Brentwood’s music program reaches the skies
Laureen F. Guenther
Times Contributor
It will be a day of music for Brentwood Elementary School students on Monday, May 6. The first high note will sound at 10:20 in the morning, when students gather for the annual Music Monday assembly. Then at 1:30 p.m., the public is invited to join them in the gymnasium for the second high note.
The morning assembly will open with giving thanks to those who’ve participated in the school’s choirs this year.
Brentwood’s music teacher, Carolyn Steeves, said the 230 children in all three choirs – the Grade 1 Primary Choir, Grade 2-3 Junior Choir, and the Grade 4-6 Senior Choir — will be recognized. Thanks will also be expressed to staff, parents and students who’ve supported the choirs in many other ways this year.
“There are so many people that have helped during the year,” Steeves said. “Parent and student volunteers as well as the entire teaching staff. (Without them ) the program and what we do musically at Brentwood School could not happen. It’s a big pep rally, to thank everybody for being in choir … it’s a big celebration of music.”
After the school-wide celebration, Brentwood’s assembly will go Canada-wide – and sky-high.
At 11 a.m. Mountain Time, Steeves said, “there’s going to be a link-up between Ed Robertson (of Barenaked Ladies) and (astronaut) Chris Hadfield … broadcast through CBC to kids across Canada.”
Via live link, students at Brentwood and all across Canada will sing simultaneously with Robertson in Toronto, and with Hadfield at the International Space Station. They’ll sing the 2013 Music Monday song, “I.S.S.: Is Somebody Singing?” (www.musicmonday.ca) which Hadfield and Robertson composed and recorded earlier this year.
At 1:30 p.m. that afternoon, Brentwood’s second high note will sound, when students reassemble for a concert with the 25-voice Providence Chamber Singers, of Providence University College and Theological Seminary. Ryan, one of the singers, has a special Brentwood connection; teacher Lynn Anderson and her daughter, student Matayo, are his aunt and cousin.
The singers will “sing music of many genres, many languages and many styles,” Steeves said, but Brentwood students will do more than listen. “The kids are going to interact with the (Providence) choir and we’re going to sing a few canons (together). (Also) the (Brentwood) Senior Choir is going to sing (with Providence Chamber Singers) the song Shalom to You My Friend.’
“There has never been a time when one of our choirs has gotten to sing with another choir, especially (students) who are 10-15 years older.”
She believes the experience will be “a terrific role model from the standpoint of the (Senior) Choir, (and) of our students watching that choir.”
She wants Brentwood students to see that “singing in a choir can be a lifelong thing. It’s not just something you do in elementary school (and) I can continue singing and I’m going to sound like that! Which is pretty awesome.”
Steeves looks forward to a fun and valuable educational experience for Brentwood students on May 6, and says, “the public is more than welcome to come along. They’ll enjoy the beauty of the music, with a little added Brentwood flavour.”