Music

This program guides artists through the exciting process of crafting original songs in a fun and collaborative environment. Participants will explore song structure, lyric writing, melody creation, and performance techniques through hands-on activities and group collaborations. Each week offers new opportunities to create, refine, and share music, culminating in the recording of original compositions. 

No prior experience required! Verse, Hook & Harmony is for people 16 and older and is open to mixed-ability participants and community members.

Artists will develop skills in lyric writing, melody and rhythm creation, song structuring, and performance. They will also learn basic recording techniques and gain confidence in presenting their work. 

You will enjoy this class if you love writing songs, exploring musical ideas with others, or bringing your stories to life through music. 

Register here: accessarts.ca/whats-on/verse-hook-harmony

About the Instructor:

SJ Obatusin is a musician, producer, and audio engineer with a deep passion for fostering creativity through music and sound. With over 15 years of experience in music production, recording, and composition, he brings a wealth of knowledge to the NaAC’s music programming, aiming to introduce artists to the world of digital audio, production, and sound design.

SJ has experience teaching and leading workshops with artists of all skill levels. He believes in adapting his teaching methods to meet the needs of each participant, ensuring accessibility and engagement. His goal is to create a welcoming environment where artists feel empowered to explore sound, experiment with new ideas, and express themselves through music. 

This year marks the 117th Annual Edmonton Music & Speech Arts Festival (formerly known as the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival) – North America’s first and longest-running festival of its kind. Nearly 1,400 single and group entrants (aged 4 to over 80), taught by 190 teachers, and entered in over 690 classes will perform and compete from April 22 to May 4, 2025, at the EPSB Centre High Campus (10050 MacDonald Drive – formerly known as Alberta College), McDougall United Church (10025 101 Street), the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre (8426 Gateway Boulevard), and Archbishop MacDonald Catholic High School (14219 109 Avenue).

This will be the last time the Festival is at its current main location (Alberta College). Stay tuned for news of where next year’s Festival will be!

Sessions generally start at 9 am, 1 pm, and 6 pm.

Choirs, bands, orchestras, singers, pianists, guitarists, speech/acting students, musical theatre performers, string players, composition students, chamber music ensembles, woodwind players, and brass players will be showcasing what they have learned this year in a variety of classes. Some will be recommended to represent Edmonton at the Provincial Music Festival, and some will win Scholarships, but all will share their passion in their chosen discipline.

All events during the Festival are FREE to the public.

The High Level Bridge will be lit up in Red & Gold on Saturday, April 26 in recognition of the Festival.

A Festival-at-a-Glance is currently available on the website, and the complete Programme will be available at www.emsaf.ca no later than April 13, 2025. There will be no hard-copy, printed programmes available at the Festival.

For more information, please visit the Edmonton Music & Speech Arts Festival (EMSAF) website at www.emsaf.ca 

HEARTS OUT 2025 – A Gala for Youth & the Arts

📅 Saturday, April 12, 2025 | 6 pm
📍 The Westin, Calgary

Sing. Dance. Give.

At HEARTS OUT, every song, every step, and every bid supports young performers in Calgary. This semi-formal gala is an unforgettable night of live entertainment, gourmet dining, thrilling auctions, and a dance floor that won’t quit—all in support of the Youth Singers of Calgary and their mission to create a permanent community hub for youth and the arts.

🎟 Tickets:

• VIP Table of 8 – $2,500 (Priority Seating + $500 Charitable Receipt)
• Table of 8 – $2,000
• Individual – $275

Tables are filling fast—don’t miss your chance to make a difference through music.

Reserve now: www.heartsout.ca

We are an auditioned mixed voice choir, based in Calgary. The artistic vision of The Festival Chorus is to provide as wide a variety of classical choral repertoire through a balanced performing season, in order to enhance our Calgary audience's appreciation of choral artistry. The performance of live choral music is as essential a strand in the artistic fabric of a community as great literature, stirring theatre, or compelling visual arts expression. The Festival Chorus seeks to honour this commitment as one of Calgary's established and continuous performing groups, with an historic 65+ years presence. Our performances currently include a much-loved holiday concert in December, a concert in early spring where we explore a variety of music, and a concert in late spring where we present a major choral work or works.

