SMFA Competitions
District Festival Competitions
Provincial Finals Competition
The Provincial Finals Competition is an event, held the first weekend in June of each year, during which the district winners compete provincially for scholarships and awards. Please refer to the SMFA Regulations & Scholarships (below) for more information.
This year’s Provincial Finals Competition took place in Saskatoon, May 30 to June 2, 2024. Prizes of more than $33,000 were awarded during the competitions, the most prestigious being the Garth Beckett/Gustin House Senior Piano Scholarship of $1,500 for the most promising pianist under age 21 performing senior level repertoire (Esther Zhu, Saskatoon), the Sister Geraldine Boyle Memorial Award of $1,500 for the best overall pianist in the competition for 17 years & under (Dustin Nguyen, Regina), and the Joanne Messer Senior Vocal Scholarship of $800 for the best overall vocalist in the competition for 28 years & under (Kelsey Ronn, Saskatoon).
2024 Press Release with results
2024 Provincial Finals Program with results
CHORAL RECORDINGS shared with the directors’ permission
PROVINCIAL SCHOLARSHIP REGULATIONS
An annual Provincial Competition will be held for District Winners. Scholarship winners are selected by the adjudicator. If the standard attained is not of sufficient merit, the scholarship will not be given.
Provincial Scholarship Class Regulations are found on pages 11-12 of the SMFA Provincial Syllabus. The Provincial Scholarship Classes, including scholarship amounts are listed on pages 27-42.
Provincial Level of Canada West Performing Arts Festival Regulations are found on page 13 of the SMFA Provincial Syllabus. The Canada West Excellence Classes are listed on pages 46-48.
Garth Beckett/Gustin House Senior Piano Scholarship – $1,500
In honour and appreciation of Garth Beckett, distinguished graduate of the Lyell Gustin Piano Studios, concert pianist and revered teacher, the L. J. Fournier Family of Prince Albert offers a scholarship of $1,500 at the Saskatchewan Provincial Music Festival. The scholarship is open to piano students up to the age of 20 inclusive performing advanced piano repertoire, and will be awarded to the performer who, in the opinion of the adjudicator, shows the most promise. A competitor may win this scholarship only once. Winner must be in attendance when award is presented.
Sister Boyle Intermediate (17 years & under) Piano Scholarship – $1,500
An award of $1,500, donated by Joanne Messer of Tisdale in memory of Sister Geraldine Boyle, will be presented to the most outstanding competitor in the piano competitions for 17 years & under. The award has been established in recognition of Sister Boyle and her long-standing commitment to music. The late Sister Geraldine Boyle, a Sister of Our Lady of the Missions, received her musical training from Trinity College, London, England and a Bachelor of Arts (music major) from the University of Regina. Sister Boyle taught music in the schools at Wolseley, Regina, Lebret, and Saskatoon. Her teaching was meticulous and she had a never-ending patience and encouragement for her students and colleagues. In addition to her interest in teaching piano, she had a great interest in the promotion of good liturgical and choral music. A competitor may win this scholarship only once.
Joanne Messer Senior Vocal Scholarship – $800
This award, presented to the best overall vocalist in the senior level (28 years & under) competition, is provided by Joanne Messer of Tisdale, Saskatchewan. Joanne’s involvement in Saskatchewan’s cultural community has been varied and continuous over the past four decades. Her support of visual and performing arts and her passion for elocution related initiatives have led her to such positions as President of the Mackenzie Art Gallery and the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association. Her leadership, energy and enthusiasm have benefited arts organizations in both urban and rural Saskatchewan. A competitor may win this scholarship only once.
INFORMATION FOR DISTRICT FESTIVALS
- District Festivals are allowed two District Winners to the Provincial Finals for each Provincial Scholarship Class and each Canada West Excellence Class, provided the qualifying mark (87) has been attained.
- An accurate record of all competitors entered in Provincial Classes, including name, contact information, and marks, must be maintained.
- Qualified District Winners will be notified within 24 hours following the scholarship meeting.
- Completed pages of the District Winner Charts (signed by adjudicator) must be sent to the Provincial Office (via e-mail) immediately following the scholarship meeting.
ELIGIBILITY FOR RECOMMENDATION TO PROVINCIAL FINALS
Competitors must:
- comply fully with the Regulations.
- enter and compete in at least two solo classes in the same discipline at their District Festival. Instrumentalists must compete on the same instrument, with the exception of percussion, where performers play more than one percussion instrument. This rule does not apply to the pianist in the lieder class. Musical Theatre and Voice are considered separate disciplines.
- obtain a mark of 87 or higher. In classes where two selections are performed, the combined mark must average 87 or higher.
- not exceed 28 years of age for Provincial Scholarship Classes, or 22 years of age for Canada West Excellence Classes.
- provide their own piano accompanist, page-turner, and instrument (piano being the exception).
Competitors are:
- eligible to be a District Winner from one or more District Festivals, providing they are not in the same Provincial Scholarship Class.
