2023 Festivals
Edmonton – April 16-19
Whistler – April 28-29/30
Kelowna – TBA
FESTIVAL NEWS
April update
2023 Festivals
We are just a few weeks away from finalizing dates for 2023 and at this point the following two dates
are secure:
EDMONTON – Sunday, April 16 to Wednesday, April 19
WHISTER – Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 (with possible extension to April 30)
KELOWNA – dates to be secured soon but likely Thursday, April 20 to Sunday, April 22
We are no longer holding Cantando Festivals in Sun Peaks and while we enjoyed the scenery there, the
facilities were not up to our standards for making music.
A couple of other major changes are occurring – ALL 3 of our festivals are open to any travel agency you
wish to contact. Only Cantando music festival fees will be paid to New Era Music. Travel,
accommodation, meals, etc can be taken care of by anyone or agency you choose, and if you want or
need help with suggestions for any of our festivals, we can assist you with this as well We have utilized
this concept in Edmonton since its inception and wanted to offer this to our participants for all of our
events.
With future travel restrictions perhaps looming again, we can make your stay at any of our festivals
occur in 1 day in many cases. This could be problematic if several ensembles from one school are
involved but we’ll do our best to schedule all schools according to their wishes. With this in mind, most
instrumental workshops will occur immediately after their performance and choral workshops will occur
on the same day as well. It will perhaps be a bit of a scheduling nightmare but if we get registrants early
in the fall, we can make it happen. A reminder that all of our evening concerts can be attended by any
and all participants.
We are booking adjudicators and guest performing artists now and look forward to a stunning return in
the spring of 2023. As always, if music teachers have suggestions for any of our faculty, please email me
to dprime@cantando.org asap and I’ll do my best to book them in the future.
2022 Choral Festival
We just finished a very successful event for choral directors in Edmonton. Choirs from Alberta,
Saskatchewan and BC participated and worked with adjudicators Carrie Tennant and Cynthia Peyson
Wahl. While small compared to regular Cantando festivals, the event was inspirational to all and below
are comments from some participants:
Richard Janzen, choral director from Rosthern Junior college said:
“What a great event in Edmonton this past week. My students were starving for an experience like this.
They are full to overflowing! (And exhausted…the 5.5 hour drive back to Saskatchewan was silent for 5
of those hours!!) Besides the top level performance by all the choirs, the biggest impact on my students
was the wonderfully supportive community of singers that they got to be a part of. That is due 100% to
the fine teaching and guidance that you are all delivering. Again from my heart….THANK YOU! “
Rick Vanderwoude, choral director from Heritage Christian Academy in Calgary commented:
“I just finished debriefing with the students and our organizers and we echoed how much this was
needed. Thanks again to all of you (organizers and colleagues) for sticking with it and making it
happen.”
Mona Holtan, choral director from Memorial Composite in Stony Plain said:
“It was a FABULOUS experience and thank you all for being such a wonderful community. And thank
you Scott, Katy, Dennis and all the organizers for bringing us in to be a part of it! Our hearts are full!”
Heidi Wood from Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School in Calgary said:
“Our students were still so excited today when I finally had a chance to debrief with a few of them. The
community spirit and caring were evident and was exactly what we ALL needed, but especially our
young musicians! Thank you to all the choirs that participated and the directors for making it happen. I
know how much work it is, especially these days to take kids off campus. Seriously, the whole day was
soul-filling and I think I needed this as much as our students – an excellent reminder of why we do this
and why music is so important.
Sheila French from Kelowna Senior Secondary commented:
“This was such an amazing experience for us all!! Thank you to Scott Leithead for making this happen
and to Dennis Prime for agreeing to run this and all who were there. Cynthia Peyson Wahl and Carrie
Tennant were out of this world AMAZING!!! So much love and respect for all of you!”
FYI Scott Leithead posted several videos on his Facebook site for those that want to see the event.
We are so looking forward getting back to our regular festivals to include concert band, orchestra, jazz
band as well as our choirs in 2023. Registrations will be up early in the summer so please plan to come
and help us make it happen again.
