utsc/oba small ensemble festival
Event info
Thank you and Congratulations to our participants of the
17th Annual
UTSC/OBA Small Ensemble Festival
Stay tuned for details/info for the 2027 festival!
The UTSC/OBA Small Ensemble Festival is an affiliate festival of
ACCEPTED GENRES
Choice and level of repertoire is as inclusive as possible: any genre will be welcomed and adjudicated, and is up to the preference of the teacher and students. Our typical ensembles include jazz combos, woodwind/brass chamber ensembles, string chamber ensembles, percussion ensembles, guitar ensembles, and rock/pop bands! We encourage all small group sizes to sign up for our festival, as flex band arrangements (under 8 performers) work quite well. For more ideas, please see the provided list of repertoire selections below!
fees
Teachers require an active OBA membership and may enter as many ensembles as they'd like.
Registration/Participation fees for the 2027 festival are coming soon!
ADJUDICATION
This is an excellent opportunity for students to obtain external adjudication on their performances. All entries are eligible for an adjudication, optional rating, and a chance to qualify for
MusicFest Canada - The Nationals.
Students will receive thoughtful guidance, suggestions, and feedback offered by our adjudication team. Adjudications will focus on overall musicianship, ensemble specific such as blend and balance, and technical/fundamental considerations of the chosen repertoire. Each group will receive feedback from TWO (2) adjudicators: one written, and one live adjudication in front of the group immediately following their performance.
utsc festival requirements
Stay tuned for 2027 dates!
The Title/Composer/Arranger/Publisher information for each performed piece will be required, and directors/schools must submit TWO (2) licensed/authorized copies of the music scores. If these are arranged by students, please print TWO (2) copies from your arranging software.
Average/recommended playing time is:
5-10 minutes of music.
(Maximum playing time is 15 minutes.)
Directors will be asked to fill out a form that details the setup of their performance, including numbers of chairs & stands, equipment needed, and stage plot that the stage crew can reference for setup.
(Failure to provide adequate information on setup may result in loss pf performance/adjudication time).
Volunteers
Every year, our festival is planned by a small committee, but run by volunteers that are predominantly UTSC students! Without the help of our volunteers, the festival would not be possible. We're grateful for this partner ship with the University of Toronto Scarborough as it allows us to build a relationship with the Scarborough community and its students.
Check back for 2027 volunteer opportunities!
CONTACT US!
On behalf of my team and myself, we look forward to seeing you at the festival in April. Questions?
Please feel free to contact the festival director, Andy Guo, at sef@onband.ca
suggested resource list
