Music

Application Deadline July 9, 2025

Program Dates Jan 12, 2026 - Jan 30, 2026

Overview  

This residency provides individual musicians and bands/ensembles of all genres with space and dedicated time to research, create, and develop projects within Banff Centre’s exceptional campus and mountain setting. 

You will have the freedom to focus on your artistic process and structure your time according to your project’s needs. Additionally, you'll receive artistic inspiration and career advice from well-established faculty. The diverse range of artistic influences over the three weeks, combined with opportunities for peer interaction and collaboration, will foster new discoveries and transformative experiences. 

Description

This residency offers the unique opportunity for musicians at all career stages and all genres time and space to:

• Research, develop, and create their own projects, taking risks and experimenting with new ideas in a supportive environment to enhance creative practices.
• Focus on creative exploration and experimentation through peer and mentor-led group or one-on-one sessions.
• Be inspired by peers and collaborate with musicians across various genres.
• Explore new material and performance practices through public concerts that simulate professional working conditions and timelines.
• Learn to self-record in your own studio to independently document and disseminate your work.
• Gain insights into industry best practices for recording demos by collaborating with audio engineers, professional training participants, and mentors (if available).
• Join an expanded artistic community at Banff Centre for ongoing networking and support throughout your career.

A limited number of studio recording possibilities will be offered by the Professional Training Program: Audio Engineer: BMiR participants.  

Requirements

The program is ideal for individual musicians, ensembles, bands, composers, and music researchers who wish to:

• Spend focused time on a specific project
• Create new works
• Prepare for concerts, auditions, or competitions
• Explore and research innovative ideas

Participants should be comfortable working autonomously in an unstructured environment to fully benefit from the program. Musicians at all levels are encouraged to apply. Attendance for all three weeks of the residency is required.

Artistic Associate

Those seeking additional professional development can apply for the role of Artistic Associate, this unique opportunity is available to an individual of exceptional musical ability and maturity. In addition to the program elements the Artistic Associate will:

• Act as the liaison between faculty and musicians throughout the program.
• Be involved in the delivery and event curation of the Banff Musicians in Residence program.
• Facilitate communication between visiting artists, resident musicians, Music programming, and production staff.

The successful applicant for the Artistic Associate will receive a scholarship covering 100% of the program costs and a travel award that is subject to regional maximums, not to exceed $1500. 

• Standard scholarship: covers 100% of tuition fees, and 50% of meals and accommodation costs

Apply Now

At the Da Camera Singers upcoming concert on Sunday, May 4, 3 pm at First Presbyterian Church (10025 105 St NW, Edmonton), we are very excited to perform a larger work by our own artistic director, Laura Hawley, titled In Song, in this concert inspired by our fair city of Edmonton! With music about rivers, storms, the northern lights, choirs (Did you know there are hundreds of choirs in Alberta? More adult choristers than adult hockey players?), being COLD…and more, this unique program is sure to leave you feeling inspired and connected! We’re looking forward to performing with guests Clayton Leung (viola), Dan Sutherland (clarinet), and Brian Thurgood (vibraphone).

“This program creates a lush and verdant soundscape of our city and region,” says chorister Erin iampen. “As I hear these songs, I see the power and constancy of our river valley, the faithful green of the diverse selection trees in our neighbourhoods, the explosion of grasses and flowers seemingly overnight in late spring, and the piercing glare of a wide Alberta sky.  This concert will be a perfect ushering-in for the coming season.”

This program will include many Turtle Island composers: laura hawley, Sherryl Sewepagaham, Sarah Quartel, Garrett Krause, Kathleen Allen, Hussein Janmohamed, and Marjan Mozetich.

We are very excited to also host a silent auction of “Made in Edmonton” items from artists, local businesses and local restaurants.

Tickets: www.showpass.com/edmonton-in-song 

CMI’s highly regarded Artist Entrepreneur and AE West professional development programs are accepting applications! Artists from all musical genres are welcome. 

If you’re struggling with running your business, planning new release campaigns, booking shows, improving your live performance, grasping royalty administration, creating effective marketing assets or anything else, CMI can help. 

These programs are an opportunity for you to join the CMI-supported artist community, access customized business and creative mentorship, meet industry professionals, and have ongoing access to CMI mentors. 

Artist Entrepreneur Program 

Next Session: August 5 – Sept 12, 2025 
Location: Toronto, Ontario 
Application Deadline: June 8, 2025 

AE West Program in partnership with the National Music Centre 

Next Session: Nov 3 – Dec 4, 2025 Location: Calgary, Alberta 
Application Deadline: July 14, 2025 

Early applications are strongly encouraged:

canadasmusicincubator.com/cmi-programs-2.

You’re invited to join the Royal Alberta Museum at 2 pm on April 27 as they celebrate the arrival of Ukrainian Voice: A Legacy Mosaic.

This community celebration begins at 2 pm with brief remarks from Mosaic artist and project lead Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn, followed by a live performance by Edmonton’s Viter Ukrainian Dancers and Folk Choir. Join in as we proudly pay tribute to this project and legacy of Ukrainian people in Alberta, and Canada.

This event is included with your RAM general admission on April 27. 

For more information visit: https://www.royalalbertamuseum.ca/visit/galleries/changing-exhibitions/ukrainian-voice-legacy-mosaic

Date and Time:
Friday, April 25, 2025, 7  - 9 pm

Venue Name and Address:
9351 118 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T5G 0N3

Link to Event:
www.thecarrot.ca/events-at-the-carrot/2025/zackeryelliot

Event Cost:
$10 Cover | All Ages

Zackery Wilson Elliott is a contemporary folk singer-songwriter currently based in Edmonton, AB. Though still in the early stages of his career, his melody and lyric writing have noticeably developed and grown in a short time. His writing stems from introspection and abstract storytelling. He independently released his debut EP Caught Half Alive in March 2021 and has been performing throughout Ontario, Quebec, and now Western Canada, for three years. Zackery just released a remastered version of his 2021 EP with a novel bonus track, a live session, a collaborative song Lighthouse (cowritten with Adina V and Julie Title), and has a brand new 3-song EP, Love Another Day on the way. Zackery consistently performs live as a solo act, playing over 40 shows in 2023 ranging from Toronto, to Montréal and New Jersey. He’s become a new face in the festival and conference circuit, performing at Gussapolooza, showcasing at the Folk Music Ontario conference, and the NERFA Conference. In the spring of 2024 he completed his first tour west of Ontario through Alberta & B.C. with Amanda Penner and Sammy Volkov. Zackery is currently self-producing new music while launching his new folk duo, Halfway Home with Amanda Penner.