Vancouver International Music Festival

The 2024 Vancouver International Music Festival will featuring world renowned guests for concerts, masterclasses and performance classes for students.

The 2024 Vancouver International Music Festival will be held in-person in Vancouver from August 20th to August 25th, 2024.

  • Date and Venue: August 20-25, 2024 at VSO School of Music, 843 Seymour St. Vancouver BC Canada
  • The participant’s festival class schedule will be notified by the end of June. 
  • Gala concert on Aug. 25, featuring the top level students in the performance classes.

Festival Application:

  • Early Bird (with reduced Entry Fee) Application Deadline: May 15th, 2024, 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
  • Application Deadline: June 15th, 2024, 11:59 PM (Pacific Time)

Festival Categories

The Vancouver International Music Festival will feature different instrumental categories across four age groups (Age as of June 30, 2024), open to worldwide musicians. 

Please apply under Concerto Categories if you are performing a concerto in the Piano/Violin/Cello Categories. Piano concerto’s orchestra part is played by the second piano.

Categories:

  • Piano (Solo)
  • Strings (Violin, Cello, Harp)
  • Woodwinds (Flute, Clarinet)
  • Traditional Instruments (Zheng)
  • Piano Concerto
  • Violin Concerto 
  • Cello Concerto
  • Piano Duo/Duet
  • Chamber Music (Trio, Quartet, Quintet)

Age Groups:

Solo/Concerto

  1. Ages 8 and under
  2. Ages 9–12
  3. Ages 13–17
  4. Ages 18–30

Piano Duo/Duet & Chamber Music

  1. Age 8 under
  2. Age 12 under
  3. Age 17 under
  4. Age 30 under

(Age as of June 30th, 2024)

Entry Fee* (Early Bird by May 15th, $50 off); includes masterclass and access to concerts* by world-renowned musicians)
Festival & One Masterclass

  • Solo (Piano) $280 
  • Solo (Strings/Flute/Clarinet/Guzheng) $180
  • Concerto/Chamber $380

Festival & Two Masterclasses

  • Solo (Piano/Strings) $420
  • Solo (Flute/Saxophone/Guzheng) $320
  • Concerto/Chamber $520


*Registration fee $30 per application
*Concert tickets available at a discounted price

Repertoire Guidelines

Participants will perform one piece of their choice by memory (except Piano Duo/Duet & Chamber category). Accepted styles include Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Impressionism, and Contemporary (Jazz & Pop are not allowed), except for Chinese instruments, where traditional repertoire is preferred.

Time limit for solo piece:

  • Junior Talent (ages 8 and under): 6 minutes
  • Young Talent (ages 9–12): 8 minutes
  • Young Artists (ages 13–17): 10 minutes
  • Artists (ages 18–30): 12 minutes

Time limit for Concerto: 

  • Age 8 and under (15 minutes, One movement or complete miniature work)
  • Age 9-12 (20 minutes, One movement or complete miniature work)
  • Age 13-17 (25 minutes, One movement or complete miniature work)
  • Age 18-30 (30 minutes, One/Two movement (s) or complete miniature work)

Time Limit for Piano Duo/Duet and Chamber Music:

  • Age 8 under: 8 mins
  • Age 12 under: 10 mins
  • Age 17 under: 15 mins
  • Age 30 under: 20 mins

Participants may receive certificates and medal for performing Canadian compositions. Click here for a list of Canadian composers and compositions.

Rules & Regulations

  • The Vancouver International Music Festival is governed by the Board of Directors and Executive Committee managed by the President of the Vancouver International Music Festival.
  • Participants must adhere to all festival arrangements, rules, and schedules. The decisions of the Executive Committee on all regulatory matters are final.
  • The VIMF reserves the right to amend the Syllabus, Rules, and Arrangements. Any amendments will be posted on the website without individual notification to participants.
  • Jury decisions are final, but the committee may revoke a decision under exceptional circumstances.
  • The VIMF promotes diversity and does not discriminate based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, or political affiliation.
  • Participants release the VIMF from any damages, claims, liabilities, costs, or losses arising from participation in the preliminary and final rounds, Gala performance, and recording.
  • The VIMF reserves the right to use participants’ photos for promotional purposes unless otherwise instructed.
  • Jury members may not evaluate former or current students, except former masterclass participation. In such cases, competitors will receive comments only, and no formal assessment will be provided.
  • Participants are not permitted to communicate with judges before their performance but may do so after the class.