Canadian Music Class Challenge 2024: 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. It was no easy feat to choose the top finalists in each category, but our judges have narrowed down the finalists. They now have the difficult task of choosing the winning classes in each category, which will be announced on Monday, Dec. 16. 

For those who competed in the challenge, but don't see their school or class names in the top 10 lists below, there is still a chance to win the MusiCounts Band Aid Passion Prize of $5,000, and the MusiCounts Innovation Prize of $5,000.

Until then, enjoy the phenomenal talent from this year's top 10s. Congratulations to all the classes that made it, and thank you to all the teachers, musicians and schools that have taken part in the 2024 Canadian Music Class Challenge.

Category 1: Primary Vocal (kindergarten to Grade 3)

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

Finalists:

• Brown Junior Public School from Toronto performing "Au chant de l'alouette." 
• Eagle Heights PS from London, Ont., performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• John D. Parker Public School from Toronto performing "Yohaní:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Margaret Park School from Winnipeg performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Nesbitt Elementary School from Montreal performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Newcastle Public School from Newcastle, Ont., performing "Little Breeze" by Bobs & LoLo.
• Saint John Fisher Senior Elementary School from Pointe-Claire, Que., performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Sheppard Public School from Kitchener, Ont., performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School from Vancouver performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Broadview Public School from Ottawa performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.

Category 2: Elementary Instrumental (grades 4-6) 

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

Finalists:

• Dr. Annie B. Jamieson Elementary School from Vancouver performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Capitol Hill Elementary School from Burnaby, B.C., performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Heritage Hills Elementary School from Sherwood Park, Alta., performing "Life Is" by Arkells.
• James Nisbet Community School from Winnipeg performing "Life Is" by Arkells.
• Nesbitt Elementary School from Montreal performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk. 
• Nootka Elementary School from Vancouver performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk. 
• Saint John Fisher Elementary School from Pointe-Claire, Que., performing "Fille à porter" by Ariane Roy et Lou-Adriane Cassidy.
• Silver Stream Public School from Richmond Hill, Ont., performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Victory School from Winnipeg, performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Hartman Public School from Aurora, Ont., performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.

Category 3: Elementary Vocal (grades 4-6)

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

Finalists:

• Jackman Avenue Junior Public School from Toronto performing "Life Is" by Arkells. 
• École Félix-Leclerc from Longueuil, Que., performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• École Lavérendrye from Winnipeg performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• École St. Joseph School from Yellowknife performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk. 
• Essex Public School and Hawthorne II Bilingual Alternative School from Toronto performing "Life Is" by Arkells.
• Kingsdale Academy from Pierrefonds, Que., performing "We Remember" by Allan Crossley.
• Nelson Rural School from Miramichi, N.B., performing "We Remember" by Allan Crossley.
• Suzuki Charter School from Edmonton performing "Little Breeze" by Bobs & LoLo.
• St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School from Oshawa, Ont., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches. 
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School from Vancouver performing "Little Breeze" by Bobs & LoLo.

Category 4: Primary/Elementary 'Cuddlebug' karaoke

First prize: plaque.

Finalists:

• Bayview Public School from Midland, Ont., performing "Cuddlebug" by Splash'N Boots.
• Capitol Hill Elementary School from Burnaby, B.C., performing "Cuddlebug" by Splash'N Boots.
• Oak Creek Public School from Kitchener, Ont., performing "Cuddlebug" by Splash'N Boots.
• R.C. MacDonald Elementary School from Coquitlam, B.C., performing "Cuddlebug" by Splash'N Boots.

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:

• Austin O'Brien High School from Edmonton performing "Reggae Party" by Kirk Diamond.
• Carleton Village Junior and Senior Sports and Wellness Academy from Toronto performing "Reggae Party" by Kirk Diamond.
• Centennial Secondary School from Belleville, Ont., performing "Takin' Care of Christmas" by Randy Bachman and Beverley Mahood.
• Earl Haig Secondary School/Claude Watson Arts Program from Toronto performing "Life Is" by Arkells.
• H.D. Stafford Middle School from Langley, B.C., performing "Everything is Boring" by the Beaches.
• York Street Public School and Lisgar Collegiate Institute from Ottawa performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Marymount Academy International from Montreal performing "Reggae Party" by Kirk Diamond.
• Senator Joyce Fairbairn Middle School from Lethbridge, Alta., performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk.
• St. Michael School from Weyburn, Sask., performing "Life Is" by Arkells.
• Suzuki Charter School from Edmonton performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk.

