It is with great sadness that we share that on Tuesday, November 5th, former MusicFest President (2005-2018) Mark Wicken passed away. Mark’s leadership of MusicFest Canada was profound and extensive. We remember him with fondness and appreciation.

For 2025, MusicFest will offer a virtual (recorded video) registration option for eligible ensembles unable to travel; for more information click HERE.

53rd MusicFest
MAY 12-17, 2025
Toronto, ON

MusicFest Canada 53rd “The Nationals” 2025, hosted by York University Department of Music

171Days
13Hours
57Minutes

Install the MusicFest App Today!

The MusicFest App is now available for iPhone and Android users. Install it on your phone for real time performance results, times, locations and directions.

53 Years of Music History, Education and Excellence

Entering into its 53rd celebration year, MusicFest Canada “The Nationals” brings thousands of students and educators from across the country together, over a one-week period, to celebrate excellence in musical performance. Learn more about MusicFest Canada.

Travel & Venues

Awards & Scholarships

Rules & Regulations

An invitation only event — MusicFest is an “Invitation Only” event. Outstanding ensembles are invited by attending and being awarded an Invitation from one of the Affiliated Regional Festivals or through a Festival Chairman. For more information about the Regional Festivals, visit Affiliated Regional Festivals. Workshops are available to any registered individual attending the festival and, unless otherwise indicated, workshops are for a general audience regardless of playing level. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited. Educoncerts (interactive mini-concerts) are available to anyone attending the Festival. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited. Find out more about workshops and educoncerts. Adjudicators & Clinicians are Selected by the respective Festival Chair. They evaluate, encourage, enhance and broaden the musicality of each group and every individual participating in the national festival.

National Honour Ensembles

Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra (sponsored by Denis Wick, London)

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York University National Youth Jazz Combo (in partnership with York University)

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Conn-Selmer Centerstage Jazz Band (sponsored by Conn-Selmer Inc.)

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Ellison Canadian Honour Choir (sponsored by Ellison Travel & Tours)

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Laurier Honour String Orchestra (sponsored by Laurier University)

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Woodshed Canadian Percussion Ensemble (sponsored by Woodshed Percussion and Dream Cymbals)

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Soho Sound Canadian Junior Honour Band

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Guest Concerts

Be part of the music, and music becomes part of your life

As part of the educational experience that is Musicfest, there are concerts in every idiom. These concerts feature professional musicians from all over North America as well as the Musicfest Canada Honour Ensembles comprised of the best young musicians in Canada. Learn More

Get Involved

There are a wide variety of ways in which volunteers can participate – information services, sound and recording technicians, on-site production and hospitality services assistance, communications centre operators, front of house services for our ticketed events and workshops, to name a few.

“The success of MusicFest is measured by the strengths of our volunteers – and I’m very proud of the team that we have built around each other”– Kim Vrieling, Production Director

53rd MusicFest MAY 12-17, 2025 Toronto, ON

MusicFest Canada 53rd “The Nationals” 2025, hosted by York University Department of Music

Install the MusicFest App Today!

53 Years of Music History, Education and Excellence

Travel & Venues

Awards & Scholarships

Rules & Regulations

National Honour Ensembles

Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra (sponsored by Denis Wick, London)

York University National Youth Jazz Combo (in partnership with York University)

Conn-Selmer Centerstage Jazz Band (sponsored by Conn-Selmer Inc.)

Ellison Canadian Honour Choir (sponsored by Ellison Travel & Tours)

Laurier Honour String Orchestra (sponsored by Laurier University)

Woodshed Canadian Percussion Ensemble (sponsored by Woodshed Percussion and Dream Cymbals)

Soho Sound Canadian Junior Honour Band

Guest Concerts

Be part of the music, and music becomes part of your life

Get Involved

© [2024] MusicFest Canada

MusicFest Sponsors

St. John’s Music website

Steve’s Music Ltd. website

Conn-Selmer Inc. website

Ludwig website

Stingray website

McGill University Faculty of Music website

Western University website

Yorkville website

Musser website

Rico by D’Addario website

Young Associates website

Soho Sound website

Dream Cymbals and Gongs website

St. Francis Xavier University website

Concordia University website

Humber College website

University of Ottawa website

Jazz Education Network website

York University website

University of Toronto, Faculty of Music website

National Arts Centre/Centre National des Arts website

Toronto Musicians’ Association website

Jazzworks website

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments website

Denis Wick, London website

Cheryl & Darryl Ferguson website

Arts Nation website

Music Performance Trust Fund website

Carleton University website

RATstands Ltd. website

Ellison Travel and Tours website

Manitoba Band Association website

Yamaha website

Government of Ontario website

Toronto Symphony Orchestra website

Sirius XM Canada website

University of Toronto Schools website

Grant MacEwan University website

Wilfrid Laurier University website

STUDENTS & DIRECTORS

THE FESTIVAL

ABOUT MUSICFEST

NATIONAL HONOUR ENSEMBLES

MusicFest Canada The Nationals

53rd MusicFest
MAY 12-17, 2025
Toronto, ON

St. John’s Music

Steve’s Music Ltd.

Conn-Selmer Inc.

Ludwig

Stingray

McGill University Faculty of Music

Western University

Yorkville

Musser

Rico by D’Addario

Young Associates

Soho Sound

Dream Cymbals and Gongs

St. Francis Xavier University

Concordia University

Humber College

University of Ottawa

Jazz Education Network

York University

University of Toronto, Faculty of Music

National Arts Centre/Centre National des Arts

Toronto Musicians’ Association

Jazzworks

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Denis Wick, London

Cheryl & Darryl Ferguson

Arts Nation

Music Performance Trust Fund

Carleton University

RATstands Ltd.

Ellison Travel and Tours

Manitoba Band Association

Yamaha

Government of Ontario

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Sirius XM Canada

University of Toronto Schools

Grant MacEwan University

Wilfrid Laurier University