Mid-February update
We received so many requests for some kind of event for choirs that could travel and have decided to
put together a last minute choral festival in Edmonton only on Monday, April 11. We have secured the
talents of two great choral adjudicators – Carrie Tennant and Cynthia Peyson Wahl. We will be meeting
at McDougall United Church as well as Muttart Hall in Alberta College (right next door to the church).
The event includes Concert Choir performances in McDougall (5 choirs in the morning from 9:30 to
noon) with 45 minute clinics in the afternoon as well as one more spot for a choral performance and
clinic. The dinner break lasts from 5:45 until 6:30 pm at which time an evening concert occurs with
Kokopelli and Oran choirs.
As well, we have room for 4 jazz choirs in the afternoon at Muttart Hall in Alberta College - one hour
slots allocated include your performance and clinic. A 4:30 performance by Nuf Sed follows at 4:30 pm.
We are very full at this moment as we contacted all the choirs that had originally enrolled, but if you are
interested and your choir is available, contact Scott Leithead IMMEDIATELY at 780-604-7085 or
scott@kokopellichoir.com
We have reduced rates for this one day event to $750 per choir and $500 for each additional choir from
the same school. Cheques should be written to New Era Music and sent to 250 Greenoch Crescent,
Edmonton, T6L 1B4 before March 1.
Bios on our two adjudicators
December 2021 Update
At this point we are still planning on moving forward with all 3 Cantando Festivals. Provincial mandates require only fully vaccinated individuals to enter several of the buildings we use. Options for performances in other venues are being explored for those that remain unvaccinated and we will have an update in late January. The major venues in Edmonton (Winspear Centre) and Whistler (Conference Centre) are exploring safe options for school groups and we hope for positive news. Restrictions on travel are also being loosened in some provinces and this situation remains fluid.
At this time I would encourage groups interested in coming to Edmonton to register asap. No initial deposit is required and won’t be until we are 100% sure we are open for business. Find the best time for you and get your registration completed. For those schools that can’t stay overnight, contact me at dprime@cantando.org and we’ll work on a schedule that fits your needs.
For those interested in Whistler and Sun Peaks, contact Affinity Tours immediately and they will help you get registered. We already have a large number of students planning to attend Whistler so let them know quickly.
I have spoken to many individual teachers and can sympathize with everyone’s current situation. I have offered help to many, however some senior administration seem to be taking advantage of the situation. While athletic groups are free to travel, they place restrictions on other areas in their schools. As well, scheduling remains a big concern for many and putting music classes on a semester system works about as well as a 4 month diet does. Feel free to talk with me anytime and call my cell at 780-940-1806 to discuss your thoughts. EVERYONE has told me that students need this type of festival activity more than ever and we hope to structure your time at our festival to guarantee that students leave with a positive feeling towards their music studies.
I have guest artists and adjudicators ready to go and it looks like an incredible festival. Let’s cross our fingers and hope it can happen in 2022.
Dr. Dennis Prime
Director, Canadian Cantando Festivals
September 1, 2021
Registrations are now available for all 3 festivals. Choose the location under “Festivals” tab and then click the “Register” tab. Following the instructions given.
Dr. Dennis Prime
Director, Canadian Cantando Festivals
June 1, 2021 – We are ON for 2022
Check out the dates above and plan to attend one of our festivals next year. I’m sure students and directors are excited about getting back into the classroom next year and continuing the kinds of educational and musical endeavors that we all need.
Our website is currently being updated and registrations will be available before the end of the school year – hopefully by the middle of June. We are also contacting many of the adjudicators and guest artists that committed to working for us in 2020 and hoping they can make it for next year. We will continue to update those pages in the early autumn. You can be assured that we will have a slate of outstanding musicians and educators working for us and providing the inspiration that music students need on a regular basis.