- required to represent the festival where they first became eligible for Provincial Finals.
- not eligible to compete in more than one age category in the same discipline nor in Grade A and Grade B Voice. Canada West Excellence Classes are exempt from this regulation.
PROVINCIAL PERFORMANCE REGULATIONS
- Memory work is mandatory at the Provincial level with the exception of the pianist in Lieder Class 10267 and in Canada West Excellence Choral and Chamber Classes.
- Memory work is mandatory at the District level in all Canada West Excellence Classes, in order to advance to Provincial Finals.
- Competitors and accompanists must provide an original score or authorized copy of their music before performing. Number the first bar of each line in the scores and each fifth line of the Spoken Word selections.
- The maximum performance time is 30 minutes, and all movements must have been performed in the same Provincial Class at the District Festival. Some exceptions may apply (e.g. time limits in Canada West Excellence Classes on pages 47-49 of the SMFA Provincial Syllabus.
CHORAL CLASSES REGULATIONS
- Choirs advancing to Provincial Final Competitions must submit an audio recording in MP3/MP4 format for adjudication. Recordings may be done during the District Festival performance or any time before the entry deadline. Recordings must be done with the same choir, conductor, and accompanist as in the original performance. The first take must be used. A festival official must supervise and witness the recording. Recordings must be checked for completeness before being forwarded to the Provincial Office. Arrangements and costs for the recording of these classes are the responsibility of the participating Choral Directors and must be made in consultation with the District Festival committee.
- High quality recordings (two selections per class) must be submitted as per instructions on the entry form. No acoustic or electronic compensation, filtering or other enhancement is to be used while recording.Recordings and scores should contain no reference to the name of the choir, its conductor, or the festival from which they have been sent. In the event that a recording made during the scheduled performance is blank or seriously compromised, a substitute recording may be made under the conditions outlined above.
- A complete original music score for each selection, containing choral parts and accompaniment, in the correct key, is required for the adjudicators. The first measure of each line in the score must be numbered. All copyrights must be observed.
- Minimum number of singers constituting a choir is 8, except where specifically stated otherwise.
- In classes limited by an upper age, the average age/grade must fall within the age/grade category entered.
If further clarification is needed, please contact the Executive Director at the Provincial Office. Entry Forms, Fees, and Choral Recordings, must be RECEIVED by the Provincial Office by midnight May 10.
Notwithstanding any other provision in these Regulations, the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association’s Board of Directors shall be the final and binding decision-making authority on all matters pertaining to competitions administered by the SMFA.
2023 Provincial Finals Competition
This year’s Provincial Finals Competition and Provincial level of Canada West Competition took place at the Regina Conservatory of Performing Arts and Darke Hall. 450 entries were heard by 8 adjudicators over 4 days, including 13 choral entries judged by recording. Adjudicators for the competitions were: Piano: Jacques Després, AB; Voice: Dr. Christianne Rushton, NS; Canada West Voice: Dr. Chris MacRae, SK; Strings/Guitar/Chamber: Dr. Sasha Weinstangel, ON; Brass/Woodwind/Chamber: Jennifer Tenford, SK; Musical Theatre: Gail Hakala, ON; Spoken Word: Lorna Batycki, SK; Choral: Joan Heels, ON.
Prizes of over $35,000 were awarded during the weekend’s competitions, the most prestigious being the Garth Beckett/Gustin House Senior Piano Scholarship of $1,500 for the most promising pianist performing senior level repertoire, and the Sister Geraldine Boyle Memorial Gold Award of $1,500 for the most outstanding performance of the Grand Awards Competition. Choral entries were adjudicated by recording and were announced during the Grand Awards Competition.
Canada West Performing Arts Festival
The 3rd annual Canada West Performing Arts Festival will be administered by Performing Arts BC (PABC). Congratulations to the following competitors representing Saskatchewan at the 2024 Canada West Performing Arts Festival. All the best in Victoria!
Classical Voice, 13 years & under: Claire Booker, Liné Linde, Stephanie Siba
Classical Voice, 17 years & under: Isabelle Adams, Erik Jeerakathil, Keira Mahnke
Classical Voice, 22 years & under: Adam Brookman
Piano, 13 years & under: Boacus Liu, Dana Pham, Tingzhang Wu
Piano, 17 years & under: Hannah Meginbir, Esther Zhu
Strings, 13 years & under: Cameron Gajadhar, Sophia Tirkajla
Strings, 17 years & under: Zelda Faulkes, Ekaterina Pletneva, Elisha Ruo
Woodwinds, 22 years & under: Ziqin Zhao
Musical Theatre, 13 years & under: Ruby Hickman, Kadence Trachuk, Liné Linde
Musical Theatre, 17 years & under: Isabelle Adams, Sydney Kelln, Natalie Warren
Musical Theatre, 22 years & under: Adam Brookman, Trason Ridgewell, Matthew Schermann
Speech Arts, 13 years & under: Liné Linde, Cadence Pratt
Speech Arts, 17 years & under: Willem Hoogstad, Bria Sifert, Chloé Massé
Speech Arts, 22 years & under: Steyn Hoogstad
Choral, 13 years/Grade 6 & under: Cantate Apprentice Choir, Conservatory Prairie Kids Chorus
Choral, 20 years/Grade 12 & under: Cantate Combined Choir, Cantate Senior Choir, RJC High School Singers
2024 Canada West Performing Arts Festival – Rules & Syllabus
https://www.canadawestfestival.ca/
SMFA Concerto Competition
The Saskatchewan Music Festival Association’s Concerto Competition is held in conjunction with the Regina and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestras. Originally an annual event, the competition is now held every two years, alternating between Saskatoon and Regina.
