Open to all schools and community organizations in Canada, this challenge invites music classes across the country to learn and perform their own cover of a song from a curated list of Canadian music. Through this initiative, schools and community groups have the opportunity to showcase their music program on a national stage, all while competing for thousands of dollars in MusiCounts instrument grants to support music education.

The process for submitting to the Challenge is different this year. Please read this carefully.

Step 1: Register for the Music Class Challenge via this Registration Form.

All schools and community organizations who intend to enter the challenge must complete the Registration Form prior to submitting. You are encouraged to register as early as possible.

Step 2: Prepare

• Choose a Song – Select a song from the official list below.
• Determine your Category – Review the categories below and determine which category will make the most sense for you to submit to.
• Arrange, Practice & Perform – Create your own unique interpretation of your selected song and rehearse with your students.
• Record – Film your class performing their interpretation of the selected song

Step 3: Submit your entry to the Music Class Challenge via this Submission Form.

• If your school or organization is submitting multiple performances, you must submit multiple Submission Forms

• Backpack Check by Young Maestro
• Breathless by William Prince
• Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae Jepsen
• Confetti by Charlotte Cardin
• Confetti (en Français) by Charlotte Cardin
• Crabbuckit by k-os
• Flowers Need Rain by Preston Pablo, Banx and Ranx
• Ghost by Sebastian Gaskin
• Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen
• Hand Me Downs by Arkells
• Hello by Aqyila
• I'm Like A Bird by Nelly Furtado
• Je te laisserai des mots by Patrick Watson
• Jeans (Fall On My Knees) by Katie Tupper
• Lost Boy by Ruth B
• Paper Heart by Jeremy and Jazzy
• Scars to Your Beautiful by Alessia Cara
• Stitches by Shawn Mendes

Category 1: Elementary Performance, vocal or instrumental (grades k-3)

Category 2: Junior Instrumental (grades 4-6)

Category 3: Intermediate Instrumental (grades 7-9)

Category 4: Senior Instrumental (grades 10-12)

Category 5: Junior Vocal (grades 4-6)

Category 6: Intermediate Vocal (grades 7-9)

Category 7: Senior Vocal (grades 10-12)

Category 8: Junior/ Intermediate Contemporary Ensemble (grades 4-9)

Category 9: Senior Contemporary Ensemble (grades 10-12)

Category 10: Studio Production (all grades)

Instrumental Categories: For ensemble performances that showcase student musicians playing instruments only, no vocals. This could include concert band, orchestra, Orff instruments, guitar groups, percussion ensembles, or any combination your class has put together. Performances must be live and unedited, with all students performing together in real time.

Vocal Categories: For submissions that feature classroom or choral singing. Think school choirs or vocal ensembles performing unison or harmony parts. Submissions may include instrumental accompaniment. Performances must be recorded live in real time.

Contemporary Categories: For groups performing in popular or contemporary music configurations, such as rock, pop, hip hop, or indie. These ensembles typically include a mix of vocals and live instruments (acoustic or amplified). Performances must be recorded live off the floor, with all students performing together in real time.

Studio Production Category: For performances created using multitrack recording, digital layering, or editing software, perfect for classes using DAWs like Soundtrap, GarageBand, or BandLab. Submissions may include vocal, instrumental, and digital elements, but must feature student performance and demonstrate a clear understanding of music production techniques.

In addition to these categories, there will also be two special awards granted to submissions in any category:

Culture Award: for a submission that features non-Western musical instruments, or showcases youth celebrating their cultural identity through music.

Tuition-Based Program Award: for an outstanding submission from a program with higher participant fees.

Categories 1-10:

• First place winners in each category will receive a $2,000 MusiCounts grant to support music education at their school/ organization
• Second and third place winners in each category will receive a plaque.

Culture Award: the recipient of this award will receive a $2,000 MusiCounts grant and a plaque.

Tuition-Based Program Award: the recipient of this award will receive a plaque.

Tuition-based programs: All music programs in Canada are welcome to participate in the Challenge, and should enter the category that best aligns with their grade level and ensemble type. However, only public schools and registered charities that do not charge students more than $200/year to participate in their program are eligible to be shortlisted in the top 10 for these categories. Programs that do not meet this criteria—including private schools and tuition-based programs—are still welcome to participate and may be eligible to receive the Tuition-Based Program Prize, which recognizes outstanding submissions from programs with higher participant fees.

Recurring winners: To help ensure that more schools benefit from the MusiCounts grants offered through the Challenge, any school or organization that receives a first-place prize and financial award will become ineligible for first-place or financial awards in any category for the following three years. These schools are still encouraged to participate, and remain eligible to be shortlisted, receive second or third place, and be recognized in other ways.

More Information

• For more information about the songs for the Spring 2025 program, please see this CBC Music article.
• Please click here to read the rules and regulations for the competition.
• Please click here to review some frequently asked questions about the program.