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 2011 playlist

CD Cover

This year's CD cover was made up of four pieces of art representing visual art, music, dance, and drama.

Pearson Singers

The Pearson Singers completed another busy and successful year in 2010 - 2011. In the fall, they were chosen to present a cameo performance at the Ontario Music Educator’s Association Conference here in London. They also had the honor of singing the national anthem and the Olympic theme song at the Induction Service of the Gold Medals into the London Hall of Fame. Many of the singers posed for photos with Jamie Sale and David Pelltier that evening. In February, they had the distinct pleasure of touring in New York City and performing at the prestigious Carnegie Hall, under the direction of Maestro Bob Chilcott. As well, they did a workshop with Kent Tritle, who is the head of the choral department at Julliard. Congratulations to the Pearson Singers for all these wonderful musical achievements.

The two Pearson Singers’ songs you will hear this evening are both from the concert at Carnegie Hall. The first is I Thank You God. It was composed by Gweneth Walker for the American Choral Director’s National Honour’s Choir, with words by E. E. Cummings. Ms. Walker describes the song in her own words:

This is a song of prise. A piano introduction marked ‘Slowly unfolding, with wonderment,’ spans the broad range of the keyboard . . .The chorus enters, offering thanks to God for ‘the leaping, green spirt of trees,’. . . A central phrase of ‘I who have died am alive again today’ returns frequently. This is an expression of the rebirth of the soul with each ‘amazing day.’

We hope you enjoy, “I Thank You God.”

Laudate Dominum is a setting of traditional Latin text:

Praise the Lord,

Blessed be the name of the Lord,

Now and continuously for generations.

From the sun’s rising to it’s setting.

This song was written by Randall Stroope as a commission for the Alliance of Arts and Understanding in 2003. Here are the Pearson Singers.

Grade 4's

The grade four classes of Mrs. Case and Mr. DaSilva were very excited to be a part of their very first Choral Celebration. Here is how they were introduced: “Hey, Alexis! What are you looking at?” “Well, Keegan I’m looking up at the clouds. Why?” “Well, I’m imagining what those clouds could be like?” “A Butterfly . . .” “A spaceship . . .” “I see a swan!” “Me too!” “What a coincidence, Alexis, the grade fours will begin with a song written by Andy Beck, entitled Clouds. ”

The second selection the Grade 4's sang was a traditional Angolan song of greeting. This arrangement of O Desayo, by Elliot Levine, features Bantu, Portuguese and English verses, accompanied by African drumming. Special thanks to Keegan for his rhythmical assistance on the conga.

Grade 5's

The grade 5 classes of Mrs. Bailey and Ms. Bird joined forces to present their musical selections. The Robin Is The One, composed by Neil Ginsberg, is a charming setting of a 19^th century poem by Emily Dickinson. The lyrics share the joyful anticipation of spring and depict the first robin of the season in a most delightful way. You can almost catch the scent of daffodils on the breeze and hear the robin’s cherubic song as you anticipate the magic of spring about to unfold around you.

Their second selection was a whimsical song written by the folk music duo Simon and Garfunkel, which first appeared on their 1966 album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. This song was originally named after the Queensboro Bridge in New York City, which connects Queens to Manhattan, but the majority of New Yorkers referred to it as the 59th Street Bridge. The song’s message reminds us to slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of life around us. The grade 5 classes were first introduced to this song in the fall when they did a listening comparison between the original recording by Simon and Garfunkel and an a capella recording by the Canadian group Cadence. The song caught on and very quickly became a part of our performance repertoire. Please enjoy The 59th Street Bridge Song, (Feelin' Groovy) with special guest artists Jon Cinquina on the bass and Mrs. Bird on guitar.

Grade 6's

Next on the program was the grade 6 classes of Miss Hanke and Mr. Wasse. Their first shared a timeless text that not only affirms the uniqueness and potential of every child, but also reminds us that today’s children will lead us to world peace, economic development and global sustainability. The message of Russell Robinson’s song, Children Are The Future of the World, could be best summed up by the famous JFK quote: “Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future”.

For their second selection, the grade six classes sang a song that was accepted into the Canadian Song Hall of Fame in 2005. Although it is said to have originated in a fishing village somewhere in Newfoundland during the 1870s, it did not become popular throughout Canada until it appeared in a Canadian songbook used in music classrooms across the country. This arrangement of I’se The B’y, by Nancy Telfer, will transport you 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 Ainslie’s and Mrs Depace’s grade 7 classes are now ready to perform for you. In grade 7 Vocal music one of the units we study is the Renaissance Era. 2011 is the 400^th anniversary of the death of one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance, Tomas Luis de Victoria. Musical celebrations of his works are taking place all over the world this year. The first piece the grade 7's performed was a short responsory motet in Latin written by Victoiria, O Vos Omnes. Here is the translation:

O all you who walk by on the road, pay attention and see if there be any sorrow like my sorrow.

Pay attention, all people, and look at my sorrow:

if there be any sorrow like my sorrow.

Soloists for this piece are: Heather Bryson, Alexandra Castellani and Emma Ruddock.

The grade 7's second piece is an original piece, written in Swahili, Takadamu. It is a lively piece, by Sally Albrecht and Jay Althouse, about leading and moving forward with your life. Here is the translation:

Lead the way, Step forward. Go straight ahead.

You’re on the right road. Step by step.

The grade 7's are joined by Keegan Marshall on the conga drum.

Grade 8's

The grade 8 classes of Mr. Malik and Mr Cairns first piece was composed by one of Canada’s most prolific composers, Srul Irving Glick. Glick received his training in Toronto and composed for all types of media throughout his career. He passed away just nine years ago in 2002. Avinu Malkein is a beautiful piece in Hebrew. It is Jewish prayer of supplication.

Our Father, Our King, Hear our voice, Lord our God, pity and become passionate to us,

accept - with compassion and favour - our prayer.

The grade 8's second piece was completely different from their first. Soloists Olivia Scriven and Zach Peddie were joined by Ben Cottrill on piano, Keegan Marshall on drums, John Fellner on guitar, Aidan Wasse on bass, and of course the grade 8 choir to perform the Glee version of Queen’s hit song, Somebody to Love!

Twelve

Each year for Twelve we choose a theme from which we can create a medley. This year it was the late 1960's, specifically 1967 to 1969. This was a time of great social change. Music was one of the major forms of expression. We tried to capture that spirit with our medley, “Summer of Love” to “Woodstock”.

Whole School

For many years, we were very blessed at Pearson to have a very special person as a member of our staff. She left an indelible mark on all of our lives and her friendship and professional expertise will be greatly missed. As she begins her retirement, we wish her many days full of laughter and happiness, and a lifetime full of love and dreams achieved. In honour of retirement of Mrs. Nash, we wanted to leave her with a memory of song, with words written by Mary Queen of Scots. When I no more behold Thee, think on me.

By all Thine eyes have told me, think on me.

When hearts are lightest, when eyes are brightest,

When griefs are slightest, think on me.

Our best wishes go with her!

Our final piece for Choral Celebration 2011 was also chosen to honour Mrs Nash. For Mrs. Nash her faith is very important to her. We wanted to pay tribute to that faith with Mark Hayes’ arrangement of Holy, Holy, Holy.