Announcing 2026 Solo & Small Ensemble VKMF Dates and Updates!

2026 Festivals

Oct 28

Announcing 2026 VKMF
Dates and Updates!

New Registration System!

Based on participant feedback from last year, we’ll be adopting a new registration platform - Ciniki - to make the registration process clearer and simpler for everyone.

Festival Dates: April 7 – May 3, 2026
Registration Opens: November 17, 2025
Registration Closes: January 18, 2026

View Syllabus

STAFF CHANGES

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Vicki Cummings, who will be stepping down as Executive Director after six years of dedicated service. Vicki’s steady leadership guided VKMF through the COVID pandemic, ensuring the organization’s financial security and growing participation to over 6,000 participants last year. All the best to her as she moves forward!

We are delighted to introduce the new VKMF team:

Krista Pederson – Executive Director / Solo & Small Ensembles Coordinator
Sara Ramsay – Large Ensembles Coordinator / Development Coordinator
Franki Katz – Volunteer Coordinator / Development Coordinator

NEW DIVISION - SPEECH ARTS!

We’re excited to introduce a brand-new division to our Solo Festival. Speech Arts has been a popular discipline at the Provincial festival (PABC), and now we’re delighted to offer it at VKMF! Please refer to the VKMF and RCM syllabi for guidance in preparing for this new division.

https://ciniki.com/vkmf/solo-festival/syllabus

https://www.rcmusic.com/learning/examinations/academic-resources-and-policies/syllabi-and-syllabi-errata

FINAL CONCERT & AWARDS NIGHT RETURNS!

We’re delighted to announce the return of the VKMF Final Concert & Awards Night that will be held in May 2026 - a special evening to celebrate the brilliant performances of the festival and to honour our 2026 award-winners. More details to come!

2026 NEW CLASSES

We’re thrilled to welcome two celebrated Canadian composers as piano adjudicators:

Christine Donkin

John Burge

To celebrate their visit, we’re offering new non-competitive classes:

Piano Music of John Burge
Piano Music of Christine Donkin
Composition with John Burge
Composition with Christine Donkin

Note: Christine Donkin has kindly provided VKMF with some of her additional compositions not included in the RCM Syllabus that are for workshop use only. To receive these scores in order to prepare and perform in one of her classes, please email: krista.pederson@vkmfestivals.org

______________________________________________

For the Composition Classes, you may choose one of the following options:

1. MIDI Submission with Adjudication

Submit a MIDI recording and score by March 15, 2026.
Adjudication will be at your scheduled class time.

2. Live Performance with Adjudication

Submit your score by March 15, 2026. (Score recommended but not mandatory for Junior Composition)
Present a live performance of your composition at your scheduled class time.
Adjudication will be at your scheduled class time.

https://www.vkmfestivals.org/

https://ciniki.com/vkmf/solo-festival/syllabus

2026 SOLO & SMALL ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL DATES

https://www.vkmfestivals.org/

VENUES and SPONSORS

In addition to our longstanding venue sponsors and partners: