Chamber Music 2027

A two-week residency at Banff Centre (July 5–17, 2027) for early-career classical musicians and composers, built around masterclasses, one-on-one mentorship, small-ensemble rehearsals and public performances alongside visiting faculty. Participants also collaborate with resident composers on new works, join a community outreach concert in Banff, and can apply for a limited number of recording sessions with the centre's audio-engineering trainees.

Open to string, woodwind, brass, piano and percussion players, plus composers (at least two places are reserved for them), who are 18 or older, classically trained, and either studying at postgraduate level or recently graduated. Applicants from any country are welcome, but everyone must attend the full two weeks — partial participation is not considered — and international participants will need a Visitor Visa, since the program does not qualify for a Canadian Student Visa.

The total program fee is about CA$4,123, reduced to roughly CA$2,018 after an automatic CA$2,106 Banff Centre Arts Scholarship covering tuition and part of accommodation and meals; a Canadian Indigenous Arts Scholarship covers the full cost for those who qualify, and further named scholarships are considered automatically.

Applying means an online form, a two-page résumé, a one-page cover letter, and a portfolio — up to three recordings for musicians, or two scores with recordings for composers — submitted through SlideRoom by 13 January 2027, with a non-refundable CA$65 application fee (CA$35 for Indigenous applicants). A panel judges artistic merit, skills and experience, potential benefit to the applicant, and how well they would balance the overall ensemble mix.