It is the responsibility of each ensemble director to be familiar with the Rules and Regulations and all pertinent information, and review these guidelines with all participants and personnel in preparation for attending the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival. Concerns regarding the Rules and Regulations should be discussed with the GHMF Organizing Committee – please contact us at ghmf@onband.ca

 

1. Festival Participation

Participation in the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival is open to all performing groups in the areas of concert band, string orchestra, symphony orchestra and jazz band, jazz combos, or instrumental chamber ensembles (Including Rock/Pop/World Bands).  Ensembles may be associated with a public, Catholic or private school, or exist as a community ensemble.

 

2. Categories of Ensembles – **Please make sure to read/review the Repertoire Requirements Page**

Instrumental Jazz 

Concert Band / Wind Ensemble

String Orchestra / Symphony Orchestra

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3. Registration Fees, Payments, Refund Policy, Wait List 

Payment is due by December 1, 2026. If fees are not received by December 1, 2026, your selected times on the schedule will be released and made open to the public and/or our waiting list.

 

There is a $525 registration fee for each ensemble participating in the GHMF.

An invoice will be emailed to you within 7-10 days of your online registration.

 

As an official festival of the Ontario Band Association, membership to the OBA is required by the participating director from the school.   

An annual teacher membership is $55 and can be paid alongside your ensemble(s) registration.

* Please note, our membership system is now automated. If you became a member one year ago as part of your GHMF 2026 registration, your membership is set to expire on September 15, 2026. The $55 membership fee will automatically be added to one of your registration invoices. 

For more information about the OBA’s membership benefits, please visit the OBA’s main website.

 

At any time, directors can purchase their memberships “a la carte” and separate from this registration process at onband.ca/membership

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EXAMPLES for PRICING CLARIFICATION: 

• If you are not currently an OBA teacher-member and you are bringing one ensemble, your total will be $580 ($525 band plus $55 membership)

• If you are not currently an OBA teacher-member and you are bringing THREE ensembles, your total will be $1630  ($525 x 3 = $1575 bands plus $55 membership = $1630)

Once we receive payment, you will be sent a confirmation indicating all of the participation details for your ensemble(s).  This will include specific times for arrival, warm-up, performance and workshop. 
 

PAYMENT

Payment may be made by school cheque, or by credit card over the phone (see below).

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CHEQUES (PLEASE READ; THIS HAS CHANGED – AGAIN!):

 

*Please make cheques out to: Ontario Band Association

Please mail cheques to:

Ontario Band Association c/o Michael Barth
605 Amberwood Crescent
Pickering, ON L1V 3Y6
Canada

Please include your school/invoice #(s) in the memo field of the cheque.

 

CREDIT CARD: 

Administrators and Teachers can visit our payment portal at: https://3common.com/ghmf

 

REFUND POLICY:

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Refunds will be issued in the following situations only:

• if you’ve registered and fully paid/confirmed prior to December 1, 2026  and your cancellation request comes to us via email prior to December 1, 2026.

 

TEACHER UNION WORK STOPPAGES/JOB ACTION:
The GHMF cannot provide refunds in the event of a last minute (or after December 1, 2026) work stoppage, as our venue and vendors will not extend refunds of our deposits back to us, per our contracts.

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INCLEMENT WEATHER:

***Please note, if there is inclement weather and your board cancels bussing and/or Mohawk College closes for the day -  we will not be able to issue a refund. We will do our best to reschedule you if there are times available (during the existing/remainder of the festival week) and/or accommodate a video submission for adjudication at a later date.

***Please also note: If Mohawk College is open and operating during an inclement weather day, and your board/school/admin cancels your bussing *but* you are still able to perform (ie if parents choose to drive their students to the venue themselves, or you find an alternative transportation method to Mohawk) your group can perform at an agreed upon time for a full adjudication panel***

If a school board or school admin cancels your transportation, this does not automatically mean that the GHMF has cancelled your performance. We will do everything in our power to work with you on that day.

 

CLARIFICATION ON GHMF/OBA FINANCES ONCE YOU’VE PAID

• Please note, the GHMF operates on a fiscal year balance sheet and does not have the means or mechanisms to hold/apply/refund toward a future year.

