CBC Music Class Challenge 2025 fall anniversary edition: Top 10s

See if your class was selected as a finalist.

See if your class was selected as a finalist

CBC Music · Posted: Dec 12, 2025 8:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 3 minutes ago

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Students in jazz band pose with their instruments. — D.W. Poppy Secondary School is one of this year’s finalists. (Submitted by D.W. Poppy Secondary School)

The finalists have been revealed for the 2025 fall anniversary edition of the CBC Music Class Challenge powered by MusiCounts.

As a reminder, here are the prizes available for the following categories. The first-place winners will receive $2,000 in new musical instruments from MusiCounts, and first, second and third place winners will receive plaques.

Category 1: Elementary Performance, Vocal or Instrumental (grades k-3)
Category 2: Junior Instrumental (grades 4-6)
Category 3: Intermediate Instrumental (grades 7-9)
Category 4: Senior Instrumental (grades 10-12)
Category 5: Junior Vocal (grades 4-6)
Category 6: Intermediate Vocal (grades 7-9)
Category 7: Senior Vocal (grades 10-12)
Category 8: Junior/Intermediate Contemporary Ensemble (grades 4-9)
Category 9: Senior Contemporary Ensemble (grades 10-12)
Category 10: Studio Production (all grades)

This year there is also the Culture Award, which is for a submission that features non-Western musical instruments, or showcases youth celebrating their cultural identity through music. The recipient of this award will receive a $2,000 MusiCounts grant.

Additionally, there is the Tuition-Based Program Award, which is for an outstanding submission from a program with higher participant fees. The recipient of this award will receive a plaque.

Check out the classes in the finals below.

Category 1: Elementary Performance, Vocal or Instrumental (kindergarten to grade 3)

Carlyle Elementary School (the Carlyle School Choir) from Montreal performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
École Belmont (Grade 1-2 Choir) from Winnipeg performing Au clair de la lune (traditional).
École New Era School (Grade 3) from Brandon, Man., performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
Honoré Mercier Elementary School (1/2M & 2A) from Montreal performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
Madoc Drive Public School (Music Madoc Monarchs) from Brampton, Ont., performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
Nelson Rural School (Grade 1-2-3) from Miramichi, N.B., performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
Nesbitt Elementary School (Hearts in Harmony) from Montreal performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
Saint John Fisher Senior Elementary School (Grade 3) from Pointe Claire, Qué., performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
Second Street Community School (2nd St. Eng’s Class) from Burnaby, B.C., performing Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary (Laurier Eaglets) from Vancouver performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.

Category 2: Junior Instrumental (grades 4-6)

Capitol Hill Elementary School (Resonance) from Burnaby, B.C., performing Lost Boy by Ruth B.
École Van Walleghem School (Grade 5 Instrument Club) from Winnipeg performing Flowers Need Rain by Preston Pablo, Banx and Ranx.
Hartman Public School (Junior) from Aurora, Ont., performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
James Nisbet Community School (the Novation Ensemble) from Winnipeg performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Saint John Fisher Senior Elementary School (Deep Music Instrumental Group) from Pointe Claire, Que., performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Second Street Community School (Chan’s Class) from Burnaby, B.C., performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
Suzuki Charter School (Skulduggery Watermelon) from Edmonton performing Confetti by Charlotte Cardin.
Suzuki Charter School (the #1 Notes) from Edmonton performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Torquay Elementary School (Torquay Orffestra) from Victoria performing Au clair de la lune (traditional).
Victory School (Grade 4-5 Instrumental Ensemble) from Winnipeg performing Au clair de la lune (traditional).

Category 3: Intermediate Instrumental (grades 7-9)

Capital Strings and Voices Collective (I Cellisti Cello Choir) from Ottawa performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
Hartman Public School (the Hartman Music Project) from Aurora, Ont., performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
Rawlinson Community School (Rockets) from Toronto performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Senator Joyce Fairbairn (Concert Band 6-9) from Lethbridge, Alta., performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
Silver Stream Public School (Spaghetti Walls) from Richmond Hill, Ont., performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
St. Augustine Catholic High School (Titans Junior Band) from Markham, Ont., performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
St. Matthew High School (Semester 1 Guitar Class) from Orleans, Ont., performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
St. Michael School (Grade 9 Band) from Weyburn, Sask., performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
Suzuki Charter School (Silent Tears) from Edmonton performing Flowers Need Rain by Preston Pablo, Banx and Ranx.
Suzuki Charter School (the Noodlers) from Edmonton performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.

