CMC PRAIRIE GRANTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

ArcherFest 2025: CALL FOR SCORES - Deadline November 10

The Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region is pleased to invite composers to submit new works for a professional development reading session featuring a string quartet from the Calgary-based Kensington Sinfonia.

Selected works for this reading will be workshopped on November 22nd 2025 at 1:30pm at the National Music Centre in Calgary as part of ArcherFest, two days of programming and concert events in honour of the life and musical legacy of composer and educator Violet Archer.

November 10th, 2025, at 11:59pm: Deadline for submissions
November 22, 2025, 1:30pm: Reading session

ABOUT THE ENSEMBLE

The Kensington Sinfonia has been sharing intimate, inspiring chamber music with Calgary since 1988. From timeless Baroque favorites to bold new works, the ensemble creates programs that celebrate both tradition and innovation. With a strong focus on local composers and collaborations, the Sinfonia brings fresh energy to every performance.

Concerts at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church offer a warm, close-up experience, while the Village Sessions at Village Brewery break boundaries by pairing the Sinfonia’s string quartet with Alberta artists from folk, indie, and experimental genres.

Now in its fourth decade, Kensington Sinfonia continues to make classical music welcoming, creative, and community-driven—inviting audiences of all ages to connect with the joy of live performance in new and meaningful ways.

https://www.kensingtonsinfonia.ca/

INSTRUMENTATION:
- 2x violins / Viola / Cello
TIMELINE:
- Score Submission Deadline: Monday, November 10th, 2025, at 11:59pm
- Notification of Results: Friday, November 14th, 2025
- Date: November 22, 2025 1:30pm-4pm
- Venue: National Music Centre, 850 4 St. SE, Calgary, AB T2G 1R1
DETAILS:
- Each composer will have 20-25 minutes with the ensemble to read their work/sketch/materials, request experimentation, and ask questions of the ensemble. The purpose of this reading is to assist composers with developing compositional concepts and ideas, writing for strings, and to encourage experimentation and constructive feedback/discussion between a professional ensemble and composer. A conductor will be present to assist the ensemble and give feedback as needed.
- The ensemble will not rehearse the material prior to the reading.
- Print copies of the music will be supplied for the musicians by the Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region, and the composers are free to take these copies following the session.
- Composers are encouraged to attend in person, however attending virtually may be able to be accommodated.
- Sessions are open to members of the public to observe and free of charge.
APPLICANTS MUST:
- Attend the event in person/virtually.
- Provide all required performance materials (score, parts) in clear, easily readable scores by the application deadline.
- Supply any additional materials other than the scores, i.e. items for extended techniques.
FEES:
- This event is fully sponsored by the Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region; there will be no cost to you as the composer to participate, other than the $20 application fee for non-CMC members.
- Associate Composers of CMC have their application fee waived.
SUBMITTED WORKS/SKETCHES MUST:
- Have been composed within the past 3 years.
- Have not been previously performed, or if so, be in the process of revision.
- Have a duration of no more than 10 minutes in length.
- Be scored for string quartet or be reduced to string quartet. Pieces for solo or duos of this ensemble may be considered, but preference will be given to scores written for the full ensemble.
- Both notation and graphic scores will be accepted.
Please note that pieces that include electronics or projections cannot be considered at this time, thanks!

Preference will be given to applicants working/living/performing/creating in Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the NorthWest Territories.

Questions? Contact CMC Prairie Region Director Janna Sailor: janna.sailor@cmccanada.org
APPLY HERE

CMC Prairie Project-Based Microgrant - Deadline November 30, 2025

CMC Prairie Project-Based Microgrant – Deadline November 30, 2025

Guidelines:

Applications open Sept. 15th, 2025 and close Nov. 30th, 2025.

Grant amounts will vary from $250-$2000.
Grant money must be used to support initiatives (i.e. concerts, tours, recordings, educational projects, or commissions) that take place in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories.
Individual artists/composers/creators are eligible to apply, as well as established ensembles/collectives/educational institutions/arts non-profits/charities. Applicants must primarily reside/work in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Northwest Territories.
Project must be completed by January 31st, 2027.
50% of the programmed material must involve Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region Composers, either legacy or living. For a complete list of all Canadian Music Centre Associate Composers, please click HERE. In addition, in order to receive the funds, the composers involved must be in good standing with their CMC membership. Please contact us if you are unsure of your/involved composer status.
It is expected that applicants will be mindful of inclusivity practices and respectful ways of working with Indigenous and minority communities in their projects.
Successful applicants will be required to report on their project within 60 days of the stated completion date, and will advise CMC PR of any significant changes to the project date/personnel/concept.
Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by a panel independent from CMC PR staff. Applicants are welcome to contact CMC PR staff at any time with questions about their application. Applicants will be advised of the status of their application in January 2026, and funds will be distributed shortly after.
Please complete all required fields as incomplete applications may not be considered for an award.

