Kids across Canada shine

Download or stream Shine on Itunes or Spotify

In response, thousands of Canadian music students took on the challenge and came together in 2019 (pre-Covid pandemic) to create heartening videos. The Canadian Paralympic Team wishes to thank all the music teachers and students who took part in this contest. You have inspired all of us through your performances.
 
Have a look at the full versions of  some of  classes who rose to the challenge and are being featured on the Tokyo 2020 Broadcast of the Paralympic Games.

PAISLEY PRIMARY CHOIR – Guelph ON
The Primary Choir is a longstanding club at Paisley Road School. The choir often sings songs that promote inclusion and social justice. In their video, the choir sings a bilingual version of Shine, the official song of the Canadian 2020 Paralympic team.

6 PROBLEMS – Grimsby ON 
Despite their young age, 6 Problems is one of Strive Studios Music School’s most experienced band classes. Comprised of Molly Dodgson (vocals, age: 11); Daria DiPietro (keyboard, age: 13); Gavin Dodgson (guitar, age: 13); Keegan Hedley (guitar, age: 12); Josh Rose (bass, age: 13); and Steven Togmus (drums, age: 12), the class has been a part of the school’s band program, led by instructor Brent Wirth, for over three years.

CAMPUS VIEW ELEMENTARY INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLE – Victoria BC
This Campus View Elementary Instrumental Ensemble from Victoria, BC is made up entirely of Grade 3 students. Many of these students had just started learning their instruments in October of 2019 and were keen to sign up for this extra-curricular club. 

ST. BONIFACE CATHOLIC SCHOOL – Edmonton AB
St. Boniface Catholic IB World and Fine Arts Focus school is located in Edmonton, Alberta. They are a K-6 school of 224 students. Their Music Teacher, Clint Hagel, arranged and orchestrated this whole-school cover of “Shine”, while Fine Arts Lead Teacher, Matthew Charrois, directed and edited the accompanying dramatization. The entire school community enjoyed the opportunity to showcase the school’s commitment to promoting the Fine Arts.

JOHN F ROSS – Guelph ON
The Life Skills program at John F. Ross supports students with developmental delays in a specialized classroom environment. The students attend music class at least once a week and work together on movement, dance, singing, drumming, and playing instruments. For these students, the process is the most important part of the experience. Each student comes from their own place of ability, and they join in and participate at their own level. The choir invited the principal(tambourine) and the vice-principal(guitar) of Ross to help bring the song Shine to life. They are great examples of life-long music learners!

LORD DORCHESTER SECONDARY SCHOOL – Dorchester ON 
At Lord Dorchester secondary school, the goal was to bring together as many young musicians as possible from Dorchester – Ontario to make this cover happen. Their recording of Shine took place in the music room at Lord Dorchester Secondary School. The youngest ensemble involved in this performance was the River Heights Public School Choir (a JK to Gr. 3 school) directed by Hillary Callowhill. The Northdale Central Public School (a Gr. 4-8 school) singers were directed by Jill Wade and Jacqui Norman. Lastly, the Gr. 9 and Senior Concert Bands from Lord Dorchester (9-12 Secondary School) were directed by James Callowhill. Music is all about collaboration and it was an excellent opportunity for these students of all ages to work together on something big and exciting! There was a rough estimate of 290 students participating in the music room at LDSS.

MARIGOLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – Victoria BC
Lead by music teacher Lena Palermo, the students in this performance are aged from 7 to 10 years old. This started as a music class inquiry project to create a bass line (eventually played by bass guitar, keyboard, and xylophones), to find a middle harmony (played on Violin), and to incorporate rhythms with percussion and ukulele. The students learned Shine in both English and French and their final copy is a beautiful bilingual version. In addition, the ensemble added sign language to make their performance more accessible. This piece combines three classes of students totaling approximately 70 grade 3, 4 and 5 students. The students were mutually inspired by this wonderful song that is the official theme song of the 2020 Paralympic Games!

MAYFIELD SECONDARY SCHOOL – Brampton ON
Under the direction of Jennifer Moon, the Mayfield Magnetics are a group of students ranging from grades 10 to 12 who spend 30 minutes a day on their lunch rehearsing advanced vocal techniques on individual microphones. The group dabbles in many genres including pop, Broadway, classical, as well as jazz.  Their submission of Paul DeRosa’s “Shine” was arranged by two former students, Matthew Oliveira and Nicholas Muia.