Many ensembles have a $$$ credit in their account that carries over from the cancelled festival. If you are unsure of what is required in order to register, just drop me a line at dprime@cantando.org
Have a great summer and with our fingers cross – a great school year in 2021/22,
Dr. Dennis Prime
Director, Canadian Cantando Festivals
February 2, 2021 – More info
I’m sad to have to cancel our 2021 Cantando dates but with the ongoing pandemic and uncertainty related to all aspects of music education and travel, there was no other option. Registrations for 2022 will begin in June of this year.
It is encouraging to read about the successes that various schools are maintaining during these tough times. It is also rewarding to watch and listen to some amazing YouTube videos that everyone from seasoned professionals to young students are putting together. I can only dream of having the opportunity when I was young, to view amazing performances by the world’s best orchestras, choirs, jazz bands and concert bands from around the world. As well, as a clarinetist, I am thrilled by performances put together by the likes of Nicola Baldeyrou and Martin Frost – musicians that take an audience to a different level of appreciation. (google them both – you won’t be disappointed).
Whilst staying at home, I continue to be thrilled at the performances of young students as well. I attended the All Japan Band Festival several years ago and purchased many, many DVD’s of past performances from elementary students to the Kosei Wind Orchestra. I continue to find more of their performances on the web and if you want to hear virtuoso playing by young concert bands – often while having the entire work memorized, check it out. I am also a subscriber to the Berlin Philharmonic as well as Idagio (streaming service for classical music), and the Mezzo channel on Telus that broadcasts 24 hours of great music – jazz as well as classical, vocal/choral/opera as well as orchestral music.
Some of the best big band jazz has its origins in times of strife. To this day, the best big band I have ever heard live was the USA Army Jazz Band during the Vietnam War. Rather than fight during the war, these young recruits – the best from America’s top schools, were drafted into this ensemble – one that rehearsed on a daily basis and performed all over the world. Today, several of Canada’s great armed forces ensembles have put together videos featuring their most talented players and they sound great as well.
Perhaps the most fun groups to listen to are the amazing virtual choirs that are put together by the likes of Eric Whitacre as well as ensembles from Africa (some of my favorite) to the Philippine Madrigal Singers to PS22 from New York (very cute kids and terrific singers). It seems like every university and high school choral group has contributed to YouTube and many performances are motivating.
I will be asking all of my clinicians and adjudicators to recommend specific websites that they enjoy and will post them here in the spring. It is like receiving lessons from the best performers in the world. As well I will post recommended videos for conductors, as inspiration comes from these sources as well. It is all well and good to have endless educational material and resources available, but in these times we need INSPIRATION and a reinforcement that what we are doing, REALLY MATTERS.
I would also like to receive recommendations from you as well – our unbelievable supporters of this festival for the past 20+ years – send me links to anything that has moved you, or something that brought you out of this pandemic’s doldrums to believe in the purpose of what you do.
Send these directly to me at dprime@cantando.org
I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you again in 2022.
Dr. Dennis Prime
Director
Canadian Cantando Festivals
September 1, 2020 – More on our festivals
I am hoping that music teachers and students are able to continue to pursue music studies during the fall term, and that school boards have provided a safe environment for all. We will continue to monitor the progress of music education throughout the country as well as efforts to secure a vaccine that will end future spread of the pandemic.
As I mentioned previously, we plan to offer off 3 Cantando festivals in 2021 and hope to create a safe and musical experience for all that enroll. We also will honor all previous deposits/payments made for 2020 and work with new registrants as well. Before we open the registration page for our Edmonton festival, we will schedule groups individually. Simply send me a note at dprime@cantando.org with your preferred performance and workshop times and we’ll hold them for you until we can get our schedule up. For new registrants, no deposit is required until 2021. For the Sun Peaks and Whistler festivals, simply contact Affinity Tours for your preferred schedule.
In addition to these larger festivals, I am also working with a number of schools to set up individual workshops with stellar clinicians/conductors/educators. If you want to structure a tour that works for your groups specifically, let me know. If you want to speak directly to me, I am always available at 780.940.1806 I have moved back permanently to Edmonton so call based upon the Mountain Time Zone (although I do get up early!).
