This July, the stage lights of Ottawa Bluesfest lit up with the energy of Corpus Christi Elementary School students. Backed by harmonicas, dance moves, and boundless excitement, these young performers wowed the crowd and stole the show. Their performance wasn’t just a concert—it was the culmination of decades of musical tradition, a celebration of creativity, courage, and the magic that happens when students are given the chance to shine.
This year marked a remarkable milestone: 26 years of Corpus Christi’s participation in Bluesfest’s Blues In The Schools (BITS) Program, the longest-running partnership of its kind in the Ottawa region. For more than two decades, the school has been part of an arts education legacy that continues to shape young musicians, storytellers, and performers through mentorship, creativity, and community connection.
A Legacy of Music and Mentorship
The Blues In The Schools Program brings professional artists into local schools each winter for two weeks of immersive music-making. At Corpus Christi, this means four days of live performances for the whole student body, followed by a five-day residency where a core group of students is mentored in songwriting, singing, and playing instruments.
By Day 10, something magical happens. Students take the stage—first for their peers and families and later for the broader Ottawa community. This year, that performance culminated at 2025 Ottawa Bluesfest, where students were invited to perform on the final day of the festival.
For Corpus Christi’s young performers, the opportunity was unforgettable. Singing for nearly 30 minutes, the Grade 2 group lit up the stage with energy and joy, using harmonicas and dance moves to bring each song to life.
At the heart of this legacy is teacher Jeannie Wong, who has guided Corpus Christi’s participation in the program since its beginning. For 26 years, she has dedicated her time—including her summer holidays—to giving her students what she calls a “one-of-a-kind experience.”
“I’m always excited to learn something new, but also bring that love of music and excitement for the children to spark that passion in them. Seeing the kids so excited and the light in their eyes when they finally get up on the stage is thrilling.”
Jeannie Wong (Ottawa Citizen)
Music as Connection
This year’s festival also featured student performers from Notre Dame High School, another OCSB school community with deep ties to the Blues in the Schools program. Among them was Rosy Tlem, a 17-year-old vocalist who wowed the crowd with renditions of Rihanna’s Umbrella and Bruno Mars’ Finesse.
Tlem and her fellow performers encouraged the crowd to sing along—transforming their set into a moment of shared joy.
“This is my secret desire—to perform in front of people,” Tlem said after the performance.
Bluesfest’s music programs create spaces for elementary and high school students to grow, collaborate, and discover new parts of themselves. Whether they’re picking up an instrument for the first time or finding their voice in front of an audience, students gain more than musical skills—they gain confidence, friendships, and lasting memories.
The Power of the Arts
As Corpus Christi celebrates 26 years of continuous involvement in Blues In The Schools, the message is clear: incredible things happen when students are given space to explore their creativity.
These opportunities are more than performances—they’re part of a broader commitment across the Ottawa Catholic School Board to foster critical thinking, innovation, and collaboration through the arts. From composing original songs to choreographing dance moves, students reflect, experiment, and grow—building confidence while connecting classroom learning to real-world experiences.
Thanks to passionate educators, community partnerships, and arts programs that nurture both skill and self-expression, students are not just learning music—they’re opening doors to new ways of thinking, creating, and connecting.
And as long as that harmonica keeps sounding and young voices keep rising, the music—and the learning—will go on.
