London

Local schools selected as finalists in Canadian Music Class Challenge

A London, Ont. elementary school has been named a finalist in the fourth annual Canadian Music Class Challenge, along with a St. Thomas, Ont. high school.

A London elementary school and St. Thomas high school are in the running for $5,000 in music gear

Students from Byron Somerset Public School in London, Ont. were selected among the top 10 finalists for the CBC Music Canadian Music Class Challenge in the elementary vocal category. (CBC Music)

A London, Ont. elementary school has been named a finalist in the fourth annual Canadian Music Class Challenge, along with a St. Thomas, Ont. high school.

CBC Music, along with MusiCounts, is hosting the competition where music instructors were invited to teach their students a Canadian song to perform. More than 15,000 students from about 1,000 classes signed up for their chance to win $5,000 in instruments for their classroom.

The judges have narrowed the competition down to 10 finalists in each of the seven categories focusing on vocal and instrumental performance.

London's Byron Somerset Public School made the top 10 with What I Wouldn't Do by Serena Ryder in the elementary vocal category.

Central Elgin Collegiate Institute in St. Thomas made the top 10 in the high school instrumental category with their performance of Alessia Cara's Stay.

Along with the $5,000 prize, each class will receive a plaque for the school's trophy case.

The judges will now whittle down the top 10 in each category, with the winners being announced on Tuesday, Dec. 18.