Hillcrest Elementary’s performance of Wolves Don’t Live by the Rules has earned them a top 10 finalist spot in CBC’s Canadian Music Class Challenge. There were two entries each from Hillcrest Elementary and Bastion Elementary in the challenge, which attracted over 1,200 videos featuring more than 50,000 students.
On December 11 the top ten finalists from across Canada were announced with Hillcrest earning a spot in the MusiCounts Passion Prize category.
Michelle Reed, SD83 Vice-Principal of Music, explains there are 11 different categories that classes can qualify for, but perhaps the most important category is the ‘MusicCounts Passion Prize’ which is open to every single video entry in the contest regardless of age/category. This category recognizes the most fun-filled and passionate performance. The winner receives $5,000 in musical instruments for the classroom.
This year, over 50,000 students participated and about 1,200 videos were submitted, and Hillcrest was selected as a Top 10 finalist in the Passion Prize Category!
Reed adds while the prize would be nice, teachers Brook Roberts and Tyra Menzies and their Grade 5 students already have so much to be proud of and they are thrilled to have been selected.
Roberts started this challenge in the Fall as a means to bring the class together and create a collaborative and healthy team environment for his most senior music students. Brook noted that their classroom teacher, Tyra Menzies, was also working very hard to create a strong sense of team in her classroom, so the project fit very well for both of them.
The students watched last year’s winners of the Passion Prize and talked a lot about how important it is to have fun making music, and that its not always about being the ‘best’ but more about performing their best, working as a team and enjoying the process.
“Award winners will be announced next week, but I know that Brook Roberts and his students have already won the best prize – having their hard work, and team spirit recognized on the national stage!” commented Reed.
Check out the local entries here:
Bastion – Shine
Bastion – J’entends le moulin
Hillcrest – Wolves Don’t Live By The Rules
Hillcrest – In My Blood