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 14, 2011 at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church (1315 Gateway at Springfield) in Winnipeg.

Registration Form
Final Schedule (posted December 15)

2010 Festival Report

The 33rd annual MBA Solo and Ensemble Festival was held January 15, 2010 at North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church. A total of 174 entries (425 students representing 18 teachers) registered for the festival. It was an unseasonably warm winter day, unlike the frigid temperatures students and teachers usually have to brave at this time of year.

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 Kathy Byrne, Nan Lonis, Pauline Courcelles-Chabot, Virginia Helmer, Jaclyn Loganberg, Richard Gillis, Dennis Dekleva, Kevin Radomsky The committee thanks these music educators for making themselves available and for the excellent work they did with the students. 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 each other perform.

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, to Fraser Linklater and the U of M student volunteers Victoria Howe, Michelle Funk and Kevin Salmi, to H. C. Avery Middle School for use of their music stands. Thank you to Ken Epp for his amazing support and organizational skill in putting it all together.