The next Concerto Competition will be held in February, 2025.
The first place winner receives a $2,000 scholarship and has the opportunity to appear as a guest artist with the Regina Symphony Orchestra and the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Second-place and third-place scholarships of $750 and $500 may also be awarded.
The competition is open to non-professional* musicians, between 14 and 30 years of age. Age restrictions are as of December 31 of the year preceding the competition. All solo instrumental categories will be considered. Previous first-place winners of the Concerto Competition are not eligible to enter. Only those of talent and industry, who have the necessary potential for a possible career in music, should consider entering the competition.
*A non-professional musician shall be defined as a person whose principal means of livelihood is not obtained from the performance of music in the particular category in which he or she is competing. This stipulation, however, does not preclude such a person having occasionally received remuneration for musical services rendered, even in the area in which he or she is competing.
Competitors must:
- live or study in the Province of Saskatchewan, with the inclusion of Lloydminster, AB, OR if studying outside of the province, have competed in a Saskatchewan Music Festival within the preceding five years.
- perform from memory a complete concerto from the standard concerto repertoire.
- provide their own collaborative pianist and page turner, and be responsible for their own expenses.
- provide a minimum of 1 original score of music, containing solo and accompaniment for the judges. Additional scores are encouraged for the judges’ convenience. The collaborative pianist must also perform from an original score; photocopied copyright music will not be accepted. Music downloaded from www.imslp.org is permitted. Please write the full URL of the work being performed on the first page of all parts and copies being used. It is the responsibility of the user to ensure copyright laws are followed. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
- number the first bar of each line in their scores.
- submit the entry form online along with the fee of $150 and a biographical paragraph and photo
Changes to the repertoire will not be permitted after the entry close date. The winners will be announced following the competition. The judge’s decision is final.
Notwithstanding any other provision in these Regulations, the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association Inc.’s Board of Directors shall be the final and binding decision-making authority on all matters pertaining to competitions administered by the SMFA.
Wallis Memorial Opera Competition
The 2024 Gordon C. Wallis Opera Competition was held February 24 & 25,
in the Heritage Lecture Theatre, Conservatory of Performing Arts in Regina.
Congratulations to Kateryna Khartova, winner of the $5,000 prize.
Press Release
Program
The next Wallis Opera Competition will take place in February of 2026, in partnership with the Regina and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestras.
The competition is open to non-professional vocalists, between 20 and 35 years of age. Age restrictions are as of December 31 of the year preceding the competition. Previous first-place winners of the Opera Competition are not eligible to enter. Only those of talent and industry, who have the necessary potential for a possible career in the operatic world, should consider entering the competition, otherwise no scholarship will be awarded. Scholarships must be used to further vocal studies in opera and will be paid directly to a recognized school of music or teacher of the winner’s choice.
Wallis Opera Competition Regulations
In July 1999, prior to his death, Gordon Wallis established an opera competition to encourage and assist young Saskatchewan singers in furthering their vocal studies in opera. Held every two years under the administration of the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association, its $5,000 first-place prize is one of a kind in Canada. In addition to the prize money, the winner may be featured as guest artist with the Regina and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestras. Professor Wallis was a former Assistant Director of the University of Regina, Conservatory of Music and Dance. He was a valued member of the SMFA Syllabus Music Selection Committee and he adjudicated our festivals across the province and throughout Western Canada. Wallis was a consummate musician, musical director, performer, and acknowledged authority on opera. His extensive collection of opera material – complete operatic scores, recordings, libretti, books, documents, periodicals, and programs from every major opera house in the world – are housed in the Gordon C. Wallis Opera Resource Room in Darke Hall in Regina. These resources are open for use to all who have an interest in music and, in particular, opera.
OPERA COMPETITION WINNERS
- 2000 – Michael Harris
- 2002 – Laurien Gibson
- 2004 – Allison Arends
- 2006 – Sarah Vardy
- 2008 – Jordie Hughton
- 2010 – Meara Conway
- 2012 – Chelsea Mahan
- 2014 – Whitney Mather
- 2016 – Allison Walmsley
- 2018 – Spencer McKnight
- 2020 – McKenzie Warriner
- 2022 – Angela Gjurichanin
- 2024 – Kateryna Khartova
Documents
Press Releases (to come)
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