Grace Presbyterian Church          447 Port Union Rd,
     West Hill, Ont.           Feb. 3, 6, 7, 8, 13, and 14th.

     Welcome to the Pickering GTA Music Festival. This is our 22nd year, located in Pickering, Ontario. During these challenging times, we will be offering the Festival in both live and virtually this year.  We offer classes for pop and jazz vocal, show choirs, English and French Speech Arts, electric guitar as well as all the traditional Classical classes. As a member Festival of the Ontario Music Festivals Association, we send as many candidates as possible on to the Provincial Competitions. 57  possible candidates were selected and 48 of our candidates sent videos to the Online Virtual Provincial Competitions with the result that 35 received placements! Classes will be offered both virtually and live at Provincials as well. Live classes will be held in Niagara Falls in 2023 Candidates are chosen from grades 1 and up in all instruments, singing, music theatre, speech arts, chamber, small ensembles, choral, band and orchestra classes.  Provincials have separate classes for upper and lower strings. Violins and violas in the upper and cello and bass in lower strings. This will allow more string players to attend Provincials and provide them with an adjudicator that is more specific to their needs. Please make sure you read all the Rules and Regulations regarding these classes at www.omfa.ca. There are changes to these every year. Certificates and scholarships are given at this local level and at Provincials.

     When the applications start arriving in my mailbox, I am excited to see returning performers, wondering what they are playing this year, and to see the new people entering. I look forward to hearing every performance. This will be a year of learning new ways to share our music. Please note the sections on our home page with the rules for submitting your video and application and tips on producing your video. 

      Provincials now accepts competitors from grade 1  and up and we are now permitted 3 entries per grade and discipline each! There will be new classes offered this year for Pop Piano, Pop Voice, Pop Strings, Pop Guitar and Pop Brass and Woodwinds. Amateur Adult classes will continue this year.New Musical Theatre Classes have also been added.These will include Songs from the Screen and More that will include repertoire for cabaret, revues, movies or TV.Please check out the age requirements for these. New non-western strings classes will be available Please look at all that OMFA is offering this year at www.omfa.ca.

     I have been organizing this Festival by myself for the last 22 years and I have much to learn as well. I have added new classes this year and look forward to hearing your suggestions for any other classes that you may have.  Donations are gratefully accepted for our scholarship fund. 

  All my thanks for the continuing support of families and teachers that have become friends over the years. I look forward to once again seeing you at the festival or watching your videos

     Please contact me with any questions you may have. Best wishes in your musical training.Wishing everyone good health and joy in their music making in 2023!

 

Martha Gregory,

Executive Director

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  Check this handy chart for the classes to be held at OMFA Provincials in June , 2023.

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LIVE FESTIVAL CLASSES

June 5 - 10, 2023

Graded Levels 6 - Open

Chamber

Classical Voice

Classical Piano

Popular Piano

Popular Voice

Lower Strings

Upper Strings

Elementary - Open

Musical Theatre

All levels

Adult Classes

Brass

Speech Arts

Guitar

Woodwinds

Self-Accompanied

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VIRTUAL FESTIVAL CLASSES

June

Graded Levels 1 - 5

Classical Voice

Classical Piano

Lower Strings

Upper Strings

Beginner & Primary Levels

Musical Theatre

All Levels

Harp

Percussion

Songs from the Screen & More

Non-Western Strings

Popular Guitar

Popular Brass

Popular Strings

Popular Woodwinds

Duets (and Trios?)

Small Ensembles

Bands

Choirs

Orchestras

Piano Concertos