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
15Hours
25Minutes

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

Stingray website

Jazz Education Network website

Wilfrid Laurier University website

Yorkville website

Conn-Selmer Inc. website

McGill University Faculty of Music website

York University website

St. Francis Xavier University website

Carleton University website

Government of Ontario website

Ludwig website

National Arts Centre/Centre National des Arts website

Western University website

Grant MacEwan University website

University of Toronto Schools website

Manitoba Band Association website

Cheryl & Darryl Ferguson website

RATstands Ltd. website

Dream Cymbals and Gongs website

Rico by D’Addario website

Toronto Symphony Orchestra website

Musser website

Humber College website

Sirius XM Canada website

Soho Sound website

Young Associates website

University of Toronto, Faculty of Music website

Arts Nation website

Steve’s Music Ltd. website

Denis Wick, London website

Music Performance Trust Fund website

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments website

Jazzworks website

St. John’s Music website

Toronto Musicians’ Association website

Concordia University website

Ellison Travel and Tours website

Yamaha website

University of Ottawa website

STUDENTS & DIRECTORS

THE FESTIVAL

ABOUT MUSICFEST

NATIONAL HONOUR ENSEMBLES

MusicFest Canada The Nationals

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

Stingray

Jazz Education Network

Wilfrid Laurier University

Yorkville

Conn-Selmer Inc.

McGill University Faculty of Music

York University

St. Francis Xavier University

Carleton University

Government of Ontario

Ludwig

National Arts Centre/Centre National des Arts

Western University

Grant MacEwan University

University of Toronto Schools

Manitoba Band Association

Cheryl & Darryl Ferguson

RATstands Ltd.

Dream Cymbals and Gongs

Rico by D’Addario

Toronto Symphony Orchestra

Musser

Humber College

Sirius XM Canada

Soho Sound

Young Associates

University of Toronto, Faculty of Music

Arts Nation

Steve’s Music Ltd.

Denis Wick, London

Music Performance Trust Fund

Long & McQuade Musical Instruments

Jazzworks

St. John’s Music

Toronto Musicians’ Association

Concordia University

Ellison Travel and Tours

Yamaha

University of Ottawa