawa performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Sing House Studios (Junior Troop) from Ottawa performing Everything Is Boring by the Beaches.
• Simusique Studio (VOX Group) from Coquitlam, B.C., performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Musically Inclined from Conception Bay, N.L., performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Rundle College from Calgary performing Little Breeze by Bobs & LoLo.
• Renert School from Calgary performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.

Category 11: Primary Passion Prize (kindergarten to grade 3) 

• Baturyn Elementary School from Edmonton performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Earl Oxford School from Brandon, Man., performing Little Breeze by Bobs & LoLo.
• James Robinson Public School from Markham, Ont., performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Margaret Park School from Winnipeg performing Little Breeze by Bobs & LoLo.
• Nelson Rural School from Miramichi, N.B., performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Our Lady of Fatima School from Calgary performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• St. Angela Merici (SAM Music Club grades 1 and 2) from Chatham, Ont., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• University Highlands Elementary from Burnaby, B.C., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Victory School from Winnipeg performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Wolseley School from Winnipeg performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.

Category 12: Passion Prize for performance of Yohahí:yo (The Good Road) with karaoke track (all grades)

• Alex Hope Elementary School from Langley, B.C., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Bayside Public School from Belleville, Ont., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Capitol Hill Elementary School from Burnaby, B.C., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Hollywood Public School from Toronto performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Huntington Ridge Public School from Mississauga, Ont., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish. 
• James Robinson Public School from Markham, Ont., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Nashwaak Valley Elementary School from Durham Bridge, N.B., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Parkside Elementary School from Toronto performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Perdue School from Perdue, Sask., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Primrose Elementary School from Mulmur, Ont., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.

Category 13: Culture Passion Prize (all grades)

For performance that showcases non-Western musical instruments and/or celebrates young people's cultural identity through music.

• Afrimama Music Program from Winnipeg performing You Can Be Anything by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Salah's Steelpan Academy from Montreal performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.
• Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School from Lethbridge, Alta., performing Life Is by Arkells.
• St Angela Merici from Chatham, Ont., performing Life Is by Arkells.
• St Angela Merici from Chatham, Ont., performing Yohahí:yo by Shawnee Kish.