2026 Festivals

Edmonton
April 12-15

Registration Coming in August

Whistler
April 30-May 3

Registration Coming in August

2026 Cantando Festival Information

Thanks to all of our 2025 participants contributing to the recent Cantando festival, which brought over 6000 students together in Edmonton and Whistler. We had great school groups performing as well as outstanding guest performances in the evening this year – all of them to packed houses and standing ovations.

2026 is looking good so far. Both the RCA and Naden military bands are planning to participate in Edmonton and Whistler again and we have some strong industry support for more outstanding soloists. Both Concert and Jazz Bands will be well represented at both festivals featuring not only military, but university and community ensembles. Choral students can look forward to some outstanding guest performances as well, including a choir from Namibia that we are working with now, as well as a collegiate choir from the Pacific Northwest.

The dates of both festivals are listed above. Band events in Edmonton start on Sunday, April 12 through Wednesday, April 15 and directors should choose at least 2 days as the performance takes place in the Winspear on the 1 st day with workshops on the following day. Jazz band performances take place on Monday through Wednesday, April 13-15 as do all choral events. Evening performances take place in the Winspear on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with other performances also scattered throughout the downtown core on those same evenings.

The Whisler festival opens with a jazz band performance and student dance on Thursday, April 30 and all groups perform on either Friday, Saturday or Sunday , May 1- 3. Directors can elect to stay in Whistler for all 3 nights or choose a 2 or even 1 night stay in Whistler. Some elementary groups are able to come up just for the day as most area school districts do not allow overnight stays for younger students. Evening performances are featured in both the Conference Cente and the Maury Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Registrations for the festival will be open in late August as we are doing substantial updates to our website but keep an eye on this site and make sure you register early to guarantee a spot in our festival.

Dr. Dennis Prime
Director
Canadian Cantando Festivals

 

Our Story


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!