This is a 3 day Non-competitive festival designed for North American music programs (concert bands and wind ensembles, orchestras, jazz ensembles and choirs) to enhance their skills and meet other musicians. The festival is held in stunning Whistler, BC, a 125 km drive north of Vancouver and home site of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The pedestrian-friendly Village lends itself perfectly to a safe festival atmosphere for all participants. All restaurants, hotels and festival venues are within an easy 10 minute walk.

The festival opens Wednesday evening, April 24, 2024 with a performance by an invited
high school jazz ensemble playing music from the swing era. Their dance class will
help introduce dances of the era to all participants and a couple of special prizes for the
best dancers will be awarded. We will open the dance just after 8 pm for younger
students and open it later at 9 pm for older students (Last year we ended up with 3500
kids jammed into a tiny space in the Whistler Conference Centre – we plan to break it
up a bit this year!!!)

Updates regarding all aspects of the festival will be added on an ongoing basis. Once registration opens, check the “Schedule” tab to determine a time that works best for you. Venues for the various events will also be updated however all band, orchestra and jazz ensemble performances and evening concerts will occur in the Whistler Conference Centre.  Concert Choir performances occur in the Maury Arts Centre.

To register for the festival, click the “Register” tab and scroll through the various options – be sure to check the “Fees” tab as well so you are aware of all costs. The “Package” tab will be updated in January and gives very specific information about all aspects of the festival. It is very important to read this carefully so you can plan all aspects of your trip to Whistler. The “Adjudicators” tab will be updated throughout the winter and includes bios of adjudicators selected for the festival. The “Program” tab includes information on the evening concerts including guest ensembles and soloists and in some cases, the specific program they will be performing. Concert Band & Orchestra performances are scheduled in the Conference Centre from Thursday, April 25 through Saturday, April 27. Each day starts at 8 am and continues to 5:30 pm. 20 minute performance slots for Class 1-3 concert bands and 30
minute slots for Class 4-6 bands (with 20 minute warmups prior to performance) are
followed (some immediately, some later in the day) by a 50 minute adjudication
workshops in the lower level of the CC.

Jazz ensembles performances start Thursday afternoon with 30 minute performances
followed by 50 minute workshops. Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz performances start on
Thursday afternoon and run through Saturday afternoon with 30 minute performances
followed by 50 minute workshops. 30 minute warmups are also available prior to performances. A mass choir meets on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at noon with a
Saturday late afternoon (scheduled for 6:30 pm) performance. Vocal workshops for
both students and directors are also being scheduled for Thursday morning and
afternoon for various sectionals and specific work on the mass choir selection. The final
schedule for all groups will be complete by March 1 and we will be contacting all
Directors with expected minor changes in their schedules.

Evening guest performances in the Sea to Sky ballroom occur on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and feature a number of professional, university, military and community ensembles with stellar guest artists. Similar programs are also available at noon throughout the festival in the Rainbow Theatre.

Note – Unlike previous years, no performances are available on Sunday this year.