Will Stroet, an award-winning bilingual children's musician from Vancouver, connects with kids through high-energy, interactive and educational music in English and French. From folk to rock to pop inspired tunes about active living, sports, animals and the environment, Will’s guitar-driven music appeals to kids of all ages.
Will has performed his highly entertaining show to enthusiastic young audiences at hundreds of major festivals, schools and theatres cross Canada. Notable performances include the Fair at the PNE; MusicFest Vancouver; Vancouver, Surrey, Canmore, Whistler and Okanagan Children’s Festivals; the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics; and Folk on the Rocks in Yellowknife.
Will first discovered his talent for writing kids’ songs while completing his bachelor of education at the University of British Columbia in 2004. In the fall of 2005, while also teaching, Will recorded his first CD, “Let’s All Dance.” What began as an experiment quickly turned into a success. After selling his first 1,000 copies, receiving great reviews, and performing to enthusiastic audiences, Will knew he had found his calling. In 2007, Will recorded his first French CD with his mother, Marion Stroet, a retired kindergarten teacher, called "Will et sa maman: Chantons et dansons!" This album is a very popular teaching aid for French immersion teachers and students.
Since then, Will has become a full-time musician and released three more albums, "Walk 'n' Roll, “Dans mon jardin" (2009)" and "My Backyard” (2008), which have all been nominated for Western Canadian Music Awards. “Walk ‘n’ Roll” (2010) has also been nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award and recieved a 2011 Kids Music Award, a 2011 West Coast Songwriters Award and has been approved by the Parents’ Choice Awards. The album includes road safety songs that the Insurance Corporation of B.C. commissioned for their school curriculum. Will's music is also featured on Putumayo's newest compilation "Kids World Party."
In addition to performing, Will leads music workshops for teachers and students. He is also part of BC’s ArtStarts in Schools roster.
Awards & Recognition
2011 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee - Best Children's Album: "Walk 'n' Roll
2011 Western Canadian Music Award nominee - Best Children's Recording: "Walk 'n' Roll"
"Le boogie à vélo" featured on Putumayo's "Kids World Party" album (2011)
2011 Creative Child Magazine - Preferred Choice Award - "Walk 'n' Roll"
2011 West Coast Songwriters Award - "Oh My My, Hippopotami"
"Walk 'n' Roll" receives Approval from Parent's Choice Awards
2011 International Songwriting Competition Semi-Finalist - "Don't Judge a Book by its Cover"
2011 Kids Music Award - "Walk 'n' Roll"
2010 Western Canadian Music Award nominee - Best Francophone Recording: "Dans mon jardin"
2009 Western Canadian Music Award nominee - Best Children's Recording: "My Backyard"
Performances:
Festival Show:
This 50-minute performance is perfect for any children's, folk or community festival. Will and The Backyard Band play songs from all five albums, and engage kids and their parents with actions, sing-along choruses and lots of dancing! This show is offered in English, French or both languages.
School Show:
This 45-minute performance is guaranteed to engage students from kindergarten to grade seven. Will and The Backyard Band perform songs rich in educational content. Being a former teacher, Will easily connects with kids through fun and interactive music while still maintaining great control over his audience. He has performed at hundreds of schools and is repeatedly booked for district-wide tours. His French CDs are widely used by teachers. This show is offered in English, French or both languages.
Solo Show:
This 30 – 45-minute show is perfect for smaller-scale events. Will interacts with his audience on a more intimate level while still offering a high-energy and interactive guitar-driven show. This show is ideal for libraries, preschools, “Ready, Set, Learn” events in B.C. schools, and corporate events. This show is only offered in English (with a few songs in French if requested).
For more information and rates, please contact Danielle Fecko at 604-722-9044 or bookings@willmusic.ca.