Music Monday unites Chris Hadfield with kids for singalong

Canadian kids from coast to coast to coast joined voices with retired astronaut Chris Hadfield and teamed up with the Vancouver Symphony today to celebrate the 10th annual Music Monday.

Student singers and musicians along with youth leaders in 10 communities across Canada including Charlottetown, Toronto, Edmonton, Whitehorse and Vancouver participated in a midday synchronized singalong with Hadfield and the VSO, led by Bramwell Tovey.

"We're thrilled to mark the program's 10th anniversary with a series of events designed to showcase how music programs unite us, shape young lives and contribute to the cultural vitality of Canada," said Holly Nimmons, executive director of the Coalition for Music Education, which organizes Music Monday.

The hour-long singalong was webcast live from musicmonday.ca. The participants performed I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing), the tune Hadfield co-wrote with pop-rock troupe Barenaked Ladies last year and which was commissioned by the Coalition for Music Education, CBCMusic.ca and the Canadian Space Agency.

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Now celebrating its 10th year, Music Monday was established to raise awareness of the importance of music education and music programs in schools.

Organizers also issued an open call for a new anthem to be performed for Music Monday 2015. Past songs have been penned by musicians such as Luke Doucet and Serena Ryder.