May 20th - 2021 Festivals
I hope that music teachers and students are staying safe and thriving during these unsure times. As teachers and students are either teaching or studying from home, large ensemble rehearsals simply do not exist. We are all viewing the various websites that discuss the dangers of large group rehearsing and performing – whether you are a member of a young ensemble or a member of a professional organization. Until the dangers of playing or singing in a large ensemble are solved, we are unlikely to return to regular rehearsals soon, but hopefully in the new school year.
Touring is another matter and we are unsure of travel restrictions that various provincial and regional regulations are incorporating. Many school boards are restricting travel to either in-province or in-country tours. When teachers have a better idea of what those restrictions are, they can start to plan accordingly.
We do plan to offer all 3 Cantando festivals next year in Edmonton, Sun Peaks and Whistler with the possibility of another festival as well. Music tours are a big part of music education and performance, and whether you are a junior high student or a professional performer, the memories of what you learned and experienced during music tours is a big part of your life and music education. We hope to incorporate all the features of past festivals to include workshops, clinics, concerts and other special events that make Cantando special.
Registrations for the Edmonton festival will open in early June and information about Sun Peaks and Cantando can be found by contacting Affinity Tours directly. We will continue to update this site regularly and are available to answer any questions at any time by contacting Dr. Dennis Prime at dprime@cantando.org anytime.
April 27th - 2021 Festivals
Check back in June for 2021 Registration!
March 17th - COVID19 Update
Unfortunately with the current situation, Sun Peaks and Whistler Cantando festivals will also be postponed for April. Stay tuned for more information.
March 13th - COVID19 Update
Due to recent directives from the Alberta ministry, and for the continued safety of our young participants, we are postponing our Edmonton Cantando festival. More information to come.
March 12th - COVID19
Thank you for your continued support of the Cantando Festivals. We live in challenging times between economic uncertainties, teacher strikes, and the continued watch for the COVID19 virus. Many of you have contacted Kelsey or me asking what our plans are, and we respect your diligence and watchful eye over all our participants.
As of right now, all three festivals in Edmonton, Sun Peaks, and Whistler are going ahead as scheduled. We are excited to host you and your students, and have them engage in a wonderful musical education experience. That being said, we will continue to monitor the updates from both the Alberta and BC governing bodies and heed their mandates, along with the mandates of the various facilities where we operate.
If we are forced to alter our plans you will be notified with all expedience. Thank you, again, for your participation. See you soon!
Sincerely,
Dr. Dennis Prime, Director
March 11th - 2021 Cantando Dates
Cantando 2021 dates have been released!
Whistler Cantando - April 15 - 18th, 2021
Edmonton Cantando - April 18-21st, 2021
Sun Peaks Cantando - April 23-25th, 2021
March 10th - Website Is Back Up and Running!
We apologize as our website was under technical difficulties March 5-10. If you tried to reach us via email in this time period, please resend any correspondence as we would not have received it. Thank you for your understanding!
March 1st - Registration is Closed for 2020
Registration in mid-summer will be available for all Music
Teachers for 2021 – simply choose your performance and workshop
times early (especially large groups) so that other
activities can be based around your musical adventures.
FESTIVAL INFORMATION
We had another terrific season in 2019 with some
outstanding participants and a solid level of performance
by those students involved. As well, all 3 festivals included
stunning standing ovations from the appreciative student
audiences. A highlight was the premiere performance of
“Pipe Dreams” written for flutist James Walker by
Edmonton composer Allan Gilliland.
Below are typical responses by participants and guest
artists as well:
"Cantando Festivals are an amazing musical oasis for the young musicians of North America.
Being able to perform for these students is always unforgettable exciting and
regenerating!"
- James Walker, Guest soloist
"I want to thank you for inviting the UBC Symphonic Wind Ensemble to perform at this year’s
Whistler Festival. It was really a joy to perform for such and large and enthusiastic
audience, and I know my students appreciated the opportunity to “pay it forward” by
creating as much excitement among the young musicians as they could muster!"
