Canada's Greatest Music Class is.....

HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL!!!

Thank you so much for all of the comments and support!  This was a full school effort with contributions from every department, staff members, administration, and most of all, the students!!! We are so proud and grateful!!!  Congratulations!

It's an honour to win this inaugural contest, granting us the title of Canada's Greatest Music Class. We would like to acknowledge the other amazing entries from across Canada!  It was such an inspiration watching all of the submissions, knowing the hard work and dedication from all music students and teachers required.

Below is the online news release posted by CBC officially announcing our win as Canada's Greatest Music Class!

Thank you CBC!

Watch the winning school for Canada's Greatest Music Class

Article posted by CBC Music in Music Class

More than 250 classes from across the country entered Canada's Greatest Music Class, but in the end we had to narrow it down to just one. It wasn't easy, but with help from our judging panel, including rapper Kardinal Offishall, mezzo-soprano Julie Nesrallah and musician Reuben Bullock, plus staff from CBC Music and MusiCounts, the winner is Ottawa's Hillcrest High School.

They blew everyone away with their imaginative cover of Serena Ryder's "Stompa," which incorporated things like Inuit throat singing, strings, horns, a cappella and step, to name a few. You can read the full inspiration for their performance on their YouTube submission. 

Watch the winning submission here, and read a thank-you note from CBC Music's senior director, Mark Steinmetz, below.

The inaugural year of Canada's Greatest Music Class contest has come to an end, and I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the students, music teachers and parents who made it a resounding success. We received hundreds of video entries from all across Canada, showcasing a wide array of participants, from jazz groups to string ensembles, glee clubs to marimba acts and even a few guitar orchestras. CBC Music is proud to offer its platforms for the many and varied interpretations of this year’s Canadian songs. Each submission showed great creativity. 

Performing a song heard on radio can be a great thrill for kids. It can bring them together as peers and help them feel connected to music as a living art, reflecting contemporary life. It really doesn't matter what kind of music you perform, or where you live, or even your level of proficiency; the gift of music is to give kids the chance to be in harmony with each other through a common purpose. 

I thank all the students for the heart and hard work they put into their performances. While watching the videos, it was also hard not to be filled with pride at the outstanding commitment the teachers made to the project. At CBC Music, we often hear about the formative role music teachers play in the lives of this country’s musicians. This project has allowed all of Canada to watch the impassioned guidance that students receive day in and day out across the land. Thank you to our music teachers for their thoughtful arrangements, rehearsals and performances.  And finally, thank you to our project partner, MusiCounts, who successfully keep music thriving in our schools. Keep up the good work — Canadian music is stronger thanks to you.

— Mark Steinmetz