What started as a small Global Issues project turned into a composer debut at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) this May for one Grade 12 student from Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School.
Grade 12 Selkirk Comp student Carter Anderson composed the original song “We Are One” for the Canadian Museum for Human Rights’ Be an Upstander Showcase on May 21. The Comp’s Senior Symphonic Band performed at the event, including Anderson as a percussionist
Carter Anderson composed the song “We Are One” for his Take Action Project — an assignment that encourages students to take steps toward creating positive change in the world. The project recently earned him the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation’s Outstanding Take Action Project Award, which recognizes exceptional, community-driven initiatives by high school students. His piece addresses discrimination and encourages change.
“It doesn’t need to stay a problem forever,” he said. “Discrimination is something we can fix.”
This was Anderson’s first official attempt at composing a song after taking a composition class at school last year. He has been a percussionist in his school band for the past five years — a hobby that began during the pandemic.
“Bucket drumming drives what I do,” he added, noting that music has the ability to unite people. “There’s just something about being able to hit stuff and make music — I love it.”
He described composing “We Are One” as a tedious but worthwhile process that started with a mental visualization and a blank sheet of paper. Over time — and after lots of erasing and at least three rewrites — the song came to life under the guidance of band teacher Kenley Kristofferson.
Anderson explained that “We Are One” underwent several changes, including different keys and a completely reimagined ending, but hearing the Senior Symphonic Band perform the piece became a core memory for him.
“It was surreal,” he said. “It was weird hearing something I had spent so many months on being played, which was nerve-wracking because they could have hated it.”
“We Are One” made its out-of-school debut at the Be an Upstander Showcase at the CMHR, an event that brings together students in Grades 5 to 12 to display projects that amplify youth advocacy for human rights.
The CMHR selected “We Are One” to be part of the showcase, and the Senior Symphonic Band performed the piece, with Anderson joining as a percussionist.
Band teachers Kristofferson and Michael Brandon said they are very proud of the work, dedication and contribution Anderson has made.
“There are a lot of ways to be musical and to be a musician,” they wrote in a joint email. “There are performers, writers, administrators, among others, and LSRCSS music encourages a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning music and to having a musical life.”
Anderson’s Global Issues teacher, Gillian Derraugh, also expressed pride in his accomplishment. She explained that, regardless of the outcome, seeing students make a positive difference is part of the reason she teaches the class, adding that the Be an Upstander Showcase is an incredible opportunity.
“To have a song he composed, with the support of his amazing music teachers, performed by his peers at a national museum — it’s truly a special moment,” she said.
According to his teachers, the performance went extraordinarily well, and Anderson also participated in a short interview with CBC.
Going forward, Anderson hopes to continue composing music with the goal of becoming a published artist.
In the fall, he will begin a post-secondary music degree and is considering pursuing a Bachelor of Education to become a music teacher. He encourages other young artists to take the leap and compose a song of their own.
His advice is simple: the eraser is just as helpful as the pen.
“Sometimes you write something and it doesn’t sit right the first time,” he said. “So you just have to erase it and try again.”
A second LSRCSS project was also featured at the showcase by Selina Kermani Koosheh, Quinn Fyfe, Sarah Grauman and Mia Evashenko. Their project, “Together We Grow,” focused on food insecurity. Throughout the semester, they raised money through bake sales for the Our Daily Bread Soup Kitchen.
