A local high school band stepped into the spot light at GFL Memorial Gardens Sunday night when they took the stage to perform with Our Lady Peace.
The Superior Heights Steel Rock band was brought on stage to perform hit song Life with the headlining act in front of a sold-out show of thousands packing the arena.
“We all know when things get tough . . . the first thing to get cut is music at schools. Automatically,” lead singer Raine Maida told the crowd.
“So we are very proud to have with us, right from here, some kids from the music program at Superior Heights.
“It’s a privilege and an honour to have these young folks up here.”
The crowd roared as Maida invited the students on to the stage, marking the culmination of a performance that was weeks in the making.
With Collective Soul and local band, The Northwest, performing as well, Superior Heights teacher Eric Williams got to work trying to bring the high school band and Our Lady Peace together once the show was announced.
“I was excited, because I grew up with them. I purchased my tickets right away, and I just kind of got thinking, what can I maybe try to do for the band?” Williams told SooToday.
“Why don't I do something crazy and just kind of reach out?”
Williams said he initially invited the band to the school to do a workshop with the students, but the band ultimately suggested they join them on stage for a song during the show.
With that, Superior Heights Steel Rock practiced Life over the course of the winter in preparation for the big moment.
The students started to get excited, and a little nervous, about their performance as they saw the stage getting set up and realized the scale of the show, Williams said.
“I think it's something they're going to remember for a long time, which is what I love to try and provide for kids,” he said.
“As a math teacher, I don't really get to go on a lot of field trips, so this is stuff I try to put together and then make happen for a group of students. I was happy to do that.”