Category 4: Senior Instrumental (grades 10-12)

A. B. Lucas Secondary School (Grade 12 Wind Ensemble) from London, Ont., performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
Austin O’Brien High School (Senior Windy Winds) from Edmonton performing Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara.
Britannia Secondary (Guitar Class) from Vancouver performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
Cardinal Carter Catholic High School (Grade 12 Music Class) from Aurora, Ont., performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate (Grade 11 Band) from Toronto, performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
DW Poppy Secondary School (Senior Jazz Ensemble) from Langley, B.C., performing Confetti by Charlotte Cardin.
Earl Haig Secondary School/Claude Watson Arts Program (Grade 9-10) from Toronto performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
Nepean High School (Percussion Ensemble) from Ottawa performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
Orchard Park Secondary School (Senior Band) from Stoney Creek, Ont., performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
St. Matthew High School (Senior Band) from Orleans, Ont., performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.

Category 5: Junior Vocal (grades 4-6)

Carlyle Elementary School (the Carlyle School Choir) from Montreal performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
Camborne Public School/Kawartha Pine Ridge (Camborne Public School Choir) from Cobourg, Ont., performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
École Lavérendrye (4e, 5e, 6e année) from Winnipeg performing Lost Boy by Ruth B.
Essex Public School and Hawthorne II Bilingual Alternative School (Junior Choir) from Toronto performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
Georges-Etienne-Cartier (La Chorale de GEC) from Toronto performing Je te laisserai des mots by Patrick Watson.
Nelson Rural School (Chorus Grade 4-6) from Miramichi, N.B., performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
Nesbitt Elementary School (Sound Fusion Ensemble) from Montreal performing Flowers Need Rain by Preston Pablo, Banx and Ranx.
Parkside Centennial Elementary (Parkside Choir) from Aldergrove, B.C., performing Au clair de la lune (traditional).
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Elementary School (Intermediate Choir) from Vancouver performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
St. Cecilia School (St. Cecilia Singalings) from Port Dover, Ont., performing Flowers Need Rain by Preston Pablo, Banx and Ranx.

Honourable mention:

Oak Ridges Public School (Deaf Signing Class) from Richmond Hill, Ont., performing Au clair de la lune (traditional).

Category 6: Intermediate Vocal (grades 7-9)

Arbutus Global Middle School from Victoria performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
Bowmore Public School (Bowmore Intermediate Choir) from Toronto performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
Hazel McCallion Sr. Public School (Choir) from Mississauga, Ont., performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
Karen Kain School of the Arts (Grade 6-7) from Etobicoke, Ont., performing Lost Boy by Ruth B.
Karen Kain School of the Arts (Grade 8) from Etobicoke, Ont., performing Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara.
Niverville Middle School (NMS Songbirds) from Niverville, Man., performing Lost Boy by Ruth B.
Parnall Public School (7/8 Crew) from St. Catharines, Ont., performing Lost Boy by Ruth B.
Suzuki Charter School (the SCS Singers) from Edmonton performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School (SMK Choir) from Aurora, Ont., performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
Tarentorus Public School (Grade 8 Music Class) from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.

Category 7: Senior Vocal (grades 10-12)

Colonel By Secondary School (the ‘C Flats’) from Gloucester, Ont., performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute (Bethune Singers) from Toronto performing Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara.
Garth Webb Secondary School (Vocal Music Class), from Oakville, Ont., performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
Huron Heights Secondary School (C’est Jazz) from Newmarket, Ont., performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
Iroquois Ridge High School (Vocal Ensemble 2) from Oakville, Ont., performing Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara.
Joane Cardinal Schubert High School (JCS Chamber Choir) from Calgary performing Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara.
Laura Secord Secondary School (Advanced Vocal Jazz) from St. Catharines, Ont., performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic Secondary School (the Stinger Singers) from Tottenham, Ont., performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
Sir William Mulock Secondary School (Rezonance) from Newmarket, Ont., performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
West Carleton Secondary School (Vocal Class) from Ottawa performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.

