Our festival will run from April 27 - May 1, 2025 at cSPACE Marda Loop! Festival Showcase May 9, 2025 7:30PM Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall Rozsa Centre, UofC

cSPACE Marda Loop! https://maps.app.goo.gl/X5abHEe6x2mNr7v27

Yes, during the festival we will be giving out scholarships for individual age groups/classes along with larger scholarships at the final gala, including 'Outstanding Singer' and 'Most Promising Singer' for each of the Classical Vocal, Musical Theatre, and Contemporary categories.

AMFA Grading Scale: Superior 90% and Over Distinction 85%-89% First Class Honours 80%-84% Honours 70%- 79%

Yes! We want to celebrate the efforts of our CVF singers and will host a gala concert shortly after the Festival wraps. 2025 DETAILS: MAY 09, 2025 7:30PM Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall Rozsa Centre, UofC

Classical Vocal: One original copy of your music. Musical Theatre: One original copy of your music Costume Props *Set pieces provided: black box, chair, & small table Contemporary Vocal: A licensed/purchased copy of your music (including the receipt for any printed copies). Singing your own music you haven't licensed yet? Write out the lyrics and chords in a lead sheet format - either by hand or using sheet music software. If you are singing with a pre-recorded track: - the track cannot include backing vocals (a great place to purchase tracks that give you key and backing vocal options is https://www.karaoke-version.com/) - the track must be downloaded to a device that can connect to a standard aux cord (3.5mm or 1/8-inch jack) - using a newer phone with no audio jack? You'll need to bring a headphone jack adapter that connects to your phone - the festival has a sound system that includes a mic, a boom stand, an 8 channel mixing board, a monitor, and a small PA that will play your track via the aux cord (generously donated by the Chinook Long & McQuade!) If you are self-accompanying on any instrument other than piano - you will need to bring your instrument, have it tuned and ready to go, and bring a cable so you can connect to the Yorkville 8-Channel Mixing Board provided if your instrument includes a pickup. ***more details in the Contemporary Vocal section up in this FAQ***

Please contact us at CalgaryVocalFest@gmail.com Or call/text: (587) 317-6060 We will get back to you as soon as possible. We welcome your questions, feedback and ideas!

We accept registrations for anyone 5 years of age and older

Since we follow the AMFA syllabus, the easiest way to determine class details is to refer to the syllabus outlined on their site. They provide class descriptions and age requirements for the classes we will use at our festival (see below for syllabus links according to category). *Age is established as of December 31 preceding the festival. Full Syllabus Classical Vocal Contemporary Vocal Musical Theatre School Vocal Glossary of Terms Provincial Festival Rules & Classes

Registration for the 2025 Calgary Vocal Festival will take place between January 05 - 31, 2025

Registration is available from January 05 - 31, 2025​ Follow the link to our PAFA registration portal, via the Registration page of our website! A detailed explanation of how to register is also found on the Registration page. Please email CalgaryVocalFest@gmail.com if you have any additional questions, we are happy to help! Additional ways to connect with us on our 'Contact' page.

To be fully prepared for registration, you will need to have gathered the following information: Class title, and associated registration number Title: 13 AND UNDER Classical Vocal Solo - Oratorio Registration Number: #90413 Title of piece and composer For Musical Theatre entries: prepared to designate selection as 'Ballad' or 'Uptempo' Timing of chosen repertoire in minutes (round up for form) Accompanist details Vocal teacher's details Payment details Please read through the instructions on the registration page for information on how to register your information for the first time. Teachers & Accompanists may already be in the system, only add their information if needed. We focus on the following vocal class categories, based on the Alberta Music Festival Association Syllabus: 1. Classical Vocal 2. Contemporary Vocal 3. Musical Theatre 4. School Vocal (a competitor who is taking private vocal lessons may not enter a School Vocal category).

We will be accepting payment online through PayPal and e-transfer. Email used for e-transfer: CalgaryVocalFest@gmail.com

We are committed to keeping registration fees low with no hidden or extra costs to allow for broad accessibility. Our fee structure is available to view for each individual class in our PAFA registration page - under 'Syllabus' in top blue navigation bar. Solo classes are priced between $39 - $65 Classes with more complexity (ie: recital, duet) $60-65 Group entries start at $75

No! We are committed to being transparent about our fees, there will not be any additional fee's beyond the registration fee.

The CVF needs-based bursary is offered to assist students at any age level who want to register and participate in the Calgary Vocal Festival, but currently struggle to manage the required fees. The basic requirements are: Commitment to learn and grow in developing the art of vocal performance Financial need Description: We disperse monetary awards based on recommendation from their current private voice teacher (or school music teacher for those not taking private lessons) and financial need. Applications are reviewed and bursaries are awarded on an individual basis. Successful candidates will be contacted confirming the amount of the bursary before the registration deadline. Eligibility: Be a permanent resident or citizen of Canada. Be a resident of Alberta for the past six months. Be actively studying with or mentored by a teacher. Show that financial need obstructs or limits their ability to participate. Show interest and determination to participate in the CVF opportunity. How the bursary is awarded: Applications are reviewed confidentially by a three-member panel, and bursaries are awarded on an individual basis. All decisions are final. You will be contacted by the CVF administrator to lead you through the registration process with your bursary. Applying for the CVF bursary: Apply by filling out the form on our registration page Review form questions below. Attach a brief letter of recommendation from your instructor. There is no fee to apply. email with any questions: CalgaryVocalFest@gmail.com 1. Name: 2. Address: 3. Phone: 4. Email: 5. Parent/guardian name if under 18: 6. Current instructor name: 7. Current instructor email: 8. I am a permanent resident or citizen of Canada: Y/N 9. I have been a resident of Alberta for the past six months: Y/N 10. Number of years you have studied voice: 11. If in school, list your grade level & arts programs you participate in: 12. What goals do you have for your music journey? 13. What other financial support have you received from other institutions/organizations in the past 12 months? 14. Please describe your financial situation and your reason for applying for this bursary:

