2026 Summer Band Camp
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Registration for all MBA Summer Band Camps is now open.
Registration will close 1 week prior to each camp's start date.
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Prairie Percussion Workshop (August 4 - 7, 2026)
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University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music, 150 Dafoe Rd.​
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Camp Director: Victoria Sparks victoria.sparks@umanitoba.ca
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Prairie Brass Camp (August 4 - 7, 2026)
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University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music, 150 Dafoe Rd.​
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Camp Director: Victoria Sparks victoria.sparks@umanitoba.ca
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Elmwood Camp (August 9 - 14, 2026)
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Mennonite Brethren Collegiate, 173 Talbot Ave.​
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Guest Conductor: Darryl Ferguson
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Camp Coordinator: Vanessa Nowostawski vnowostawski@retsd.mb.ca
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Garden City Camp (August 10 - 14, 2026)
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O.V. Jewitt Elementary, 66 Neville Street
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Guest Conductor: Trevor Tsui
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Camp Coordinator: James Paluk gardencitysbc@mbband.org
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Fort Garry Camp (August 10 - 14, 2026)
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Institut collégial Vincent Massey Collegiate, 975 Dowker Ave.
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Guest Conductor: Alena Arnason
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Camp Coordinator: Ikjyot Bharaj fortgarrysbc@mbband.org
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Oakbank Camp (August 17 - 21, 2026)
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Springfield Collegiate Institute, 841 Cedar Ave. Oakbank, MB​
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Guest Conductor: Greg Crowe
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Camp Coordinator: Marissa Hirsch mhirsch@sunrisesd.ca
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St. James Camp (August 17 - 21, 2026) ​​
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Location: Ness Middle School, 3300 Ness Ave.
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Guest Conductor: Matt Neufeld
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Camp Coordinator: Kasey Kurtz kasey.kurtz@sjasd.ca
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Info for all Camps
The student/staff ratio is approximately 8:1. All Summer Band Camp sessions run Monday to Friday, approximately 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. Some camps have a final concert on the Friday evening of camp week.
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Instruments are NOT provided to campers, with the exception of large percussion instruments. Please bring your own instrument, reeds, mallets, and any other accessories you may require.​
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Students need to bring their own lunch, and dress for the weather daily as some activities are held outdoors, weather-permitting.
Summer Band Camps
Activities vary from location to location and include a guest conductor with a focus on full band rehearsals and sectional instruction, along with some or all of the following: small ensembles, masterclasses, ear training, rhythm training, sight reading, and a final concert on Friday (open to friends & family). Staff includes a camp coordinator, guest conductor, and instrumental specialists.
Students can play flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto, tenor or baritone saxophone, French horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, tuba, string bass, and percussion.
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The band camps are for students who have completed grades 6 - 9 in school, provided they have a minimum of one year experience on their instrument.​
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MBA Prairie Percussion Workshop
The MBA Prairie Percussion Workshop is a summer program for all percussion students in middle and high school. Students attend specialized classes in all areas of concert percussion (keyboard, timpani, snare drum, and auxiliary) as well as drum set and world percussion classes. A performance of the percussion ensemble groups organized by their levels of experience takes place at the end of the week. This camp is geared towards students in grades 6-12, provided they have one year of musical training. This year we are joined by guest instructor Kristie Ibrahim from McGill University and the Sixtrum Percussion Ensemble!
MBA Prairie Brass Camp
Focusing instruction on brass techniques and performance, this camp welcomes students to join instructors from the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Royal Canadian Air Force Band brass sections along with faculty members from the Desautels Faculty of Music. Sessions will be a combination of instrument specific masterclasses and small ensembles. Ensembles will be formed based on a mix of instrumentation and level of experience. This camp is geared towards students in grade 6-12 with a minimum of one year experience on a brass instrument.
Fee & Payment Information
Early-bird Camp Fee (until June 15, 2026): $255
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Regular fee (after June 15, 2026): $280
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We encourage payment-in-full by credit card/apple pay/google pay or e-transfer.
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Cheques should be made payable to Manitoba Band Association and mailed to:
Manitoba Band Association
121 Cathedral Ave
Winnipeg, MB
R2W 0W7
E-transfer: Please send registration fee along with camper's name to admin@mbband.org
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Registration is not complete until full payment has been received.
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Multi-camp Discount: If registering a child for more than one camp, a $50 discount can be applied to each of the 2nd and 3rd registration(s) for the SAME child. You will receive a discount code with your confirmation e-mail that can be used to redeem the discount on subsequent registrations for that same child.
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Refund policy: Registration fees are refundable less a $65 cancellation fee if cancelled by June 30. Fees are non-refundable after June 30.
Bursaries
Financial support through bursaries funded by the Winnipeg Foundation's Children & Youth program were available again this year. All bursary funds have been distributed, and additional funds will only be available if a recipient cancels. Bursary applications are integrated with the camper registration, and a deposit must be paid in order to apply. Be sure to demonstrate your need as part of your bursary application, and you will be added to a waitlist.
Volunteer at Camp
Looking to spend more time at band camp and help others have a great experience? Opportunities are available at the MBA Summer Band Camps. Apply below to join us in creating an unforgettable summer for campers and staff alike!
The Winnipeg Foundation Children & Youth Program generously funds bursaries for campers with financial barriers.
We are grateful for support from the Music Performance Trust Fund which has previously provided every camp with a live performance by a professional chamber ensemble.
Prairie Brass Camp & Prairie Percussion Workshop Facilities are generously sponsored by the Desautels Faculty of Music
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