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 2007 playlist

CD Cover

Pearson Singers

The Pearson Singers opened Choral Celebration 2007 with their two Kiwanis Festival selections. At the Festival they won Gold and were asked to enter the Provincials. On Choral Celebration evening we were very proud to announce that they placed first in their class at the Provincial Level . The recording from the Provincials was then sent to the National Level. In August, we received word that they had received the “David Ouchterlony Choral Class Award” for their first place finish at the National Music Festival.

The first of the two songs, entitled To Music by Leonard Enns, is a very unique piece. The word music forms the basis of the text for the song. Each of the sounds from the word are introduced, starting with the hard “c” sound at the end of music. The word is spoken backwards at first, then half way through the piece it is turned around into its proper form. The choir is accompanied by hand bells rather than the piano.

The Pearson Singers’ second piece is entitled Oye. While in Mexico, the composer had the opportunity to work closely with young children from economically challenged areas. During a song-writing activity with these children, Mr. Papoulis asked if they had a message that they would like to convey in their song. Their message was simply Oye, or “listen up”! The Pearson Singers hope that their performance of Oye will transport you to these streets in Mexico where children live, play, go to school, and dream that they soon will be heard.

Grade 4's

The grade 4 classes of Mrs. Case and Mr. da Silva were very pleased to be a part of their first Choral Celebration. They began with a song entitled Come Away and Sing, written by Darla Eshelman. This song speaks of the power of music and its ability to transport us to a special place: a place where treasures are worth more than gold, a place that keeps us safe from the cold, and a place where harmony embraces the soul. Come Away and Sing also features a cello solo, played by grade 4 student, Annie Foley.

The story for their next selection comes from the book of Mother Goose’s Traditional Nursery Rhymes. This folksong, Old Carrion Crow , arranged by Mary Goetze, tells an amusing story about a crow, a tailor, and a very unfortunate sow.

Grade 5's

Mrs. Bailey’s and Mrs. Bird’s grade 5 classes were next. Their first selection was a song about friendship, entitled A Song from the Heart. The text tells us the importance of friendship, and how companionship can bring comfort in so many ways. Friendship can be a shoulder when you cry. Friendship can cheer you like the bright sun in the sky. Friendship can be the sound of laughter easing the pain. But, most importantly, friendship is a song from the heart.

Next they sang a well-known song from a Walt Disney musical film, Mary Poppins, produced in 1964. It is the story of a magical nanny who sweeps into the home of the Banks family to take charge of their four children. The song, Let’s Go Fly A Kite, is heard at the end of the film when Mr. Banks finally realizes that his family is far more important than his job. He mends his son’s broken kite and takes his family on a kite flying adventure.

Grade 6's

he grade 6 classes of Miss Baker and Mr. Wasse joined together to present their musical selections. Song of the Prairie is a beautiful three-part arrangement that paints a musical picture of nature and landscape in the prairie provinces at sunrise and sunset.

Their second piece is a musical poem of love and nature, and many composers throughout the centuries have set these words to music. The text originally comes from Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It”. It convinces us that springtime and love are proverbial companions. Please enjoy Arthur Frackenpohl’s arrangement of Sweet Lovers Love the Spring.

Grade 7's

Ms. Ainslie’s and Mrs. DePace’s Grade 7 classes were proud to present two pieces with their new changed-voice choir. The first piece they sang is by Sally Albrecht. It is called, Seize the Moment. The text reads, “Hand in hand, side by side, here we stand filled with pride.” This is a fitting sentiment for the new sound the choir produces.

The second piece is a very well known spiritual, This Little Light of Mine, here arranged by Joyce Eilers. Three soloists heard in this song are: Laura Fieder, Mat Fontaine and Rebecca McCauley.

Grade 8's

The first piece that Mr. Malik’s and Mr. Cairns’ grade 8 classes performed is one that they took to Kiwanis. It is called, Daemon Irrepit Callius, and is sung in Latin. It is about the demon that is within us all constantly tempting us. Here is the translation of the first verse. “The Demon sneaks expertly, tempting the honourable heart; He sets forth trickery amidst praise, song and dance. However amiably the demon acts, it is still worth less than the heart.”

The Grade 8's won a gold for their performance in Kiwanis. Their piece is a medley of two songs from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story”, Something’s Coming and Tonight. A number of the boys from the choir are featured as soloists. You will hear Michael Hughes, Jonathon Gysbers, Scott Keyes, Greg Simon, Derek Sandin and Eric Richert.

Twelve

The first selection you will hear is Mozart’s Ave verum corpus accompanied on violin by Chloe Battaglia and Eric Richert. Twelve’s second piece is a medley of songs from the musical, “Wicked”. This is the story of the Good Witch, Glinda, and the Wicked Witch of the West, whose name is Elphaba, in the land of Oz. In this musical we find out why the wicked witch is said to be wicked. You will hear a series of pieces starting with the title song, Wicked. Soloists are: Scott King, Jonathon Gysbers, Derek Sandin, Cara Elliott and Coral White.

The second piece is, I’m Not That Girl, which talks about why Elphaba cannot have the love of her life. It is sung as a duet by Nicole Mannell and Katie Komarnicky. After this is Popular, a song about how to become “popular”. It is a duet by Liz Linden and Sarah Memmott. For Good is the story of how the two main characters, Glinda and Elphaba, have been changed because of their friendship. Soloists are: Allison Aspinal and Chrissy Rapacz. The final piece, Defying Gravity, is about struggling against problems and reaching out for more in life. The soloists are: Alyssa Sestric and Chloe Battaglia.

Whole School

All the students assembled on stage for the final performance. This year’s song was very special. It was specifically written for our school and for this year’s Choral Celebration by Canadian composer Jeff Smallman. He asked for poetry written by our students to form the basis of the text. Many students turned in poetry, however, one specific poem seemed to speak to Mr. Smallman. It was a poem written by Katie Komarnicky. This year we have two exceptionally talented string players in Grade 8. As a part of the commission, Mr. Smallman was asked to write not only for the choir, but for these two string players as well. The piece will feature Eric Richert and Chloe Battaglia on violin. We were very pleased to present Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts’ first commissioned work, In Other Places.