• Please note, the GHMF operates our finances independently of the Ontario Band Association’s other festivals (example, the provincial band festival/PBF). As such, the OBA is not able to cancel a confirmed performance at GHMF and apply the money to one of the other festival’s fees/balances.

 

WAITING LIST

• The two large OBA festivals – the Provincial Band Festival (*PBF) and the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival (*GHMF) will sell out/fill up almost immediately. Waiting lists will come into play very quickly. In our experience, most wait-listed groups will have at least one slot offered to them throughout the process. 

 

4. Standard of Performance

Groups which opt to play to the standard will be required to adhere to all rules and regulations outlined in this document. These rules and regulations have been established to maintain the educational integrity and management effectiveness of the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival. It should be noted that Concert Bands playing to the standard must select one piece from the Musicfest Canada Concert Band Syllabus or the Ontario Band Association PBF Syllabus Please note that the syllabus is updated every year and must be adhered to in its most current form. Gold, Silver Plus, Silver, Bronze Plus and Bronze Standards of Performance are recognized by the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival in various classes.

 

Gold Standard signifies that a group is demonstrating an exceedingly high standard of musical excellence and merits an invitation to participate in the MusicFest Nationals.

 

Silver Standard signifies an above average quality of performance with the latitude for improvement. Adjudicators reserve the right to assess and use the “Silver Plus” rating. Musicfest Canada invitations are discretionary, by the adjudication panel for all silver and silver plus ratings.

 

Bronze and Bronze Plus Standard acknowledges an average quality performance.

Musical integrity will be the basis of evaluation. Adjudicators will consider stylistic interpretation, intonation, dynamics, attacks, releases, articulations, balance, instrumentation, phrasing, repertoire, and improvisation and diction where they apply.

 

Adjudicators’ comments will reflect a total assessment of the performance selections. Recorded adjudications will be made available at the conclusion of the Festival.  The award of Gold, Silver Plus, Silver, Bronze Plus and Bronze Standard of Performance Awards presented in the class will be at the SOLE DISCRETION OF THE ADJUDICATORS. Adjudicators will issue awards solely on the basis of performance.

As this is a non-competitive festival –  There will be no ranking of groups, and the number of awards at any standard is not limited. All award decisions are final.

For groups intending to participate at MusicFest Canada    it is the responsibility of the Director to be familiar with the rules and regulations of MusicFest Canada. The GHMF is an affiliate with MusicFest Canada and to obtain an invitation, your group must receive a rating and an official invitation form from the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival.
 

5. Clinic Only (CO)

Groups who prefer not to be adjudicated to the Standard of Performance as outlined above in section 4 are welcome to participate as a “Clinic Only” ensemble.  No restrictions will be placed on the ensemble, nor will they be evaluated against the Gold, Silver, Bronze standard.  Instead, ensembles will be invited to perform and will receive a clinic with one of the festival adjudicators, where students will receive immediate feedback.  Instrumentation, age, institutional affiliation and selection of music will depend on the director and the individual circumstances involved. Groups which opt for a Clinic Only are requested to prepare two or three contrasting selections (all styles/genres are acceptable) to be performed for the clinicians. These will be adjudicated in the broadest of terms so as to permit the clinicians to focus on the specific needs of the ensemble. Sessions will be as flexible as possible so that the clinicians can cater to the requirements of the group.
 

6. Scheduling

To facilitate scheduling, please inform the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival committee of any school or community conflicts that will occur during the Festival. 

 

Scheduling is done on a first come, first served basis, through our registration platform, BY YOU. Once you have selected and confirmed your timeslots during phase two of the registration process, that slot is locked/held by your school/profile/membership.