-Dr. Rob Taylor, UBC Conductor
"This was our first time attending this festival. Having heard so many
great things about the festival, we finally had a chance to try it out. I
can’t say enough on how refreshing the experience was. The
adjudicators were fantastic. The non-competitive nature of the
festival was supported by every instructor and was embraced by all
the students and teachers involved. Thank you for an amazing
musical experience and learning opportunity for my music students... I
highly recommend this festival - high marks for sure!"
- Kathy Fester, Heritage Woods Secondary School Port
"Cantando sets a new standard for music festivals. My musicians loved every minute of it!"
- Colin Clarke, Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra
"We had a great tour! So much fun! Great adjudicators and opportunities for students at the festival with the mass choir, girls and boys voices clinics and great concerts to watch. Our students loved the opportunity to perform in the adjudicators choice concert!"
- Heidi Wood, Lord Beaverbrook Choir
"What a GREAT time we had at Cantando. I don’t know how it could have been better and thanks for giving us hot weather pool days. We had a great travel and festival schedule, we had a great hotel, we had great meals, we had great weather! I have never seen so many happy girls over a period of 4 days with no issues at all. The girls are glowing as we debrief and I will recommend that the Whistler Cantando be a continuing event and I will now retire with great memories from my time at CGS."
- Dr. Donald Christianson, Calgary Girls School
"This was our first time attending this festival. Having heard so many great things about the festival, we finally had a chance to try it out. I can’t say enough on how refreshing the experience was. The adjudicators were fantastic. The non-competitive nature of the festival was supported by every instructor and was embraced by all the students and teachers involved. Thank you for an amazing musical experience and learning opportunity for my music students... I highly recommend this festival - high marks for sure!"
- Kathy Fester, Heritage Woods Secondary School Port Moody, BC
"Thanks so much for such a fantastic trip. Of all the trips that I have taken my choir on, this was definitely the best. The hotel was a lot of fun, Whistler Village feels so safe, the scenery is memorable, the clinicians were excellent, the concerts were great, and the massed choir was such a positive experience. My students, and my parent chaperones, can't say enough good things. Thanks for all of your excellent communication in helping us organize this."
- Jean-Marie Michaud, Seattle Youth Choir and Eckstein Middle School Choir
"Just wanted to tell you how much we loved every moment of our trip. Your attention to detail is outstanding and we truly appreciate your work making this trip a lifelong memory for our students😊"
- Anita Anton, Cardinal Carter Catholic Toronto
"The Cantando Music Festival is a truly transformative experience in the educational and artistic development of young musicians. The combination of high caliber clinicians, adjudicators, and guest artists, along with the breath-taking backdrop of the festival locations themselves, are among the most impressive of any festival we've been a part of. We can't wait to work with them again!"
- Jeff Smith, Artistic Director, M-pact
Past Adjudicators:
Elise Bradley ~ Jodi Proznick ~ Chee Meng Low ~ Erin Bodnar ~ Joel Gray ~ Essi Wourela ~ Robert Ambrose ~ Katy Luyk ~ Réjean Marois ~ Jerrold Dubyk ~ Dorothy Dyck ~ Christin Reardon-MacLellan ~ Andrew Withington ~ James Smart ~ Wendy Grasdahl ~ Shelley Jagow ~ Gillian Mackay ~ Fraser Linklater ~ Angela Schroeder ~ Larry Gookin ~ Don Owens ~ Mark Lane ~ Jacquie Dawson ~ Dean McNeill ~ Ray Baril ~ Fred Stride ~ Carrie Tennant ~ Scott Leithead ~ John Chalmers ~ Jennifer Lang ~ Gordon Brock ~ Robert Spittal ~ Elroy Friesen ~ Dinah Helgeson ~ Rob Taylor ~ Brad McDavid ~ Graeme Langager ~ Jennifer Moir ~ Dominic Gregorio ~ Frank Lee ~ Allison Girvan ...and more.
Past Guest Artists:
...and more!
