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

172Days
8Hours
38Minutes

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

Conn-Selmer Inc. website

Arts Nation website

Sirius XM Canada website

Young Associates website

Grant MacEwan University website

Ludwig website

RATstands Ltd. website

York University website

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments website

Carleton University website

Yamaha website

Yorkville website

Toronto Symphony Orchestra website

St. John’s Music website

Jazzworks website

McGill University Faculty of Music website

Manitoba Band Association website

Steve’s Music Ltd. website

National Arts Centre/Centre National des Arts website

Ellison Travel and Tours website

Denis Wick, London website

Music Performance Trust Fund website

Jazz Education Network website

Musser website

Stingray website

Wilfrid Laurier University website

University of Toronto, Faculty of Music website

Soho Sound website

Concordia University website

Toronto Musicians’ Association website

Dream Cymbals and Gongs website

University of Ottawa website

Government of Ontario website

Rico by D’Addario website

Cheryl & Darryl Ferguson website

St. Francis Xavier University website

Western University website

Humber College website

University of Toronto Schools website

STUDENTS & DIRECTORS

THE FESTIVAL

ABOUT MUSICFEST

NATIONAL HONOUR ENSEMBLES

MusicFest Canada The Nationals

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

Conn-Selmer Inc.

Arts Nation

Sirius XM Canada

Young Associates

Grant MacEwan University

Ludwig

RATstands Ltd.

York University

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Carleton University

Yamaha

Yorkville

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

St. John’s Music

Jazzworks

McGill University Faculty of Music

Manitoba Band Association

Steve’s Music Ltd.

National Arts Centre/Centre National des Arts

Ellison Travel and Tours

Denis Wick, London

Music Performance Trust Fund

Jazz Education Network

Musser

Stingray

Wilfrid Laurier University

University of Toronto, Faculty of Music

Soho Sound

Concordia University

Toronto Musicians’ Association

Dream Cymbals and Gongs

University of Ottawa

Government of Ontario

Rico by D’Addario

Cheryl & Darryl Ferguson

St. Francis Xavier University

Western University

Humber College

University of Toronto Schools