Festival Dates
July 2 - 18, 2025

Registration Closes
April 30, 2025

The 2025 Music Festival, hosted by the British Columbia Conservatory of Music (BCCM) in the cities of Burnaby and Vancouver, is one of the largest music festivals in the Lower Mainland. This exciting event offers students a unique opportunity to develop and refine their musical talents in a dynamic, supportive environment. As an institution dedicated to fostering musical growth, we provide a variety of programs and experiences designed to help students reach their full potential.

Through these competitions, students benefit from constructive critiques of their performances by experienced professionals in the field. The professional adjudicators, teachers, and clinicians who offer this feedback are highly regarded experts from across the Lower Mainland, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the event.

Our Goals

  • Provide opportunity for students to participate in an educational festival

  • Provide professional adjudicators who will share their expertise

  • Encourage and motivate students to do their very best – developing life skills

  • Increase the interest and appreciation of music through student performance

  • Support music education by providing financial bursaries

  • The festival takes place at both the BCCM Burnaby Campus (4549 E Hastings St) and the BCCM Vancouver Campus (109 E 40th Ave). Although subject to change, categories such as Strings, Voice, and Single-performance Piano classes (not including advanced classes) take place at the Vancouver Campus. All other classes will take place at the Burnaby Campus.

  • The number of classes the student registers for will determine the number of days a student is scheduled. If a student enters more than one class, it is possible that the student will perform 2-3 times throughout a single day or may play one time, on separate days.

  • Class length depends on grade and class type (single, performance pair, concert group, etc). Students can expect classes to be anywhere between 45 minutes for junior grades to 90 minutes for more advanced classes.

  • The format for all classes is the same. All performers will enter the performance room together when the class is scheduled to start and stay until the class ends.

    All performers will play the composition(s) one at a time when called. After all performers have played, the adjudicator will give verbal comments as feedback for all students. If time permits, the adjudicator will engage in a more interactive workshop by having students come to the front to play their piece (in whole or part) and discuss various aspects of the performance (Interpretation and Technique).

  • The schedule will be posted online on or before June 1. All performers and instructors will be notified via email when the schedule has been posted.

  • A minimum number of compositions must be played in order for a student to qualify to be eligible for a trophy and bursary. Acceptable class combinations are listed here. *Read the Festival Syllabus for complete details

    Piano Preliminary - Grade 8: Students must enter a minimum of four compositions Grade 9 - Diploma: Students must enter a minimum of three compositions *Refer to the Festival Syllabus for complete details

    Strings, Guitar, & Voice Students must enter a minimum of three compositions *Refer to the Festival Syllabus for complete details

  • Filming or recording of your own student’s performance is accepted. Spectators and performers are not permitted to film other performers. Filming the adjudicator’s verbal comments is not permitted. Violating this rule will result in disqualification.