APPLY HERE

CURRENT COMPOSER OPPORTUNITIES:

Beginning Band Composition Competition - Deadline November 1

Beginning Band Composition Competition

Dr. Wendy Zander, Competition Coordinator

CALL FOR COMPOSITIONS

In celebration of the 40^th anniversary of the Brandon University Student Music Educators’ Association and the 20^th annual Da Capo Conference in the School of Music at Brandon University, we welcome submissions of compositions written for beginner band students.

The Composition

Competition Details

Submissions

Composition Context

The Composition:

Submissions must

be an original composition for band written since August 1, 2023 that has not yet been commercially available (website, publisher, distributor, etc).
be written at a difficulty level of 0.5 (based on the 0.5-6 grade level system). Secondary consideration will be given to compositions at Level 1.
“Defining the Wind Band Grade System” by David Marlatt (Eighth Note Publications) https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZC8BgZu3MLLw8DL1yPvqXRSEBwbNEtOj/view

and *Bruce Pearson’s “Selecting Music for the Young Band” are an outstanding resource.

*(in Teaching Music Through Performance in Beginning Band, Volume 1, ed. Richard Miles and Thomas Dvorak. Chicago, IL. GIA Music, pp. 45-60.)

Competition Details:

The Competition is open to submissions from Canadian citizens and residents.

The deadline to submit is 12:00 AM (midnight) CST on November 1, 2025.

The composer of the winning compositions will receive a prize of $750 for first place, $350 for second place, and $150 for third place.

All copyright, mechanical rights, and royalty rights remain with the composer. The winning composers will provide the Competition Coordinator with a digital copy of the score and parts to be distributed to members of the Westman Band Directors Association for their program use. Winning works will be performed at the 2026 Da Capo Conference.

All applicants will receive an announcement of the winner by email and the results will be posted, including on the Brandon University School of Music website.

Should the jury consider none of the submitted compositions to be level-appropriate or meritorious, prizes will not be awarded.

Composition Advisory Committee: Kaylee Carlson, Veronica Casigay, Graydon Cramer, Erin Dodds, Brooklyn Friesen, and Kaylynne MacDiarmid.

Submissions:

Submissions (score and file names) should be saved by title to maintain anonymity. Please submit .pdf score, recording (mp3), and an on-line completed submission form. https://forms.gle/UASvKdkcsVavPRqp9

Live recordings are encouraged, but MIDI realizations are acceptable. PLEASE COMPRESS AUDIO FILES TO MINIMIZE FILE SIZE. Submissions should be e-mailed to BUSMEA@brandonu.ca with a subject line of “Composition Competition Submission.”

Recommended Instrumentation

Flute

Oboe

Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophone

Bassoon

Trumpet

Horn

Trombone

Euphonium (Bass Clef)

Tuba

Double Bass

Percussion

Unpitched

Pitched

Composition awards are provided with financial support from the Westman Band Directors Association and Competition Coordinator.

Composition Context:

The Composition Competition is a celebration of the 40^th anniversary of the founding of the Brandon University Music Educators Association (BUSMEA) and the 20^th anniversary of BUSMEA’s Da Capo Conference.

Brandon University Music Educators Association (BUSMEA)

BUSMEA, founded in the School of Music in 1986, is an association managed by a music education student Executive Council. With member support, Council organizes professional development opportunities to supplement course work and educational experiences for students enrolled in the faculties of Music and Education. Engagement with BUSMEA advances members’ keystone leadership skills in communication, organization, budgeting, and fundraising, among others.

Da Capo Conference

The Da Capo conference is a one-day professional development event, planned and prepared by the BUSMEA Council. It includes workshops and seminars designed to enrich the learning of music educators, music administrators, students in music and music education as well as high-school students. The conference builds and sustains relationships between pre-service and in-service educators by engaging prairie educators as mentors and experts. On January 16-17, 2026, Da Capo will celebrate its’ twentieth iteration with a special two-day event honoring these values and connections.

