Choral Celebration
2019
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.
Pearson Singers
Pearson Singers will begin this evening’s concert with a well-known song from the 1998 animated musical, The Prince of Egypt. It is an adaptation of the Biblical story of the Exodus out of Egypt. The main chorus song, "When You Believe" is sung in the film by characters Tzipporah and Miriam, and a chorus of people departing from the slavery of Egypt to the Red Sea and the Promised Land. The protagonists of this ballad recall tough times that have caused them to question their own faith: they have prayed for many nights, but those prayers have seemed to remain unanswered, and now they wonder if their faith has been only a waste of time. Nevertheless, the main characters realize that although the times may be difficult, their faith should remain strong and there can be miracles when you believe.
The Pearson singers have prepared an unusual piece for their second selection. As a child we have all sung Old MacDonald Had A Farm.
They are going to sing Old MacDonald had a Farm? Really?
Yes! That’s the song that’s listed right here.
You can’t be serious!
I am serious, and furthermore we have a guest to help us with the introduction. Ladies and gentlemen please welcome Farmer Will to tell us a little bit more.
Grade 4's
The grade 4 classes of Mr. DaSilva and Mr. VanPelt are excited to be a part of their first Choral Celebration. Their first selection this evening, Sing, by Pinkzebra, is an inspirational song about finding your own voice and feeling empowered to have an impact on the world. In the words of the composer:
“With every step I take there’s a choice for me.
Make each moment count, this is all I ask.
With every word, speak from the heart, this is the start.
We’ll make our voices heard.”
We are very pleased to have Erin Sun and Amy Kim join us on violin and cello.
Their second song is from a series of pieces written in a world music style with the goal of introducing young singers to new language, body percussion and style. The text, written in both Swahili (swah - he - lee) and English, is about standing tall on the earth, not with anger or aggression, but with hope strength, acceptance and a positive spirit. Special thanks to Horacio Burneo for adding the rhythmic accompaniment on djembe. (gem - bay) We hope you enjoy Kusimama (koo - si- ma-ma) by Jim Papoulis.
Grade 5's
Joining us next on the stage are the grade 5 classes of Mrs. Bailey and Ms. Bird. O Rushing Wind, by Mark Patterson, is a song of hope and excitement, celebrating the adventures that await us in life. Whether we sail to distant shores or harbour near, experience blowing gales or billowed storms, the lyrics remind us of the comfort we find when we return home from life’s many journeys.
Next, you will hear an arrangement of Ton Thé, (tone - teh) a well-known French tongue-twister which translates as “Your tea? Has it removed your cough? The playfulness of this arrangement by Susan Brumfield was inspired by a book of illustrations with a Grandmere, daintily holding a tea-cup in one hand and a bottle of XXX (triple x) tonic in the other! Special thanks to Hannah Luo for joining us on the second piano part this evening.
Grade 6's
The first song to be performed by the grade 6 classes of Miss Chesnut and Mrs. Sedig is especially fitting for this year as we celebrate Pearson’s 30th Anniversary. Fly Away Home, by Pinkzebra, is a beautiful song about growing up, exploring the world and navigating life experiences. The lyrics encourage us to always remember where we came from and to know that we can always return home. In the words of the composer:
“Life is a vision, the world is a canvas,
and at the end of the journey the roads come together.
When all is complete you know where I’ll be.
I’ll fly away home.”
Their next performance is an arrangement of a popular children's song, commonly thought to be about plucking the feathers from a lark, in retribution for being woken up by its song. Although the song’s origin is uncertain, it was first published in 1879, and since that time it has been used around the world to teach children the names of body parts in French. We hope you enjoy this creative arrangement of Alouette by Michael Snelgrove.
Grade 7's
We now have Miss Montanaro‘s, and Mr. Morrow’s class is ready to perform. Birdland is a Jazz club in New York City. It opened in 1949 and has hosted many of the jazz greats including Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. In 1952 George Shearing wrote a piece for the club which has now become a jazz standard. Featuring Seamus Millar and Reuben Redekop on string bass, here is Lullaby of Birdland!
