Finalists in 11 categories of the Canadian Music Class Challenge were announced Wednesday, with five classes from Vancouver Island making the cut.
The eighth annual contest is run by CBC Music in partnership with the charitable organization, MusiCounts. In order to qualify, music teachers at the elementary, middle, and high school level were asked to to submit videos of their students performing selections from a list of 24 pre-approved songs, including hits by Neil Young, Blue Rodeo, Trooper and Tegan and Sara, among others.
Three classes from Victoria and one each from Comox and Nanaimo made the top 10 in their respective categories.
The contest caters primarily to public schools, with separate categories for community, independent, and private music classes. Three winners in each category will be announced on Dec. 14. The top prize includes up to $3,000 in new musical instruments.
Here are the nominees from the Vancouver Island area:
Primary Instrumental (Kindergarten to Grade 3)
École Robb Road Elementary, Comox (Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy)
Elementary Instrumental (Grades 4-6)
Campus View Elementary Orffestra, Victoria (Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy)
Junior Vocal (Grades 7-10)
Arbutus Global Middle School, Victoria (Heart of Gold by Neil Young)
Community/Independent/Private School Class
Cross Canada Fiddle, Nanaimo (Little Spruce by Rachelle Van Zanten)
Victoria Conservatory of Music B.C. Fiddle Orchestra, Victoria (Heart of Gold by Neil Young)
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