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There are two stages of registration/scheduling:

Registration Phase One - opens on September 15, 2026. (**note this does NOT hold/guarantee your spot(s)

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Registration Phase Two - Date late September or Early October, 2026 (once you have selected your day/timeslots, this DOES HOLD your time and alongside payment, confirms your registration and participation)

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Every effort will be made to accommodate any special scheduling requests, however once the master schedule has been printed there will be no alterations except under the following circumstances:

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In exceptional circumstances ensembles may, in consultation with GHMF Organizing Committee, change scheduled slots if, in the opinion of the Rules and Regulations Committee, sufficient notice has been given to accommodate the change. Schedule alterations will also depend on mutual agreement between directors in the slots involved unless there is an open slot available. The ruling of the Organizing Committee will be final. Please note that slot-swaps will be completed and approved by the festival committee. 

 

Alterations may also result from delays and unforeseen circumstances experienced during the GHMF, which will be dealt with as efficiently as possible so as not to interfere with the master schedule. In no case will an extension be given beyond the assigned time unless it is the fault of GHMF, and then only at the discretion of the Organizing Committee.

The GHMF works in 30 minute blocks. Each station (warm up, stage, and clinic) uses 30 minutes per group, less applicable travel time in between the rooms.
 

7. Supervision and Conduct

Directors and participating ensembles have the sole responsibility for the conduct of ensemble members during the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival. Directors must maintain proper order and conduct of their group at the performance venue and all other GHMF sites. Directors must solicit the assistance of sufficient supervisors to ensure orderly behaviour. It is expected that participants will demonstrate respect at all times for the rights of others and conform to the regulations and bylaws of Mohawk College (our venue partner). Problems and violations brought to the attention of the Organizing Committee will be dealt with appropriately and may result in disciplinary action. Failure to maintain orderly conduct will result in dismissal.
 

8. Use of Festival Equipment and Liability Disclaimer

Participants of the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival will be provided the use of various equipment for their performance(s) Click here for a comprehensive list of Festival-provided equipment. Percussionists and drummers may ADD BUT NOT SUBSTITUTE drums, cymbals, or other hardware / instruments to the setup. While the Festival will provide rooms for participants to place instruments, coats, and other belongings during their performance(s), the festival is not liable for lost or damaged items at any of the festival venues. A lost and found bin will be located at the festival registration desk. Upon conclusion of the festival all lost and found items will be held for 30 days only, after which time unclaimed items will be discarded.
 

 9. Photography/Media Release

The Golden Horseshoe Music Festival committee and/or others authorized by the committee may be photographing or taping various segments of the GHMF for future use in publications, websites, social media feeds/accounts, or broadcasts. Participation in the publications, websites, or broadcasts is at the option of the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival committee or the producers. UNLESS THEY HAVE NOTIFIED THE FESTIVAL IN WRITING THAT THEY DO NO WISH TO PARTICIPATE, all ensembles will be considered to be participating with consent.

Registration for the Festival constitutes the granting by the ensemble of permission for such photographing, audio and/ or video recording and constitutes a waiver of all fees and royalties unless the Festival is notified in advance in writing. Please ensure that you have obtained media releases as per your school and school board’s requirements.
 

10. Suspension, Dismissal and Appeals

The Golden Horseshoe Music Festival reserves the right to enact the following sanctions for violation of the Rules and Regulations:

SUSPENSION: Suspension will result from flagrant time violations, age infractions, illegal substitution, and other rule infractions deemed by the Organizing Committee to constitute grounds for suspension. An ensemble which has been suspended shall be deemed ineligible for all GHMF awards.
 

DISMISSAL: Dismissal will result from conduct which is perceived to be detrimental to the aims of Golden Horseshoe Music Festival. An ensemble which has been dismissed will have all rights and privileges of participating in the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival revoked.

APPEAL OF SUSPENSION OR DISMISSAL: Appeal will be made in writing to the Festival Co-ordinator who, in consultation with the committee members, will review the sanction and notify the Director of the ensemble of the decision. All such decisions will be final.

It is the responsibility of each ensemble director to discuss the Rules and Regulations and all pertinent information with all participants in preparation for attending the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival. Concerns regarding the Rules and Regulations should be discussed with the Rules and Regulations Committee.
 

*Directors are advised to review the festival rules and regulations every year as important revisions are common. The Golden Horseshoe Music Festival staff and committee will enforce all festival rules and regulations. The management and organizing committee will consider all disputes. The Committee’s decision will be final.