Alberta Emerging Musicians Festival

An offshoot of Music Conference Alberta, the Alberta Emerging Musicians Festival showcases some of the province’s finest student musicians from across the province. More than 500 emerging musicians will be featured in 5 concerts between October 25 and 27 in Edmonton.

Performers include soloists and ensembles that have been recognized for their outstanding skill and artistry. The festival will offer considerable musical variety – audiences will hear Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest’ performed by the University of Alberta choirs and orchestra, several Latin American choral pieces performed by the Alberta Youth Choir, solo piano and violin music, music for Big Band courtesy of MacEwan University, and everything in between. Several of the concerts will also feature lobby performances before the concert and during the intermission.

The festival launches on Thursday, Oct 25, 8:00 p.m. at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music, with a concert entitled Sound Cravings: University Ensemble Showcase. The concert features the University of Alberta Madrigal Singers, Concert Choir, Wind Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra. The choirs will perform 2 pieces by the well-known Canadian composer, Stephen Chatman, who will be in attendance at the concert.

The first of 2 Spotlight Concerts will be held at McDougall United Church on Saturday, Oct 26 at 3:00 p.m. featuring Calgary’s award-winning Bishop Carroll High School Virtuosi Strings alongside special guests the Edmonton Saxophone Quartet. Virtuosi Strings is recognized as one of the top high school string ensembles in the province, and recently represented Canada at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.

On Friday evening, the Winspear Centre will home to the Alberta Youth Choir and Alberta Wind Symphony, alongside two award-winning student soloists. Under the direction of the Venezuelan-born conductor, Cristian Grases, the 75-member Alberta Youth Choir will open the concert with a set of music from the Americas. Later in the concert, talented young instrumentalists from across the province will come together as the 2018 Alberta Wind Symphony, under the direction of Jacqueline Dawson. The second Spotlight Concert will take place on Saturday, Oct 26, 3:00 p.m. at McDougall United Church. Special guests of the festival, pianist Roger Admiral and violinist Guillaume Tardif, will open the concert with a performance a new work by Edmonton composer Howard Bashaw. Calgary’s outstanding John G. Diefenbaker High School Chamber Choir will follow with a set of contemporary music by North American composers.

The festival wraps up that evening at MacEwan University’s Betty Andrews Recital Hall, 7:00 p.m., with an evening of jazz. Featured in the concert are the MacEwan Jazz Combo and Big Bands, alongside Rimmer, Chipman, and Friends. The bands will be joined by special guest Terell Stafford, who is recognized as one of the great trumpet players of our time.

Tickets : Individual tickets: $9.52 to $25

Festival passes are available for all 5 concerts are also available for $65 + service charges.
How to get tickets?
Buy Online
Tickets may also be available at the door.

Date & Time: Sound Cravings: University Ensemble Showcase
Thursday, Oct 25, 7:30 p.m. at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music

Spotlight Concert 1: Bishop Carroll High School Virtuosi Strings + Edmonton Saxophone Quartet
Friday, Oct 26, 3:00 p.m. at McDougall United Church

Music Conference Alberta Gala Concert
Friday, Oct 26, 8:00 p.m. at the Francis Winspear Centre for Music

Spotlight Concert 2: John G. Diefenbaker High School Chamber Choir +
Roger Admiral (pianist) and Guillaume Tardif (violinist)
Saturday, Oct 27, 3:00 p.m. at McDougall United Church

Jazz Night
Saturday, Oct 27, 7:00 p.m. at Betty Andrews Recital Hall, MacEwan University

Free Parking/Paid Parking
Public transport accessible