Grade 8's
Wait! I’m confused! Why did the grade 7’s leave after just one piece?
You really should read your script! Don’t worry, they will be back! We have something special prepared for later.
Mr. Malik‘s, and Mr. Cairns‘ classes have also prepared a song from a very popular musical. This musical though has one that is playing right now. Dear Evan Hansen tells the story of a boy who lets a lie get away from him, and as a result it goes viral on social media. There are a number of soloists for their performance. They are Nicole Gallo, Zöe Lacey, Kate Romnes and Leah Glidden. The spoken parts are done by Julia Mitchell, Ella Pauls, and Ali Barker. Here is the theme song from Dear Evan Hansen, You Will Be Found.
Grade 7 & 8's
Every year in grade 8 we perform a Shakespeare play, this year it was Hamlet. (Insert some sort of Hamlet thing here) The grade 7’s also work on Shakespeare through their voice unit. They work on various speeches and scenes from his tragedies. (Insert?) One of the players they work on is… That Scottish play!
That Scottish play? What does that mean?
You know, the play that we don’t name.
Oh my! That one!
Mr. Cairns has prepared a piece for both the grade 7 and 8 classes based on that play. If you are still not sure what play we are talking about, you will know right after it begins. Please enjoy all of the grade 7 and 8’s performing Something Wicked!
Twelve
Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts has been celebrating all year long. It is our 30th anniversary as an arts school! There are now almost 1600 Pearson grads making their way in the world. 56 more will be joining them in a couple of weeks. We are all graduating, right? I think so. I hope so! Pearson opened its doors as an art school on September 5, 1989. In 1989 the very first Batman movie came out, along with Back to the Future part two. McDonalds, was topping the charts in a pizza cost $2.50. A whole pizza? Not just a slice? Yes, an entire pizza cost $2.50! Twelve has prepared a medley of songs from the years when the school was first conceived up until it’s first graduating class in 1992. Please enjoy Twelve performing our anniversary medley.
Sarah Smith with the Whole School
Earlier this year Twelve performed a concert with London Symphonia. That concert featured London musician Sarah Smith. Although Sara is based in London, she tours Canada extensively and has performed around the world. She has three critically acclaimed CDs. Sara says that music is more than a vocation for her, it is her calling. Sarah is what we hear it Pearson strive to be when we perform - the music! Scott Good joins us on the piano. Dr. Scott, yes he is a doctor of music, is a Canadian composer of orchestral, chamber, performance art and vocal music that has been performed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Dr. Scott, arranged one of Sarah‘s songs which Twelve performed with Sarah at her concert. We were so impressed with Sarah and Dr. Scott, that we asked if they could come and perform here at Choral Celebration. Incredibly, they said yes! Please welcome Sarah Smith, Scott Good! Leah Glidden also joins us with added vocals to perform Sarah Smith‘s, Angels and Anchors.
Whole School
Next, our voices will join together to present a well-known movie soundtrack song that is an ode to the power of positive thinking, faith and believing in our dreams. The lyrics of this song encourage us to take risks and share our unique gifts so that we can contribute to the greater whole. By building a community of love, trust and acceptance, we can create the world we are dreaming of. And now, please enjoy all 280 Pearson voices as we present A Million Dreams.
One of the most successful musicals in Toronto right now is Come From Away. In Newfoundland people who are not born on the island, also known as the rock, are referred to as come from aways. When the tragic events of September 11, 2001 occurred, 7000 people landed at the airport in Gander, Newfoundland. Over the course of the morning, as the planes landed, the town of Gander doubled in population. The people of Gander had to take care of all of the stranded passengers for a number of days. That story has been made into a musical. The very first song of the musical talks about what was happening as the planes started to land. Performers Erin Stevens, Angelina Foster Del Mundo, Una Roulston, Tien-Long Phi, Victoria Webber, Natalie MacDonald, Nicolas Carnegie, Enda Du, Josephine Gajason and guest bodhran player, Pearson grad Haleigh Paschink join the entire school to perform Welcome to the Rock!