A Century-Plus Legacy of Youth Music Performance

Founded in 1909, the Regina Music Festival has been nurturing young musicians for over 115 years. What began as a celebration of choral performance in May 1909 has grown into a comprehensive multi-discipline festival now encompassing piano, voice, strings, brass, woodwind, percussion, choral, pipe organ, and musical theatre. The festival's mission remains constant: to create opportunities where young musicians build skills, achieve goals, and grow in confidence through performance. The Regina Music Festival Association operates as a registered charity, entirely dependent on the dedication of volunteers who contribute over 1,750 hours annually to make the festival possible.

Competition Structure and Disciplines

The 2026 festival runs April 23-May 3 and features detailed competition categories across nine disciplines. Piano is divided into two levels based on Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) grading, allowing musicians from beginner to advanced levels to compete. Voice similarly offers separate categories for different skill levels. Brass, woodwinds, and percussion are combined into a single discipline running April 23-25. Strings, choral, and pipe organ also have dedicated session dates. Musical theatre is a newer addition to the festival's offerings, reflecting evolving interests in performance arts. Each discipline has an assigned adjudicator who provides feedback across multiple days of competitions.

Registration, Scholarships, and Recognition

Participants compete in solo events, ensembles, or both, with registration fees ranging from $28 for solo entries to $85 for larger ensembles like orchestras. Registration opens December 15, 2025 and closes January 31, 2026. The festival awards scholarships ranging from $50 to $400 depending on age category, with awards available to participants ages 28 and under who compete in at least two solo competitions within the same discipline. Local award winners are selected in early June, and maximum of three awards per competitor per discipline ensures competitive diversity. The festival concludes May 3 with two final competition finals at Darke Hall: the MLT-Aikins competition for intermediate musicians and the Lions competition for senior musicians, with final concert times at 1:30 PM and 7:00 PM respectively.

Community and Accessibility

Admission to all festival sessions is by donation, and all performances are open to the public. The festival exists within the broader Saskatchewan Music Festival Association network, part of a 37-district festival system across the province. The Regina Music Festival Association lists interim president Joanne Hillis and Katherine Bergman, with leadership spread across a volunteer board. Contact is available Wednesday and Friday, 10 am-3 pm through their office at the address above, and the festival encourages both seasoned musicians and newcomers to participate in this long-standing cultural tradition.