SunPeaks - Directors Package

About Schedule Register Package Adjudicators Guest Performances

**Please check regularly for updates**

Required Documentation

In order to make things run a little smoother, we require some information from you ahead of time. Listed below are documents to download, fill out and email back to Kelsey ASAP

  1. Ensemble Seating Chart:
  2. Ensemble Biography and Repertoire list (this is what the MC will use to introduce your ensemble)

***one per ensemble***

Photographs

PSP Sundance is the official photographer for the festival. They will be at the festival for both days for all ensembles. Bring your pre-filled order form with you to the photography session. Note that photographs will be printed on site so that you can take them home with you. Last year, photographs taken during the day were available for pickup later that evening at the evening concert.

Concert & Reception Schedule

Get to know participants at an introductory student dance and reception on Friday. Saturday we have a couple of exciting concerts in the Grand Ballroom, which are free for participants. The venue only holds about 500, so groups will be assigned a concert time. Please check the program for complete details and school assignments.  

Scores

All conductors must bring copies of scores for the adjudicators. Please note the number required below, in addition to the score you will be using yourself:

  • Choral:  2 copies of each selection
  • Concert Band:  2 copies of each selection
  • Jazz Ensemble:  1 copy of each selection

Concert Band Participants

Performances will be scheduled primarily on Saturday with some Friday as required in the Grand Ballroom.

Check-in and Warm-Up
You must check in at the Registration desk and drop your scores (at least) one hour before your performance time. The concert band warmup is available 30 minutes before your performance in the lower level of the Grand Hotel.  One of our Cantando red-shirted volunteers will take your band there.  Chairs and stands (but NO percussion) are available. Please warm up quickly and be prepared to move to the stage once notified. Please note: this is a warm up room NOT a rehearsal room.  5 minutes before your performance, you will be taken to the Grand Ballroom for your performance.

Amps
One amp will be provided on the performance stage. If you require more, please bring your own additional amps and extension cords.

Percussion
A list of available percussion is here.

Set-up
Your allotted time on stage includes coming on and off stage, and any percussion set-up that you require, in addition to your actual performance. We suggest that you use as much of your time on stage for performance – NOT for re-tuning the ensemble.

Repertoire
We do have a recommended list under Music. We are trying to promote quality repertoire and this is a major concern of the adjudicators. They will make comments on the quality of your selections, as well as the quality of your performance so choose repertoire carefully.

Adjudication
30 minute workshops in the Grand Alpine Room are scheduled immediately after your performance, please check the schedule page.  One of the volunteers, in a bright red Cantando shirt, will quickly lead your ensemble to this room. Be sure to talk with the adjudicator about the format for this and discuss your expectations of the time they spend with you. We have some great adjudicators - they are more concerned with musical growth and less concerned about giving you a rating or comparing you with others. Let them know about your own specific situation so they can help make recommendations with everything from intonation to scheduling!

Make sure you are available for the entire clinic, as the adjudicators will be designing the clinic for you and your band. Your written adjudication and scores of your performance will be included with your adjudication packet. These can be picked up from the adjudicator immediately following the workshop. All Concert Band performances are recorded along with adjudicator's comments,  and a copy of this with a link to a website will be available one week after the festival.  

Listening Opportunity
Be sure to schedule time for your students to hear other groups. Expose your students to the music-making of others. In the past, several band directors have asked their own students to act as judges themselves - analyzing strengths and weakness of other groups, listening critically to the music, their own sections, solo parts, etc. Several use standard adjudication forms for their students to make comments about other groups. This is a terrific idea, and I encourage you to think about doing it.

Instrumental Masterclasses
Students will spend 50 minutes in instrumental clinics with specialists on their instruments. You are welcome to attend and move from clinic to clinic.  The wind workshops are scheduled for Sunday morning.

Jazz Band Participants

Jazz ensembles are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings. They include a performance in the Annex (Formally Bentos) followed immediately by a 30 minute workshop.

Equipment
A drum set, 1 bass and 1 guitar amp, and an electric piano will be provided. You can find details here. You can use your own drum set, if you like. Should you need additional equipment please bring your own.

Warm-up 
A small warm up room is available 30 minutes before your performance.  Please note: this is a warm-up, NOT a rehearsal room, and is not large enough for group rehearsal, only individual warm up.

Performance 
You will have 60 minutes on stage to complete set-up, performance and your workshop, so time your selections accordingly – ie. 20 minutes of performance time is probably the maximum you want to strive for.

Repertoire 
The repertoire is up to you but should be varied in style. 

Choral Participants

Choral performances and adjudications will occur on Friday in the Grand Ballroom.

Check-in
You must check in at the Registration desk and drop off your scores (at least) one hour before your performance time.

Warm-Up
Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your performance. The warm-up room is in the lower level of the Grand. One of our red shirted Cantando volunteers will take your choir there. Each choir has 20 minutes to complete their performance. 

Repertoire 
The program for your performance should be varied and include solid choral values in the repertoire you choose.  Express your expectations of this workshop to the adjudicator so that they may use this time to your greatest advantage. No amplification is available for Swing/Jazz choirs.

Adjudication/Workshop
A 30 minute workshop with one of our adjudicator’s follows a few hours later in the Alpine Room. We suggest no more than 20 minutes of performance time to guarantee at least a 30 minute workshop.

Equipment
A quality electronic piano is available only (no uprights or grands exist in the Village!)

Festival Mass Choir

All choirs are expected to sing in the mass choir performance in the Grand Ballroom on Saturday evening. Three concerts are scheduled - one starting at 7 pm, one at 8:15 and one at 9:30 pm.  This should be a stunning performance and a great opportunity for your singers to perform with others from across western Canada.  The choir performs 2nd on the 7 pm concert and 1st on the 8:15 concert only.

  • Rehearsals: There will be a rehearsal on Friday Night at 7:30 pm and Saturday at 4 pm, both in the Annex.  Students will have only a short time to get supper so please schedule accordingly.

Please ensure that the repertoire is thoroughly learned before the festival, as rehearsal time will be used mainly for artistic purposes.

Mass Choir Selections:

  1. Ingoma - https://legatomusiconline.com/product/ingoma-upyc/
  2. Walk Out on the Water - Geung Kroeker-Lee https://cypresschoral.com/composers/geung-kroeker-lee/walk-out-on-the-water/

Additional Information

  • The Crystal room in the Grand is the Festival office.
  • Large instruments (ie. tubas, contra-clarinets) can be stored in the Heffley Room at the Grand.

Be sure to address any questions to us as they arise – we want to make your trip here comfortable and easy so you can focus on all the music-making surrounding you! THE EASIEST WAY TO REACH US IS VIA EMAIL.  Address your questions and concerns to Dennis Prime (Director) at, dprime@cantando.org or to assistant director Kelsey Moore at kelsey@cantando.org