Canadian classical music festivals
Hear the masters this spring and summer
Despite having such a relatively small population, Canada boasts an extremely rich tradition of classical music making, not least due to such musical legends as Glenn Gould (piano), Angela Hewitt (piano), Kenneth Gilbert (harpsichord) and Sir Ernest MacMillan (conductor). Undoubtedly, the support of the extraordinary Canadian Broadcasting Company (CBC) has helped classical music’s cause. This rich tradition continues today, with top tier orchestras, opera companies and classical music festivals presenting unrivaled performances of classical masterworks as well as contemporary compositions.Check out our list of festivals below. You’ll find that in many places, it’s easy to feed the culture vulture in you and make a fantastic mini-holiday out of the experience. When you’re not attending one of the festival performances, there are great restaurants to try, art gallery hopping to be done and tremendous downtowns to explore. Break a leg!
Brott Music Festival
Hamilton, Ontario
Founded by conductor Boris Brott in 1988, the festival presents annual classical, jazz, chamber, pops, multidisciplinary and education concerts around Hamilton Ontario. It also boasts the National Academy Orchestra of Canada as its orchestra in residence.
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Domaine Forget
Saint-Irenee, Quebec
Featuring classical music, dance and jazz, Domaine forget’s concerts take place almost exclusively at Le salle Françoys-Bernier, a 600-seat concert hall with renowned acoustics. Additionally, Domaine forget is home to an extraordinary music academy for young artists during the summer and fall.
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Festival of the Sound
Parry Sound,Ontario
Over a one month period, this festival presents daily performance of classical music by both Canadian and international classical musicians. To round out the offerings, jazz and popular music are also sprinkled into the programming.
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Mondial Choral
Laval, Quebec
Mondial choral is the largest gathering of choruses and vocal ensembles in North America. Indeed, it has helped to secure a place on the musical main stage of what has long been a marginalized genre. Get ready to have your socks knocked off!
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Music and Beyond
Ottawa, Ontario
Only a year old, Music and beyond is a classical music and multi-disciplinary festival that has pounced on a commitment to bring classical music into the 21st century. It presents classical music in all formations including orchestras, choirs, bands, wind ensembles, recitals and small ensembles. The festival pursues links with other art forms and cultural disciplines and music including visual art, drama, poetry, dance, architecture, science, law, food and wine and even yoga. Music and beyond is virtually unique in the international field of music festivals.
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New Brunswick Summer Music Festival
Fredericton, New Brunswick
A professional chamber music festival now in its second decade, the festival presents the finest in classical chamber music to Atlantic region audiences. Top Canadian talent is featured in concert with established regional performers. Two composers are presented each season, one well known and the other not so.
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Ottawa Chamber Music Festival
Ottawa, Ontario
Founded in 1994, the Ottawa chamber music festival presented almost 100 concerts last year and attracted over 80,000 listeners. A day’s worth of concerts typically takes in different types of music that includes works by jazz and pop composers in addition to classical masterworks.
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Stratford Summer Music Festival
Stratford, Ontario
An annual multi-week music festival set in outdoor and indoor venues in Stratford, Ontario, the festival hosts performances by Canadian and international artists. Lasting over a three to five week period in July and August, the festival brings a variety of genres to its stages, including jazz, blues, folk, opera, country, innovative instrumental, orchestral, classical and world music.
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Tuckamore Festival
St. John’s, Newfoundland
The Tuckamore is a chamber music festival that pairs top classical artists with emerging young stars for two weeks of intensive music making in historic St. John's. Artists have included such luminaries as the Jupiter and St. Lawrence string quartets.
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