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:

• Annapolis West Education Centre from Annapolis Royal, N.S., performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk.
• Arbutus Global Middle School from Victoria performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.
• Dr. Martha Cohen School from Calgary performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Earl Haig Secondary School from North York, Ont., performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.
• Hornby Island Community School from Hornby Island, B.C., performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.
• Lake of Two Mountains High School from Deux-Montagnes, Que., performing "Fille à porter" by Ariane Roy and Lou-Adriane Cassidy.
• Laura Secord Secondary School from St. Catharines, Ont., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Nelson Rural School from Miramichi, N.B., performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk.
• St. Maximillian Kolbe Catholic High School, from Aurora, Ont., performing "Life Is" by Arkells.
• Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School from Vancouver performing "Life Is" by Arkells.

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:

• Aurora High School from Aurora, Ont., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Austin O'Brien High School from Edmonton performing  "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Bill Hogarth Secondary School from Markham, Ont., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Dr. Norman Bethune C. I. from Scarborough, Ont., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Evan Hardy Collegiate from Saskatoon, Sask., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Langley Secondary School from Langley, B.C., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• École Secondaire Catholique Paul-Desmarais from Stittsville, Ont., performing "Fille à porter" by Ariane Roy and Lou-Adriane Cassidy.
• Lisgar Collegiate Institute from Ottawa performing "Here and Now" by Aysanabee.
• Nepean High School performing from Ottawa performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk.
• St. Matthew High School from Orléans, Ont., performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.

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:

• Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts from North York, Ont., performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.
• Colonel By Secondary School from Ottawa, performing "Old Love" by Dominique Fils-Aimé.
• JH Bruns Collegiate from Winnipeg performing "Charlie Wenjack" by Willie Dunn.
• Laura Secord Secondary School from St. Catharines, Ont., performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.
• Quw'utsun Secondary School from Duncan, B.C., performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.
• Riverview High School from Coxheath, N.S., performing "Charlie Wenjack" by Willie Dunn.
• Sir William Mulock Secondary School from Newmarket, Ont., performing "Life Is" by Arkells.
• St. Mary Catholic Secondary School from Hamilton, Ont., performing "Little Breeze" by Bobs & LoLo.
• Three Oaks Senior High School from Summerside, P.E.I., performing "Takin' Care of Christmas" by Randy Bachman and Beverley Mahood.
• Richmond Regional High School from Richmond, Que., performing "Takin' Care of Christmas" by Randy Bachman and Beverley Mahood.

Category 9: Private School

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

Finalists:

• Capital Strings and Voices Collective from Ottawa performing "We Remember" by Allan Crossley.
• Creative Keys from Harmony, Alta., performing "Takin' Care of Christmas" by Randy Bachman and Beverly Mahood.
• King's-Edgehill School from Windsor, N.S., performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.
• Music at the Towers from Brampton, Ont., performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk.
• Oakville Starz from Oakville, Ont., performing "We Remember" by Allan Crossley.
• Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy Junior Winds and Brass from Ottawa performing "Takin' Care of Christmas" by Randy Bachman and Beverly Mahood.
• Sherwood Heights School from Mississauga, Ont., performing "We Remember" by Allan Crossley.
• Tone Labs Music Academy (The Youngstars) from Markham, Ont., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Vancouver College from Vancouver performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.
• Vancouver Youth Choir from Vancouver performing "A Little Bit Happy" by Talk.

Category 10: Public Library Performance 

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

Finalists:

• Midland Public Library from Midland, Ont., performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.
• Pembroke Public Library from Pembroke, Ont., performing "You Can Be Anything" by Jeremy and Jazzy.

Category 11: Non-Live-Off-the-Floor Performance 

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

Finalists:

• Betty Huff Elementary from Surrey, B.C., performing "Reggae Party" by Kirk Diamond.
• Carleton Village Junior and Senior Sports and Wellness Academy from Toronto performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Eastwood Collegiate Institute from Kitchener, Ont., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Lambton Central Collegiate and Vocational Institute from Petrolia, Ont., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Laurel Heights Secondary School from Waterloo, Ont., performing "The Returner" by Allison Russell.
• Leahurst College from Kingston, Ont., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• R.A. McMath Secondary from Richmond, B.C., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Second Street Community School from Burnaby, B.C., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• University Highlands Elementary from Burnaby, B.C., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.
• Waterford Valley High School from St. John's, N.L., performing "Everything Is Boring" by the Beaches.

Best rendition of 'Yohahí:yo' by Shawnee Kish

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

Finalists:

• Hazel McCallion Sr. Public School from Mississauga, Ont., performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• St Brother André CHS from Markham, Ont., performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• École Félix-Leclerc from Longueuil, Que., performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Dr. Martha Cohen School from Calgary performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Salah's Steelpan Academy from Dollard-Des Ormeaux, Que., performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• École Lavérendrye from Winnipeg performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Nesbitt Elementary School from Montreal performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Sheppard Public School from Kitchener, Ont., performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Capitol Hill Elementary School from Burnaby, B.C., performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.
• Brown Junior Public School from Toronto performing "Yohahí:yo" by Shawnee Kish.