In the first week of June each year all of the students of Lester B Pearson School for the Arts gather to present what we call, "Choral Celebration". These concert have been going on for as long as Pearson has been an arts school. They are a highlight of the school year, and truly show the musical progression of the students as they move from grade 4 to grade 8. We hope that you enjoy the music that we have prepared for you!

You can go to the playlist or choose individual songs below.

• Choral Celebration 2001 playlist

CD Cover

Whole School

Gloria Festiva (track 1) by Emily Crocker features all of the students of Lester B. Pearson, our accompanist Mr. Graham Adams on piano, and the first of two guest artists featured on this CD, Dr. Henry Meredith on trumpet.

Pearson Singers

The Pearson Singers have had a very good year with concerts ranging from the London Kiwanis Club’s 50^th Anniversary concert and London Fanshawe Symphonic Chorus’ “Christmas Celebration” in the fall, to participation in the Kiwanis Festival and Pearson Singers’ first Cabaret in the spring.

The first two selections by the Pearson Singers are their two Kiwanis pieces for which they won gold. Johannes Brahms’ “Song from Fingal” (track 2) features two grade 6 horn players - Jeff Dittmer on 1^st horn and Leanna Rutt on 2^nd horn.

Their second piece, Tishialuk Girls (track 3), is an arrangement of a Newfoundland folk song by Canadian composer Nancy Telfer.

Song for the Mira (track 4) depicts perfectly the gentle way of life in Cape Breton Island. This song was composed by Allister MacGillivray while he was away from home and longing for the simple life in Marion Bridge on the Mira, a winding Cape Breton river. The Pearson Singers wish to say a big thank you to Ian Franklin, principal oboe for Orchestra London, for joining in this performance. The soloists for this selection are Thomas Hill, Jocelyn Howard, Maria Bartholomew and Andrew Dawson.

The last piece that the Pearson Singers performs is from one of Disney’s most popular musicals, The Lion King. Soloists Brienna Boddart and Kate Bryant will join the choir in performing Can You Feel the Love Tonight (track 5).

Grade 4's

We will now begin our musical travel through the grades of Pearson starting with the Grade 4 classes of Mrs. Case and Mr. DaSilva. Their first selection entitled Seagull (track 6), by Karen Webster, is a narrative and descriptive song which portrays the flight of the seagull. The composer has craftily combined the voices and piano accompaniment to reflect the “dipping and diving, hovering and gliding, and the soaring of this bird through the sky.”

Their second piece, Rocking In Rhythm (track 7) captures the spirit of this evening’s performance. In the words of the composers Mira and Michael Coghlan, “Life is a song, who could want anything more?”

Grade 5's

The Grade 5 classes of Mrs. Bailey and Mrs. Bird have worked hard to prepare two selections for this recording. Follow the River (track 8), by Mary Donelly, is a lyrical setting of a text which displays the composer’s fascination with the elusiveness and beauty of the river. The blending of voices and piano encourages us to “Come away and follow the river wherever it goes”.

Their second selection, Calico Pie (track 9), is a frolicking and energetic piece written by Timothy Strang. The poet, Edward Lear, has long been regarded as one of the most curious figures in English literature. His poetry, written specifically for children, has no real meaning or symbolism. They are said to be nonsense words: pure, simple and whimsical. Special thanks to Ms Jones for her additional accompaniment in this piece. The middle section of this song is sung by a small group consisting of Lindsay Connor, Leah Harris, Thomas Hill, Selena Harrison and Ian MacLennan.

Grade 6's

The unity of the world, the importance of peace and the strength of friendship are all part of the message conveyed by Mrs. Brock’s and Mr. Wasse’s Grade 6 classes in this beautiful choral arrangement entitled Song For Peace (track 10). The composer, Allister MacGillivray is one of Canada’s finest composers. His songs have been recorded across Canada and internationally by well- known artists and performing groups who are drawn to his beautiful lyrics and melodies. The solos in this song will be sung by Maria Bartholomew and Clara Milde.

Their second song, Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel (track 11), is a traditional spiritual that has been adapted by Roger Emerson into a lively and driving three part arrangement.

Grade 7's

Some of you may have had the experience of when something you are doing triggers a flood of memories from your past. In the first of Mrs. De Pace’s and Ms Ainslie’s grade sevens two songs the narrator in the song feels this experience while walking through The Ash Grove (track 12). This Welsh folk song features a duet by Brienna Boddart and Kate Bryant, as well as two small groups comprised of Hilary Hatt, Emilee Nimetz and Erin DeVeber, and Miriam Henning-Harris, Julia Horan and Kiri Rix. The solo violin is played by Martha Foley.

The second piece is an energetic celebration of life and song called Sing Alleluia (track 13) by Sally Albrecht.

Grade 8's

The first set performed by the Grade 8's is from Gabriel Faure’s Requiem. Four pieces run in succession from the Requiem. They are: “Introit” (track 14), “Sanctus” (track 15), “Libera me” (track 16), and “In Paradisium” (track 17). The grade eights welcome Emma Ferner who is featured on the violin and from the grade 8 class Jocelyn Howard is the soloist for the “In Paradisium”.

The next song is an original composition written by Tova Hasivar and Katie Harvey. It is called Heart’s Desire (track 18). This piece was used as the theme song for the grade eight’s show Final Cut. Katie Harvey, Tova Hasivar, Holly Haymen, Kim Maruncic, Samantha LeGrow and Andrew Potruff will be joined by all the grade eights in this rendition.

The last selection is Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus (track 19). It features a quartet of student string players: Jaclyn Jung - 1^st violin, Kathryn Welker - 2^nd violin, Emma Ferner - viola, and Leanna Rutt - cello. This piece along with the “Sanctus” were the grade eight’s gold performance pieces for Kiwanis.

Whole School

In dedication to London’s hosting of the 2001 Summer Games, all the students of Lester B. Pearson join their voices for the singing of Song For Canada (track 20) by Paul Halley. From the “whale’s lullaby” in the east to the “whispering pines” of the west, this song conveys the beauty of our land and the mosaic blend of our cultures from sea to sea. Canadian pride is resounded in the hope for the future that lies in the children’s hands. In the words of the composer, “All our voices come together always singing, land of tomorrow, your time has come”.