Canada Music Week®
November 20 - 26, 2011
The aims of Canada Music Week® are to bring to the attention of the public, through various means, the importance of Canadian music; to support composers and performers of Canadian music; to introduce contemporary music to young Canadians and stimulate a keener appreciation and understanding of this music; and to encourage music educators to widen their knowledge and experience of Canadian works.
Canada Music Week® is dedicated to music in its fullest sense but since 1967 particular focus has been on the Canadian cultural content. Thousands of Canadians experience Canada Music Week festivities each year in their communities.
Bill Andrews Award
Learn more about the Bill Andrews Award
Writing Competitions
Creative music writing competitions take place annually at both the provincial and national level. These competitions are meant to foster and encourage composition among Canadian music students.
The CFMTA Student Composer Competition is a national competition for First Place Winners of Provincial composition competitions. Scholarships are awarded to winners in each category, and the Helen Dahlstrom Award in the amount of $250 is given annually to the best national composition as selected by the jury. Helen Dahlstrom was the founder of Canada Music Week®.
Entries are submitted by Provincial Canada Music Week® Coordinators for Canada-wide judging before June 1, 2012. Students interested in this competition are encouraged to contact their provincial representatives for information and deadlines for entering their provincial competitions. Contestants must be a student of a current member of the Registered Music Teachers’ Association.
The CFMTA Student Composer Competition invites submissions in the following categories:
8 Years and Under; 11 Years and Under; and 15 Years and Under
Class 1 - To write an original composition for solo instrument or any combination of instruments
Class 2 - To write an original composition for voice, with or without accompaniment
19 Years and Under; and Open Category
Class 1 - To write an original composition for any instrument or any combination of instruments, or voice(s) or combination of voice(s) and instruments with accompaniment when accompaniment is necessary for the performance.
Contact the Student Composer Competition Coordinator in your province for more information.
Student Composer Competition 2011 Winners
| History of Canada Music Week® |
Canada Music Week® was initiated in 1960 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Association (CFMTA). Canada Music Week is celebrated during the third week of November.
In 1957 Violet Isfeld, who was then president of the Canadian Federation of Music Teacher's Association, proposed that a National Week for Music be initiated in 1960 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Federation. The response was enthusiastic and the celebration so successful that the next year (1961) it was decided by CFMTA council to make "Canada Music Week®" an annual event. Read more about the history of Canada Music Week®.
In 1963 Reginald Bedford, president, suggested the setting-up of a committee with the convener for Canada Music Week, Sister M. Rodriguez Steel of Nova Scotia and Eleanor Patch of British Columbia were appointed as co-conveners. (Arthur Putland succeeded Miss Patch in 1969). It was also decided that Canada Music Week® be observed the last full week of November to coincide with Saint Cecilia's Day thereby giving church musicians the opportunity to contribute to the special week.
In 1969 Flora Goulden, president, wrote to each Provincial Premier to ask for their initial interest and co-operation through their Minister of Education and thence to their schools. To achieve greater National unity in the observance of the 10th Anniversary of Canada Music Week®, a Poster Competition was under taken and continued on an annual basis with popular support.
For nine years the directors of Canada Music Week® were chosen by CFMTA council. Now each Province is autonomous in its programming. From 1970 to 1992, Helen Dahlstrom chaired the project and was Editor of the Canada Music Week® Magazine. From 1993 to 1998, the National Co-ordinator was Penny Joynt from Meacham, Saskatchewan. From 1999 to 2001 Lore Ruschiensky from Regina, Saskatchewan was the co-ordinator and from the 2001 to 2008, the co-ordinator was Ron Spadafore from Timmins, Ontario. Publicity material is available in the form of seals, poster and pencils.
Canada Music Week® is dedicated to music in its fullest sense but since 1967 particular stress has been focussed on the Canadian cultural content.
The Music Writing Contest was introduced in 1971 in an effort to simulate young people in the art of musical composition. It is open to all students of members of CFMTA. A highlight was the performance of four winning original compositions heard in concert at the CFMTA Convention in Halifax, July 1973. This special event was the result of a general invitation for all composers to compete whether they be professional or amateur. Manuscripts were submitted from Canada, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, France, Norway, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Judges have included Dr. Violet Archer, the late Robert Fleming, Godfrey Ridout, Jean Papineau-Couture, Talivaldis Kenins and Keith Bissell.
In 1998 the process to have the Canada Music Week® name registered as a trademark was undertaken by CFMTA. As of September 2002 this process has now been completed and the Canada Music Week® name is a trademark.
Canada Music Week® activity has now become a positive experience for thousand of Canadians. Radio and TV coverage, press, magazines, libraries, schools universities, composers, symphony orchestras, concert societies, church choirs, organists, all uniting in the ever-expanding promotion of Canada Music Week®. This is the direct result of the tremendous effort put forth by members of the CFMTA who have responded to the challenge with enthusiasm and created an air of music awareness and festivity throughout the country.
This history was written by Thelma Wilson, Past President CFMTA, and updated by Ron Spadafore, past National Canada Music Week® Convenor.
Canada Music Week Chair - Po Yeh