Lethbridge is alive with the sound of music, as St. Patrick Fine Arts Elementary School won first place nationwide in Category 1 of the 2026 CBC Music Class Challenge.
The school’s Grade 4 music class won for their performance of mitêh by acclaimed Cree music educator and composer Sherryl Sewepagaham. The song title means “heart.”
Serving as the category judge, Sewepagaham called it a “fantastic submission,” praising the students’ rhythm, in-tune singing, and excellent Cree pronunciation.
As a first-place winner, the school will receive $2,000 in new musical instruments from MusiCounts.
Music teacher Stacy Skretting said students worked on the song selection for about a month, mostly in music classes. “We recorded it for April, and in the middle of May, we found out we made the Top 10, and so we waited anxiously for May 29 and found out we won the category.”
Receiving accolades for the performance, Skretting added, showcases the school.
“We’re a fine arts school, so we’re able to spend that time and make that commitment to our music program. Hopefully, it showcases that and what great kids we have,” Skretting pointed out.
Not only is the school honoured to win first place, but the competition was also an opportunity to showcase St. Patrick students, the music program, and Indigenous language.
“To expose our children to other cultures, and to recognize a huge culture in our own country, and it’s just really important for kids to learn about things that are different than themselves,” noted Skretting.
Skretting added approximately 40 students were a part of the performance. “We combined two Grade Four classes and put them together for that.”
