About Us

Mission Statement

"We envision a world that appreciates music.

We provide a step in the journey towards excellence in music performance with educational opportunities for students and teachers.

We strive to develop well-rounded individuals with positive life and performance skills who will give their gifts back to the community, ensuring that the arts will flourish."

Our Purpose

The Federation's main objective is the development and encouragement of Canadian talent in the performance and knowledge of classical music. At every level in the festival movement, young artists learn from each other as well as from formal adjudications by internationally respected adjudicators.

Music festivals provide an excellent public performance opportunity for students. As students progress to higher levels of competition, they find festivals an incentive to continue the pursuit of excellence.

Who We Are

Federation of Canadian Music Festivals is the umbrella organisation for 230+ local and provincial festivals.

It is a charitable, not-for-profit Canadian organization of volunteers from across the country serving tens of thousands of young musicians.

All music festivals with membership in the Federation share the mutual objective of providing educational and performance opportunities for young artists from every level, with professional adjudicators offering supportive critiques of their work.

Our History

Local music festivals have been operating in Canada since 1908 when the first Festival was organized in Edmonton, AB. It made such a positive impression that other prairie communities began holding their own festivals almost immediately. By 1953 every province had at least one operating festival, and at that point the Federation was officially established. The growth and success of these music festivals can be attributed to the dedication of volunteer organizers.

The first all-Canadian Music Competition was held in Canada's Centennial Year (1967) with the finals being held in Saint John, New Brunswick. The National Centennial Committee, in conjunction with provincial governments, funded this competition. The Federation of Canadian Music Festivals, founded in 1949, was primarily responsible for the organization and administration.

In 1972 the National Festival was instituted on an annual basis, with final competitions being held in early September at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto.

In 1973, CIBC became the Festival's corporate sponsor ... a relationship that was to last for 24 years, and it was much appreciated!

In 1981 it was decided that the National Festival would be held in a different province each year.

Starting in 1998, with the end of CIBC sponsorship, the Federation entered new partnering relationships with cities, towns, companies, corporate sponsors and interested parties so that the National Festival could continue on an annual basis. These new relationships continue to be forged today.

The National Festival Trust Fund was also established, to build for the future.

Founders of the Federation

'Founder of the Federation' is an honour given to outstanding festival leaders who have committed themselves to the Music Festival movement in Canada. By their service to the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals and the National Music Festival, they have enriched the lives of countless young musicians.

Individuals worthy of this honour will be recommended to Federation members by the Executive of the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals, and will be ratified by the delegates at the Annual General meeting. Their names will be forever listed annually in the Digest.

The Festival Movement in Canada

Local Festivals

Local community festivals are the grassroots of the three-tiered classical music festival movement in Canada. They are located right across the country, in small towns as well as urban centres. Larger festivals may run for several weeks, while smaller ones may take only a day or two. Every local festival engages highly qualified adjudicators who critique each performance, offer help and guidance, and select winners for honours and scholarships. Adjudicators also select students to advance to Provincial level festivals.

Provincial Festivals

The top competitors from local festivals gather annually in each province, attending their respective Provincial Finals competitions and festivals. At these provincial festivals adjudicators help students of varying levels and backgrounds, and they recommend the very best to attend the National Music Festival.

The National Festival

One of the main responsibilities of the Federation is the organization of the annual National Music Festival, which is held in a different location in Canada every year. This festival of classical music brings together the best students from every province, to perform in the top venues in the country, to interact and hear and learn from each other, to have workshop sessions with Canada's best adjudicators, and to compete for the top prizes in Canada. It is a truly unique Festival that enriches the lives of both performers and audiences alike!

Executive Officers

Committees 2011-2012

The following Committees were active at the 2011 Antigonish AGM. The President, Executive Director and Fundraiser are ex-officio on all Committees.

• Finance
• Syllabus
• Marketing & Communications
• Adjudicator Selection
• History & Archives
• Nominating
• National Festival Planning

Statistics

Information provided here has been compiled from data supplied by the Administrators of Provincial Associations, who in turn have received data from each of their local festivals. Some of that data may be incomplete or inconsistent, and though it does it's best to ensure accuracy, FCMF cannot accept responsibility for errors or omissions. The data becomes more reliable over time, as FCMF is increasing its efforts for accuracy from Provincial and Local festivals. The lists below provide an indication of the magnitude of the music festival movement in Canada.

Statistics by Province 2011 (?=not reported)

By-Laws

Link (PDF file)