This was the third and final year that my daughter sang in the Kodály Choral Festival here in the Waterloo Region. The only one like it remaining in the entire country of Canada. It is sponsored by our local business community and run by our board of education with oodles of fantastic teachers who selflessly volunteer.

Many of the songs performed are lively, spiritual songs from around the world with a small selection of uniquely Canadian pieces, some written and composed by our very own local music teachers. Last night my kids sang in Hebrew, Greek, Japanese and in French of course!

IT.IS.FABULOUS!

 

My nine-year old son performed at Kodály for his very first time. He says it’s his last but I highly doubt it. As he stood on the first riser, almost dead center for all to see, I could tell that this boy is destined to be a star! He is a natural born performer! To a captive audience numbering almost 2,000, he sang his heart out alongside nearly 450 other children from 19 different schools.

Music festivals like this one, not only encourage our children to get more involved in the arts but it helps build confidence in those who participate. Those who are (and were) in Grades 4 to 6, going back twenty-six magnificent years, can look upon this time and honestly say it was a highlight of their youth.

450 kids on 1 stage from 19 different schools!

Last year at Kodály we were introduced to a music teacher from one of our local schools who, once upon a time, was a student on that very same stage. That to me is a sign of a successful program, a job well done!

I truly believe that music is a necessary but largely undervalued component in our educational system and I am grateful that our board sees the value in it!

Thank you Kodály Choral Festival and the Waterloo Region District School Board for moments like these….

As our oldest son watched on, I could see the wheels spinning. I know he regrets not trying out for  Kodály when he had the chance in elementary school. You can image how pleased I was when we heard the high-school concert choir guest performing at Kodály. The very same high school he will be attending in September! I was even more pleased to see his transcript this morning…. first course… MUSIC!