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 2005 playlist

CD Cover

Whole School

The Choral Celebration 2005 concert began with a tribute by the whole school to Rick Wood, our principal of the last five years, who was moving on to become principal at another school within our board. The piece that was chosen to honour our fearless bag-pipe playing leader was Loch Lomond, arranged by Greg Gilpin.

Pearson Singers

Three pieces are featured on this year’s CD from the Pearson Singers, the first of which is O mio babbino caro from Giacomo Puccini’s one act opera Gianni Schicchi. In this aria arranged for choir, Lauretta begs her 'Babbo' (her Daddy) to please let her marry her boyfriend. If not, she says, 'I'll go to the Ponte Vecchio and throw myself in the river.'

The Pearson Singers second piece is a selection arranged by Donald Patriquin. It is a traditional French Canadian folksong entitled Ah! Si Mon Moine Voulait Danser. The text of this song shares a rather comical tale about a young lady who ponders how to get a serious monk to loosen up and dance with her! She offers many bribes: a cap, a sash, a rosary, and a homespun frock. But, despite all of her incentives, the monk stays true to all of his vows!

The Pearson Singers final selection is one that was made famous by Josh Grobin. It is You Raise Me Up, written by Rolf Lovland and Brendan Graham. It is arranged for choir by Teena Chinn and features soloist Jordan Campbell.

Grade 4's

The grade four classes of Mrs. Case and Mr. DaSilva were very excited to be apart of their very first Choral Celebration. They began with a song written by Amy Bernon, entitled I Give You A Song. The text of this song speaks of the power of music to fill our lives full of hope and of dreams.

Their second selection was a traditional Angolan song of greeting. This arrangement, by Elliot Levine, features Bantu, Portuguese and English verses, accompanied by African drumming. Special thanks to Ms. Jones for her rhythmical assistance on the drum.

Grade 5's

Ms. Bird’s and Mrs. Bailey’s grade five classes joined forces to share their musical selections. Their first selection, Winterlight, by Amy Bernon sings you through the seasons. The text of this song explores the wonders and distinctive images of winter as seen through the eyes of youth. The composer creatively shares images of shivering, silent nights and the quiet, yet magical image of the first drops of snow.

Crawdad Song, a traditional Southern United States folksong, is a version of another song originally called “Sweet Thing”. This song is said to have originated in the levee camps of the African-American South where it would have been sung at parties, or sung as an accompaniment for a square dance. The text of this folksong, as in many folksongs, has improvised responses to the everyday experiences of working, courting and, in this case, fishing!

Grade 6's

Child, written by Andrea Klouse shares a beautiful melody and expressive piano accompaniment. This contemporary ballad places the universal wish for peace in the hands of our children. The text shares this meaningful message: “I will reach my hands to lend a hand.... I will reach my hands across the sea.... for the children there, are just like you and me”.

For their second selection, the grade six classes shared Nancy Telfer’s arrangement of one of the best known Newfoundland folksongs, I’se the B’y. Although the actual composer of this folksong is unknown, its roots date back about fifty years to the outport era when cod fishing was a livelihood, boats were necessary for travel and maggoty butter was a fact of life!

Grade 7's

Ms. Anslie’s and Mrs. Depace’s grade 7 classes first song is entitled, Dreams, by Langston Hughes and Lon Beery. The text speaks of keeping your dreams alive, or as it says in the song, “when dreams go, life is a barren field frozen with snow”. For this piece the grade 7's welcome grade 8 students Rachael Needles and Jesslyn Hodgson on flute.

The grade 7's second selection is rhythmically vibrant piece called Sing Alleluia, Clap Your Hands, by Sally Albrecht. The text speaks of the joy and excitement of singing. One of it’s lines says: “All that have life, all that have breath, sing and dance and clap you hands”. For any of you who have visited the school during the day when vocal classes are on, and the dance classes are out in the hallways practising, you would probably agree that this song really speaks of a fairly typical day at Pearson!

Grade 8's

Mr. Malik’s and Mr. Cairns’ grade 8's were the next to perform. Their first song takes it’s inspiration from our first nation’s native traditions. Love the Earth, by Nick Page is about the sacredness of the living earth. Sections of this piece are sung in the Lakota Sioux language, and it is broadly based on a Navaho prayer which speaks of “walking in beauty”or being in harmony with the earth. Rachael Needles and Jesslyn Hodgson again will be featured on the flute, and they are joined by Caitllin Martin- Newnham on the drum.

The grade 8's second song is The Storm is Passing Over, by Charles Tindley, arranged by Barbara Baker. It is a fitting piece for the grade 8's who had an exciting year with many ups and downs, but now have move on to high school. For them, the storm has truly passed over.

Twelve

This year Twelve was composed entirely of grade 8 students. They are: Jessica Hill, Tessa Morris, Rebecca Sadler, Ariel Leutheusser, Katherine Ross, Adrienne Lipson, Melissa Peters, Jordan Campbell, Trevor Patt, Sam Bantock, Jordan Timpany and Jeff Mitchell. Tonight, though, we welcome one grade 7 student to the group. Laura Bujouves, who will sing with twelve next year, is taking the place of Melissa Peter’s, who could not be at this concert as she was at the Shaw theatre preparing for her role at the Shaw festival in Gypsy.

Twelve performed the two pieces they sang at the Kiwanis Festival. Their first piece is called Yabbin, Yamman, by Frances Sommerville and Rupert Lang. It is taken from the Mass for Many Nation. Although it is part of a mass setting it is representative of the Hebrew influences in our world community. The mass was written with a global perspective with the belief that all are welcome.

Twelve’s second piece was a vibrant spiritual entitled Praise His Holy Name. This energetic song features two soloist: Katherine Ross and Ariel Leutheusser.

Grade 7&8 String Orchestra

The Grade 7 and 8 string classes under the direction of Mrs. Case again joined forces this year to compete in the Kiwanis Festival. They received a gold for their performance and were asked for the third year to compete at the provincial level competition. This is For the Star of County Down with soloist Jessica Hill.

Whole School

Our last song has multiple meanings. The first being that every year the grade 8 class graduates to highschool, so in a way this is a final farewell. There is a second meaning to this last song as well, which doesn’t normally happen. We are saying goodbye to an outstanding person . . . teacher . . . friend . . . but above all, an amazing principal. We finished this evening’s concert with all of the 2004 - 2005 students of Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts performing Farewell My Friend by Craig Cassils.