Westman Band Directors Association (WMBDA)
The WMBDA supports quality instrumental music education in Western Manitoba through professional development opportunities and the nurturing of a network of stakeholders. They endeavor to provide meaningful opportunities for bands and educators to grow and build community. The WMBDA

delivers an annual Junior and Senior Honour Band each February in cooperation with the Brandon University School of Music. This event brings in conductors and ensembles to share in our learning and performance.
organizes an annual meeting and professional development event in June.
All band directors in the region are WMBDA members and associate membership is available to anyone in the area with a Manitoba Band Association membership in good standing.
Our members support the Brandon University Student Music Educators’ Association

BUSMEA and WMBDA members are committed to providing high quality music instruction. Designed to stimulate the creation of accessible and engaging Canadian repertoire for beginner band, the composition competition is an investment in musicians who are, like pre-service teachers, at the beginning – Da Capo – of an important adventure.

Canadian Music Centre : Ontario - Concert Series

CMC Ontario – Concert Series
Deadline / rolling
Click here for info

Starting in 2023, The Ontario Region of the Canadian Music Centre is offering up to six $1,000 sponsorships each year, available to Associate Composers and new music performers, ensembles, and presenters, to produce a concert featuring at least 50% of music by Ontario Associate composers, allocated regionally in the following areas:

Eastern Ontario (Ottawa, Kingston)
Southern Ontario (Hamilton, Kitchener, Niagara)
Western Ontario (London, Windsor)
Central Ontario (Peterborough, Barrie, Owen Sound)
Northern Ontario (North Bay, Sudbury, Manitoulin)
Northwestern Ontario (Thunder Bay, Sault-Ste-Marie, Kenora)

CMC ON will promote the concerts via the CMC Ontario eBlast, our website, and social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). In return we ask that the concerts are billed as co-presentations providing equal billing to CMC ON on programs, website page about the concert, and any promotional materials using our logo. After the event, CMC ON will solicit a statement about the benefit of the support. Where possible, someone from CMC ON will attend.

While offering a source of new funds to areas historically deprived of new music performances and our help promoting concerts under this umbrella, this new paradigm of working has the potential to increase the number of concerts CMC ON presents each year, broaden our presence across the province, help us meet new people doing creative things, and help us better fulfill our provincial mandate and mission.

A specific number of sponsorships will be allocated to each area annually. Applications will be reviewed by staff as they are received until the funds for each area are committed.

CURRENT ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES:

Organization Activation Projects Funding

This opportunity provides funding of up to $30,000 for emerging artist engagement projects in rural communities, including First Nations reserves and Metis Settlements, to cultivate the next generation of artists and address intergenerational gaps in professional development.

Projects must occur outside of Alberta’s major urban centres.

More information HERE.

Canadian Music Centre: Ontario - Chalmers Performance Space Artist in Residence Program

Chalmers Performance Space Artist is Residence Program
Deadline / rolling
Click here for info

The CMC Short-term creative residencies are a rolling residency program for composers, ensembles, and production companies involved in the production or researching of Canadian Music in CMC’s Chalmers Performance Space in downtown Toronto. These self-directed residencies provide you or your organization with space and time in which to experiment and cultivate new works or research new avenues for creativity. Residencies take place during work hours, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Residencies may range from a few days up to 4 weeks (excluding weekends) and may take place at any time of the year subject to availability of the performance space.

Resident artists and ensembles benefit from access to CMC’s production facilities and knowledgeable staff who are available to provide technical support and assistance. In addition, you will have the opportunity to build connections, create networks, and share your work with the broader CMC community through artist talks, publications and/or livestreaming.

Canadian Music Centre: BC - Artist-In-Residence Program

Chalmers Performance Space Artist is Residence Program
Deadline / rolling
Click here for info

The Canadian Music Centre in BC (CMC BC) is pleased to launch a new Artist in Residence program for the upcoming 2022/2023 season. Select artists (composers, performers, small ensembles) will be chosen as ‘Artists in Residence’ in CMC BC’s Murray Adaskin Salon.

These residencies are offered to artists involved in the production or researching of Canadian Music. The Canadian Music Centre in BC has always tried to support and encourage artists in our community and continues to do so with this investment in a private, creative working space to focus on your goals.

The AiR program is a flexible model to encourage experimentation and creativity. Basically you decide what you need to work on and we give you the space and time within which to do it.

CURRENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES:

Alberta Music Travel Grants

Alberta Music Travel Grant

This grant provides travel assistance to Alberta-based music companies, artists, and individuals to support the growth and professional development of their careers.

Rozsa Foundation Alberta Grants Calendar

Alberta Grants Calendar

This calendar captures upcoming grant deadlines for funding available to arts organizations and artists in Alberta. We have provided public funders at the municipal, provincial, federal levels, among with private foundations that support the arts in Alberta.