Edmonton FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is covered by my festival fees?

  • Your festival fees cover the venue rentals, adjudicators, clinicians, and guest artists. Your fees do not cover meals, transportation, accommodations, or any other activities you would like to do on your trip.
  • Fees do not cover music for the Mass Choir.
  • In addition to your performances and workshops, Cantando has concerts on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights. There are instrumental clinics on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday – one full set in the morning and again in the afternoon.

2. The website isn’t working.

  • If the website is not offline, log out and log back in. Closing the window and opening it back up doesn’t always work. Go to the log out button and do a proper refresh.
  • Occasionally, we take the website offline for maintenance. Fear not! We will come back to you.

3. Are there any preparations I should do prior to coming to the festival?

Yes, there are a few things you need to do prior to arriving. You can check these off in your To Do List on the Director’s Dashboard.

  • Pay your fees. First deposit is due 2 weeks after registration. Second deposit is due December 15. Balance of fees is due March 15. You can click on the My Invoices and Receipts button on your Director Dashboard if you are registered for Cantando.
  • Double check your competition status as competitive or non-competitive. You can choose in the Director Dashboard beside the performance line in your schedule.
  • Add clinics and concerts to your schedule by clicking on the Edmonton Clinics & Concerts button and filling in which clinics and concerts you intend to attend. This is not mandatory, but does help us anticipate numbers.
  • Fill out the Bios and Seating Charts form. Click on the Bios and Seating charts button on your Director Dashboard. We are slowly moving towards paperless, so please do not bring us paper copies filled out by hand. Our MCs and Stage Managers will be using electronic copies.

4. Where do we check in?

  • Check in where your first ensemble performs.
  • You will receive your director’s package prior to your first performance.

5. When should we arrive before a performance?

  • You should arrive at least 20 minutes before your warmup. Warmups are 20 minutes before your performance. You can see what time your warmup is on your schedule on your Director Dashboard.
  • Make sure you plan for time to unload and get your instruments set up.

6. When should we arrive before a workshop?

  • You should arrive about 10 minutes before your workshop. If you have a workshop in the Knox Gym, please show up at the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre (OSPAC) and someone will take you over.
  • There is not a lot of space in OSPAC. Directors: please come in and check with the staff inside. Leave your ensemble outside or on the bus if you are very early. Leave your ensemble outside if you are less than 15 minutes early so we don’t end up with a bottleneck as we switch.

7. How will I know where to go?

  • There will be staff members in red shirts to lead you to where you need to go.

8. Is there somewhere we can store our instruments?

Largely, no. We do not store instruments for long periods of time. However, it depends on the venue.

  • At the Winspear, you will be assigned a space on the second or third loge for your instrument cases. These spaces cycle as ensembles arrive and leave.
    • If you have more than one ensemble playing within a reasonably close time, you may bring all your instruments to the same space.
    • If you are playing in the morning and again later in the afternoon, take your instruments with you.
    • If you are playing directly before lunch and after lunch and are planning to leave for lunch, take your instruments with you. We cannot be responsible for unattended instruments.
    • Do not leave a parent or chaperone guarding the instruments if you are leaving the building.
  • At the Old Strathcona Performing arts Centre, we do not store instrument cases as there simply is not space. Typically, instruments are stored on the buses as many of them choose to wait in the parking lot across the street.
  • The Yardbird has extremely limited space to store cases. Please only bring your Jazz band instrumentation.
  • The churches for the instrumental clinics absolutely DO NOT store instruments. Please do not try to leave your instruments there – even with a supervisor.

9. Where do I get my invoice?

  • If you are a director, you can log into the website and click on the My Invoices and Receipt button at the top left of the button bank of the Director Dashboard.
  • If you are a travel agent, you can either click on the Invoice button for your school, or you can access it from the Director Dashboard for that director.
  • You can also access receipts and proof of payment from inside each of the invoices.

10. When are fees due?

  • The FIRST DEPOSIT ($750/ensemble) for Edmonton and Whistler is due 2 weeks after registration.
  • The SECOND DEPOSIT ($1000/concert band or choir) for Edmonton and Whistler is due on December 15.
  • The FINAL BALANCE (remaining amount for all ensembles) for Edmonton and Whistler is due on March 15.

11. Can we order food and eat in the Winspear?

  • No. The Winspear has asked us (repeatedly!) not to allow ensembles to eat in the Winspear. Please do not order or bring food to the Winspear. We understand that there is limited time for a few ensembles between the last clinic or performance and the rehearsal for the mass choir. Make sure your plans accommodate this.
  • With the exception of personal water bottles, gum, boxed or bagged “we promise we won’t eat it in the theatre” food and drink is also not allowed. We will collect them at the door, and you may pick them up on your way out.

12. How do I make the most of my trip to the Edmonton Cantando Festival?