$50 CAD non-refundable application fee (via the Acceptd platform)

$650 CAD program tuition (does not include accommodation or meals)

$800 CAD program tuition (includes billeted accommodation with a host family; does NOT include meals)

In the event that this year’s festival or Young Artist Program needs to be cancelled, all fees paid (including the application fee) will be refunded.

Audio or video recordings of two contrasting pieces, recorded within the last two years

A CV in PDF or Microsoft Word format

The full list of application requirements can be found on our application portal.

Young Artist Ensembles

Instrumental Young Artists will be placed in one or more chamber music ensembles with fellow Young Artists, with repertoire determined by requests and available forces (in 2025, there were 18 ensembles.) Each ensemble will rehearse most days, and will receive at least two scheduled coachings with Guest Artists - additional coachings are available by request.

Performance Opportunities

At the beginning of week two of the festival, YA ensembles will each have an opportunity to perform at a series of Noon Hour Recitals, which are evaluated by a panel of judges. The best ensembles from these recitals will be selected to perform in our evening Young Artist Highlight Concert.

YA ensembles will also perform in one or two community outreach concerts at local area schools and seniors living facilities.

Some Young Artists will also receive additional mainstage performance opportunities in our evening Highlight Concerts, depending on programming needs. This will be decided based on audition quality.

Most Young Artists will also perform in the final orchestral Gala concert alongside our Guest Artists.

Young Artist Composers

Young Artist Composers will have the opportunity to work with and be mentored by this year’s Composer-in-Residence, Ian Cusson.

YA composers will have masterclasses and lessons with our Composer in Residence, looking in depth at their own pre-existing work and other music, with a focus on compositional technique.

Accepted YA composers will write a chamber work for an assigned Young Artist ensemble, which will then be workshopped and performed during the festival. Composers may also have the opportunity to submit a pre-existing piece for performance by a YA ensemble, depending on program needs.

Like all our Young Artists, composers will be able to attend all public concerts at Scotia Festival.

Daily Festival Life

In addition to ensembles, Instrumental Young Artists will also perform solo in masterclasses with Guest Artists, and can attend other masterclasses that interest them if their schedule permits. Young Artists are encouraged to approach Guest Artists for coaching opportunities. Workshops on a variety of topics are also offered, with all Young Artists expected to attend. Make sure to leave some time for impromptu Ping Pong games in our festival office! Young Artists receive complimentary tickets to all evening Highlight Concerts, so there’s lots of great music to take in, as well as several social events.

If you’re curious what a typical festival year looks like in terms of public concerts, you can take a look at the brochures for our 2023 and 2025 Festivals.

A limited number of partial or full tuition scholarships are available for our Young Artist program. More details on how to apply can be found on our application portal.

If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, feel free to email us at yap@scotiafestival.com, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can!