Solo and Ensemble Festival 

MBA's oldest program (established 1977) is an adjudicated non-competitive festival which offers a performance setting for woodwind, brass and percussion players. Each performance slot is 10 minutes long and includes a verbal adjudication. Participants perform as a soloist or in ensembles of up to six members. Music is selected by the participants. Piano accompaniment is optional. Participants also receive written comments and a certificate of participation. The festival will be held on Friday, January 17, 2014 at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church (1315 Gateway at Springfield) in Winnipeg. Thank you to J. K. Musical Services for their financial support of the festival.

Registration Form (posted in September)
2013 Schedule

2013 Festival Report

The 36th annual Solo and Ensemble Festival, the oldest continuously running project of the MBA, was held January 18, 2013 at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church. It was encouraging to see the number of participants increase this year with over 400 students performing in the festival. It is a testament to the importance of this program.
 
The emphasis of the festival is always on education rather than competition. A rating is given to each performance, but more importantly, there are comments and suggestions for improvement, along with encouragement given by the adjudicator/clinicians, local music educators.
 
This year the performers received adjudications from the talented team of Joanne Keeler, D.Jay Oakes-Munro, Andrew Wahl, Corah Enns, Rob Monson, Dan Steinhilber, Jeff Kula and Art Zuke. The Solo and Ensemble Festival committee thanks these music educators for making themselves available and for their excellence in working with the students. Parents of the performers praised the work of the adjudicators and their encouragement of their children.

The enthusiasm of the students was evident by the sounds in the warm up area of the gymnasium and by the student support as they listened to other performances. Students had a fabulous experience and are already looking for solos and small group ensembles for next year.
 
The Solo and Ensemble Committee expresses thanks to the many teachers, students and parents who contributed to the success of the festival. Special thanks to the staff at the church for their hospitality and assistance with room set up. Thank you to volunteers, Judy Page and Evan Giroux who kept the festival running smoothly from the start till the end of the day. Thank you to West Kildonan Collegiate in Seven Oaks School Division for use of their music stands. Thank you to J. K. Musical Services for financial support. Most importantly, thank you to Ken Epp for his amazing support and organizational skill in putting it all together.