MusicFest Canada
MusicFest Canada is an educational music festival, established as the Canadian Stage Band Festival (CSBF) in Toronto, in 1972, by Robert Richmond (founding president), Gary Wadsworth, and Paul Miner. The CSBF added vocal and concert band components in 1981 and 1985, respectively. The name was changed to MusicFest Canada, in 1987, embracing the instrumental jazz, concert band and choral/vocal jazz divisions. In 2012 in partnership with the National Arts Centre they added a 4th orchestra/strings division.
MusicFest Canada is an Invitation only event. Ensembles must earn an invitation by performing at an outstanding level at one of the 54 Affilliated Festivals from coast to coast. The average attendance at “The Nationals” is about 7,000.
Ensembles are adjudicated by noted Canadian and US professionals in the jazz, band, orchestra and choral fields. Classifications are either by age (Jazz and Choral) or by an established level set by test piece (Concert Bands and Orchestras). Performing ensembles are ranked according to gold, silver, and bronze; awards and scholarships are also presented to individual musicians.
In addition MusicFest hosts 6 National honour ensembles; the Woodshed Canadian Percussion Endemble, the Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra, the Thomastik-Infeld Canadian String Orchestrs, the Ellison Canadian Concert Choir, the Conn-Selmer Centerstage Jazz Band and the National Youth Jazz Combo.
National finals
The national finals have been held in the spring (usually May) in several Canadian cities. Regional competitions are held during the preceding three months. In 1991, nearly 400,000 musicians participated in the preliminary events; some 8000 (in more than 350 stage and concert bands, jazz combos, and choral groups) proceeded to the finals.
Activities at the national finals have also included clinics and concerts, the latter offered over the years by the Boss Brass, Gary Burton, Canadian Brass, the Humber College Faculty Band, Maynard Ferguson, and Woody Herman big bands, the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir, Oscar Peterson, Quazz, UZEB, the Swingle Singers, the Nathanial Dett Chorale, Vertical Voices, Sixth Wave, the Eastman Wind Ensemble, Diana Krall, the New York Voices and others. The festival's closing concert of winning ensembles has been documented by TV specials produced for TVOntario, CBC Television and in 1976, 1977 and annually beginning in 1980, CTV.
Host cities
- Toronto (1973-7, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2013, 2015, 2018))
- Winnipeg (1978, 1990)
- Vancouver (1979, at Expo 86, 1991, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2011, and 2014)
- Ottawa (1980, 1987, 1997, 2001, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2016 and 2019)
- Edmonton (1981, 1993)
- Hamilton (1982)
- Calgary (1983, 1988, 1995, 2002)
- Quebec City (1985)
- Halifax (1992)
- Montreal (2004)
- Markham (2009)
- Niagara Falls, Ontario (2017)
Board and Officers
Presidents-Past and Present
- Robert Richmond (1972-1984)
- John Nikel (1984-1986)
- Allen S. Michalek (1986-1996)
- Tom Glenn (1996-2005)
- Mark Wicken (2005–2018)
- Denny Christianson (2018-Present)
Vice-Presidents/Officers (Present)
- Carmella Luvisotto (Director)
- Bryan Stovell (Vice-President)
- Dr. Mark Hopkins (Vice-President)
- Peter Grant (Chairman)
- Grace Westcott (Secretary/Treasurer)
- Kevin Merkley (Director)
- Andy Morris (Director)
Executive Director/Associate Director
Jim Howard was appointed national co-ordinator in 1984 and executive director in 1985. Neil Yorke-Slater was appointed Associate Director in 2016.
Executive
Chairmen
- Peter Grant, Chairman of The Board
- John Chalmers, Choral/Vocal Jazz Division
- Sharon Fitzsimmons, Concert Band Division
- Neil Yorke-Slader, Instrumental Jazz Division
- Dr. Tony Leong, Orchestra/String Division