SMFA Competitions
SASKATCHEWAN MUSIC FESTIVAL ASSOCIATIONSMFA 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. The next Concerto Competition will take place in virtual format in February, 2025.
ENTRY FORM Entries close at midnight on January 31, 2025.
The first place winner receives a $2,000 scholarship and 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. The collaborative pianist must perform from an original score; photocopied copyright music is not acceptable. Sheet music downloaded from www.imslp.org is permitted, provided that the full URL is written on the first page of all parts and copies being used. It is the responsibility of the competitor to ensure copyright laws are followed. Failure to comply will result in disqualification.
- provide one original score of music, containing solo and accompaniment for the judges.
- number the first bar of each line in the score provided for the judges.
- submit the entry form online along with the fee of $150 and YouTube video or playlist link, PDF of original score, biographical paragraph (in Word) and photo.
Video Recording and Submission Guidelines
- Be sure to check “No, it’s not made for kids” when creating your video.
- Both the competitor and collaborate pianist must be clearly in frame.
- The camera angle must remain consistent throughout the performance.
- Movements may either be performed consecutively in one video or submitted in separate videos, grouped together in order into a playlist.
- Upload the video file to your YouTube channel as an ‘unlisted’ video. Unlisted videos can only be viewed by those who have the link.
- For enhanced recording, the Dolby On app may be used.
Learn how to create, upload, and link your YouTube video.
Changes to the repertoire will not be permitted after the entry close date. The winners will be announced following the competition, and attendance at the announcement is mandatory for competitors. 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.
District Festival Competitions
Provincial Finals Competition
The 2025 Provincial Finals Competition will take place from May 29 to June 1 at the Regina Conservatory of Performing Arts and Darke Hall.
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 awarded.
Provincial Class Regulations are found on pages 9-10 of the SMFA Provincial Syllabus. The Provincial Scholarship Classes are listed at the beginning of each applicable discipline, and each Provincial Class is designated as (P) in the Syllabus.
Provincial Level of Canada West Performing Arts Festival Regulations are found on page 11 of the SMFA Provincial Syllabus. The Canada West Classes are listed on page 50.
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
- TWO (2) qualified entrants will be eligible to advance to Provincial Finals from each District Festival in every Provincial Scholarship Class and Canada West Class. Eligible competitors must obtain a mark of 87 or higher and place first or second in the class. In classes where multiple selections are performed, the combined marks must average 87 or higher.
- 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 (with adjudicators’ signatures) 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.
PROVINCIAL PERFORMANCE REGULATIONS
- Memory work is mandatory at the Provincial level with the exception of the Choral, Brass, Woodwind and Percussion Classes, and the pianist in Lieder Class 31530.
- Memory work is mandatory at all levels of Canada West competitions, with the exception of Choral and Chamber Classes.
- 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, unless a time limit is specified in the rubric. All movements must have been performed in the same Provincial Class at the District Festival. Some exceptions may apply (e.g. Canada West Classes).
CHORAL CLASSES REGULATIONS
- Choirs advancing to Provincial Final Competitions must submit an audio recording in MP3/MP4 format for adjudication. High quality recordings may be done during the District Festival performance or any time before the entry deadline and submitted with entry form.
- Submit recordings with no acoustic or electronic compensation, filtering or other enhancement.
- Submit complete original music score for each selection, containing choral parts and accompaniment, in the correct key, for the adjudicators. The first measure of each line in the score must be numbered..
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.
2024 Provincial Finals Competition
This year’s Provincial Finals Competition and Provincial level of Canada West Competition took place at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. 589 entries were heard by 8 adjudicators over 4 days, including 19 choral entries judged by recording. Adjudicators for the competitions were: Piano: Katherine Dowling and Clark Schaufele, ON; Voice: Lara Ciekiewicz, MB; Strings/Guitar: Heilwig von Koenigsloew, BC; Brass/Woodwind/Percussion: Erin Brophey, SK; Musical Theatre: Donna Fletcher, MB and Lara Ciekiewicz, MB; Spoken Word: Deborah McGladdery (BC); Choral: Donna Rhodenizer, NS.
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
Canada West Performing Arts Festival
The 4th annual Canada West Performing Arts Festival will be administered by the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association (SMFA).
2025 Canada West Performing Arts Festival – Rules and Syllabus updated October 3, 2024
https://www.canadawestfestival.ca/
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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MAILING ADDRESS
Please direct mail to:
Saskatchewan Music Festival Association
PO Box 37005
Regina, SK S4S 7K3
The physical office of the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association is now closed