Category 8: Junior/Intermediate Contemporary Ensemble (grades 4-9)

Beaver Valley Community School (CBC Group) from Thornbury, Ont., performing Hand Me Downs by Arkells.
Betty Huff Elementary (Junior/Intermediate) from Surrey, B.C., performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
École Intermédiare Cedar Hill Middle School (Cedar Hill SoundLab) from Victoria performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
Ellenvale Junior High School (Belle Vista Voices) from Dartmouth, N.S., performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
L’Odyssée (Odyssée Rock Band) from Québec City, performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
Roberta Bondar Public School (Bondar’s 8A) from Brampton, Ont., performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
St. Joseph Catholic School (Junior Band) from Oshawa, Ont., performing Je te laisserai des mots by Patrick Watson.
The Valleys Senior Public School (the Valleys Music Ensemble) from Mississauga, Ont., performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
Vincent Massey Public School (Treblemakers) from Ottawa performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
Waverley Drive Public School (Waverley Brown Bear Band) from Guelph, Ont., performing Hand Me Downs by Arkells.

Category 9: Senior Contemporary Ensemble (grades 10-12)

École Monseigneur de Laval Pavillon Quatre Vents (Studio PSQV) from Regina performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
École secondaire Georges-P.-Vanier (Les Voyageurs) from Hamilton performing Je te laisserai des mots by Patrick Watson.
École Sentinel Secondary School (Sentinel RnB Band) from Vancouver performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
Heritage Regional High School (HRHS FAF Music Senior) from Saint-Hubert, Qué., performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
Lake of Two Mountains High School (LTMHS Music Collective) from Deux-Montagnes, Qué., performing Confetti by Charlotte Cardin.
Riverview High School (CBC Ensemble) from Coxheath, N.S., performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
Rosemount High School (Class Act) from Montreal performing Confetti by Charlotte Cardin.
St. Theresa’s Catholic High School (Thunder Music Department) from Midland, Ont., performing Hand Me Downs by Arkells.
Uxbridge Secondary School (the USS Collective) from Uxbridge, Ont., performing Hand Me Downs by Arkells.
Waterford Valley High School (Popular Music Performance 521) from St. John’s performing Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara.

Category 10: Studio Production (all grades)

A.N. Myer Secondary School (Vocal Ensemble and Jazz Band) from Niagara Falls, Ont., performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
Betty Huff Elementary (Grade 6-7) from Surrey, B.C., performing Confetti by Charlotte Cardin.
Collège Jeanne-Sauvé (CJS Guitar Ensemble) from Winnipeg performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
Eastwood Collegiate Institute (Grade 10 Music Production Class) from Kitchener, Ont., performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
École George McDowell (the McDowell Guitar Ensemble) from Winnipeg performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Holy Heart of Mary High School (Chamber Choir) from St. John’s performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
Monsignor Fee Otterson Elementary/Junior High School (MFO Glee Club) from Edmonton performing Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
Nakoda Elementary School (Grade 4) from Mînî Thnî, Alta., performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
Nookta Elementary (TALPAK) from Vancouver performing Confetti by Charlotte Cardin.
St. Cecilia Catholic School (Music Society Band 1) from Alliston, Ont., performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.

Tuition-Based Program

Aspengrove School (Junior School Choir) from Lantzville, B.C., performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
Creative Keys (CommUKEity) from Harmony, Alta., performing Crabbuckit by k-os.
Ecole bilingue Notre-Dame de Sion (EBNDS Choir) from St-Laurent, Que., performing Lost Boy by Ruth B.
Guido de Brès Christian High School (Junior Choir) from Hamilton performing Lost Boy by Ruth B.
King’s-Edgehill School (Senior Music Ensemble) from Windsor, Ont., performing Hand Me Downs by Arkells.
Musika Children’s Chorus from Mississauga, Ont., performing Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy.
Odessa Children’s Choir from Kingston, Ont., performing Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen.
Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (IB Music & Senior Jazz Band) from Foothills, Alta., performing I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado.
Tone Labs Music Academy (the Youngstars) from Markham, Ont., performing Stitches by Shawn Mendes.
Yamaha Music School Markham (SAC3) from Markham, Ont., performing Crabbuckit by k-os.