Major responsibilities include:

• Providing artistic direction to the Chorus including deciding on appropriate musical pieces for the Chorus to perform based on the venue and occasion, chorister ability and growth.
• Determining vocal requirements of the Chorus and establishing screening criteria for membership
• Building up the Chorus and enhancing membership through outreach and recruitment efforts
• Setting and conducting weekly Chorus rehearsals September through April/MayRehearsals are currently held Tuesday evenings at the Jack Singer Rehearsal Hall, Arts Commons
• Planning and organizing extra vocal workshops as needed including selecting and arranging for clinicians
•  Attending Board meetings September through May as an Ex officio Member; planning, budgeting, and recommending an annual performance plan to the Board. Some availability for board meetings June and August is required
• Working with elected and appointed officers; and communications/website contractors in organizing and promoting performances
• Selecting and arranging for accompaniment, including orchestral accompaniment for performances; selecting and arranging soloists to perform with the Chorus as required
• Sourcing musical scores required to enable planned programs
• Researching and writing artistic descriptive messages for concert advertising and programs, mail outs, Chorus communication, concert programs and grant applications
• Representing and promoting the Chorus within the local arts and choral community as well as in social and traditional media

Qualifications include: 

• a degree in music with expertise in choral training and orchestral conducting
• at least five years’ related experience
• Membership in the Calgary Musicians Association – Local 547, A.F. of M or willingness to join
• superior communication skills
• Established connections in the Calgary choral community an asset.

Apply with resume, cover letter, and a sample program which you have designed to president@thefestivalchorus.com and/or denycel@live.com. 

Deadline is April 21, 2025.

We are an auditioned mixed voice choir, based in Calgary (thefestivalchorus.com). The artistic vision of The Festival Chorus is to provide as wide a variety of classical choral repertoire through a balanced performing season, in order to enhance our Calgary audience's appreciation of choral artistry. The performance of live choral music is as essential a strand in the artistic fabric of a community as great literature, stirring theatre, or compelling visual arts expression. The Festival Chorus seeks to honour this commitment as one of Calgary's established and continuous performing groups, with an historic 65+ years presence. Our performances currently include a much-loved holiday concert in December, a concert in early spring where we explore a variety of music, and a concert in late spring where we present a major choral work or works. 

Major responsibilities include:

• Providing artistic direction to the Chorus including deciding on appropriate musical pieces for the Chorus to perform based on the venue and occasion, chorister ability and growth.
• Determining vocal requirements of the Chorus and establishing screening criteria for membership
• Building up the Chorus and enhancing membership through outreach and recruitment efforts
• Setting and conducting weekly Chorus rehearsals September through April/MayRehearsals are currently held Tuesday evenings at the Jack Singer Rehearsal Hall, Arts Commons
• Planning and organizing extra vocal workshops as needed including selecting and arranging for clinicians
• Attending Board meetings September through May as an Ex officio Member; planning, budgeting, and recommending an annual performance plan to the Board. Some availability for board meetings June and August is required
• Working with elected and appointed officers; and communications/website contractors in organizing and promoting performances
• Selecting and arranging for accompaniment, including orchestral accompaniment for performances; selecting and arranging soloists to perform with the Chorus as required
• Sourcing musical scores required to enable planned programs
• Researching and writing artistic descriptive messages for concert advertising and programs, mail outs, Chorus communication, concert programs and grant applications
• Representing and promoting the Chorus within the local arts and choral community as well as in social and traditional media

Qualifications include a degree in music with expertise in choral training and orchestralconducting; at least five years’ related experience; membership in the Calgary Musicians Association – Local 547, A.F. of M or willingness to join; and superior communication skills. Established connections in the Calgary choral community an asset.

Apply with resume, cover letter, and a sample program which you have designed to president@thefestivalchorus.com and/or denycel@live.com. 

Deadline is April 21, 2025.