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Founded in 1958, the Canadian Music Competition (CMC) has discovered and supported generations of high-level classical musicians. Its continued relevance has relied on the organization’s ability to innovate, adapt, and meet challenges. With the end of a vital sponsorship in 2024, the CMC had to apply these strategies and now returns with renewed vigour in 2025.
Newly sponsored by the Azrieli Foundation, the CMC introduced a revised structure for its 2025 edition that focuses on education, Canadian culture, and putting more power in the hands of its “chapters” (organizations affiliated with the CMC based in each province). Instead of its previous practice, which had CMC judges fly around the country, the chapters now organize the CMC auditions in their own provinces. Each chapter works with the national office to agree on juries, repertoire, and criteria. Then, they select the best of the best from their province to compete at the National Final at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke, Que.
“The goal is to create an event where [young artists]can perform, have juries, receive comments, make friends. …It has to be a big event in their chapters, and not only a step where they hope to go to the final,” says Executive Director Carmen Picard. This new format supports the growth and vitality of the Canadian classical-music scene by encouraging young musicians to learn and connect with fellow artists in the musician’s community. Not only that, but the grand-prize winners from each age group get to perform with an orchestra from their local area, allowing their families, friends, and mentors to attend.
The CMC sees value in applying this community-based approach to their Gathering With the Stars event. For the last two years, each chapter has sent young musicians to attend master classes, lectures, and concerts given by professional musicians, at Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke. “We would like to develop that a little bit more locally in the future,” says Picard, “so, the [musicians]can have opportunities to play in places other than a competition.”
With its return, the CMC is poised to uplift many generations of Canadian artists to come. Picard notes that, from her point of view, the Canadian classical-music scene is in good health given the exceptional young musicians she has witnessed at the CMC and who other Canadian organizations are happy to showcase on stage again. “[They] are the future,” she says.
Visit www.cmcnational.com to learn more about the Canadian Music Competition.
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