Yes! We are a member of the Alberta Music Festival Association and use the AMFA vocal syllabus for all of our classes, allowing our participants to progress to the provincial festival. Our adjudication team will select a singer for each provincial age category. These students will have the opportunity to sing at the provincial festival held from May 26-29 '25, Allard Hall, MacEwan University, Edmonton. From there, successful candidates at this level are invited to progress to the Canada West Finals.

Please remember to indicate whether your entry is a Ballad or Uptempo in the Special Requirements section. You can find this info in the AMFA Musical Theatre syllabus (Ballad or Uptempo List) or check with your vocal teacher if you are unsure. Thank you

See the syllabus for details for group or production numbers This year the AMFA syllabus indicates that musical theatre entries can consist of a medley up to 10 minutes.

New for 2025, the Calgary Vocal Festival will be including Adult Vocal Classes! 98700 Classical Vocal 98800 Contemporary Vocal 98900 Musical Theatre Designed for adults wanting to grow their skills and receive adjudicator feedback, who are not entering 18+ vocal categories. Each class consists of a performance of 2 contrasting selections. The fee for this class is $65

No!  Feel free to transpose the song to suit your voice.  If the purchased sheet music/lead sheet you provide to the adjudicator is NOT in your performance key, include a note to the adjudicator with what key you have chosen to perform it in.

YES. You will have the opportunity to do a sound level check with your mic, and track/pianist/own instrument (whatever is applicable) before your song begins. However - ONLY the festival adjudicator, festival secretary, and festival Sound Coordinator will be able to directly adjust the mixing board.

Your track must not include any background vocals Make sure your track is in your performance key, and is mixed and balanced well. The track is downloaded to a device (smartphone or mp3 player) that will connect to a speaker YOU provide via an aux cord YOU provide. *OR* The track is downloaded to a device that can be connected to the provided mixing board via the provided aux cord. (It is up to the participant to make sure they have the required headphone adapters to connect to the aux cord).  Before you begin your performance, you will have an opportunity during your sound check to make sure your device is set to a proper sound level for the song/speaker youare using.

No.  The festival suggests that only students who have practiced with mics use them. Ultimately, the choice is up to you - but since we cannot guarantee a sound engineer, we encourage that only students who know how to use a microphone, and how to adjust their sound with mic technique, use the mic.  If not using a mic, you will still want to do a sound check before you begin if you are using a pre-recorded track.

Streaming is not reliable (Will the video or the channel run ads?  Will your wifi or data plan hold out?).  Bluetooth is not reliable (sometimes connectivity is an issue) or safe (is the channel secure?). We keep the festival running quickly, smoothly, and comfortably by avoiding these options.  It is not the festivals’ responsibility to make sure your track can connect to our equipment via an aux cord.  If you experience issues with your track because you streamed it from YouTube, or had issues connecting to your speaker via Bluetooth, the festival may not be able to accommodate or guarantee your performance because you did not account for these potential issues. COME PREPARED.

Any sheet music or lead sheet that does not include published copyright licensing (usually found at the bottom of the first page of music) does not properly compensate the artist(s) who wrote the song, and is not acceptable.  (Ex: MuseScore; Ultimate Guitar, etc.)

An original contemporary song written and performed by the competitor that includes original lyrics and original music (written by the competitor) should submit a notated lead sheet (published or unpublished) with the entry.

Thanks to generous donations from our sponsors the festival will be providing the following equipment to participants.  The equipment listed below will be set up and ready for your use when it’s time for you to sing.  If you require any more equipment for your performance, you will need to provide it and set it up yourself.  DONATED FROM STEINWAY One acoustic GRAND PIANO One piano bench (adjustable) DONATED FROM Long & McQuade (Calgary Chinook) (For more information on the equipment, head to www.long-mcquade.com). Two Shure SM58 Unidirectional/Cardioid Dynamic Microphones Two Yorkville Tripod Boom Stands (for mics) One Yorkville 8-Channel Passive Mixer - connected to: One Yorkville Parasource 1600 Watt Peak 10-Inch+Horn Active PA Cabinet One Yorkville YXL10P 10 Inch 1000 Watt Powered Loudspeaker Two 25’ Mic Cables One Yorkville Standard Series Balanced XLR-M to TRS Interconnect Cable (25 foot) One Yorkville Stereo Mini To 2 X Mono ¼ cable

Maybe.  The festival has a Sound Coordinator who will be periodically checking in to make sure things are running smoothly, but we cannot guarantee they are always available during your sound checks and performance.   Participants should use their sound check before the class begins to make sure they are happy with their sound levels.  If you anticipate that you will need more time to set up and sound check (ex: singing with an acoustic guitar/electric guitar, or bringing in equipment not provided by the festival), and will need someone present to assist, please let the festival know ASAP what class you are participating in, so we can arrange for the Festival’s Sound Coordinator to connect with you.

May 26-29, 2025 Allard Hall, MacEwan University Edmonton, AB

Canada West Finals will be held in Saskatoon, SK on July 24-26, 2025.