2009 COMPETITION DEADLINE

- The deadline for submisions in the Province of New Brunswick is April 15th, 2009.
- The National deadline for the Music Writing Competition will be June 1, 2009.


  AIMS OF CANADA MUSIC WEEK^TM

Canada Music Week^TM celebrations take place in the third week of November, which includes November 22, the day honoring St. Cecilia, patron Saint of Music. The 5 principle aims of this event are:

- to bring to the attention of the public, through various means, the importance of Canadian music;
- to emphasize not only Canadian work, but also the significance of music generally;
- to introduce contemporary music to Canadian students and stimulate a keener appreciation and understanding of this music;
- to encourage music teachers to widen their knowledge and experience of Canadian works;
- to support composers and performers of Canadian music;


  NATIONAL WRITING COMPETITION

Contestants may submit entries under the following categories:

PREPARATORY (8 years and under)
- Class 1 ($50 award)
To write an original composition for solo instrument or any combination of instruments.
- Class 2 ($50 award)
To write an original composition for voice with or without accompaniment.

CATEGORY "A" (11 years and under)
- Class 1 ($250 award)
To write an original composition for solo instrument or any combination of instruments.
- Class 2 ($250 award)
To write an original composition for voice with or without accompaniment.

CATEGORY "B" (15 years and under)
- Class 1 ($300 award)
To write an original composition for solo instrument or any combination of instruments.
- Class 2 ($300 award)
To write an original composition for voice with or without accompaniment.

CATEGORY "C" (19 years and under)
- Class 1 ($400 award)
To write an original composition for any instrument of any combination of instruments, or voice(s) or combination of voice(s) and instruments with accompaniment when accompaniment is necessary for the performance.

CATEGORY "D" (Open)
- Class 1 ($400 award)
To write an original composition for any instrument of any combination of instruments, or voice(s) or combination of voice(s) and instruments with accompaniment when accompaniment is necessary for the performance.

CATEGORY "E" (Electroacoustic Music, National Only)
- Class 1 (Roland Canada Award)
This category includes any kind of electronic instrument which produces sound such as a computer, synthesizer, or sampler. The composition could be a combination of electronic sounds with acoustic instruments and/or voice. The composition may be generated using a sequencer or music notation program, or it may be created using sound editing/mixing software. In any case, the submission must be an original composition. The work should be submitted on a cassette tape or compact disc, but not as a midi file. The submission should also include a written description and explanation of how the piece was created. Competitors are encouraged to submit a score if at all possible.

HELEN DAHLSTROM AWARD (National Only)
An award in the amount of $250 is given annually to the best national composition as selected by the jury. Helen Dahlstrom was the founder of Canada Music Week.


  WRITING COMPETITION REGULATIONS

I) A student may enter more than one composition and more than one class but only one prize will be awarded to any individual.
II) The contestant must be eligible in his chosen age group as of June 1, 2009.
III) Each entry is assumed to be the original work of the individual whose name appears on the entry form attached to the manuscript. Any infraction of this regulation could result in the nullification of the offending entry.
IV) First place winning compositions will not be returned to the contestant after judging.
V) All rights to his/her original work will be retained by the contestant, but winning compositions may be displayed or employed by the CFMTA for publicity purposes after consultation with and agreement of the contestant.
VI) Only first place Provincial winning manuscripts at the Provincial level may be forwarded by the Provincial Canada Music Week Co-ordinator to the CFMTA office before June 1, 2009 in order to be included in the Canada-wide judging.
VII) The contestant must be a student of a current member of the Registered Music Teachers' Association.
VIII) All manuscripts should be neat and legibly written in black ink, in regulation manuscript size: including all necessary details of dynamics, editing and tempo, with every 10th bar numbered. Manuscripts printed by computers are permitted. It is advisable to retain your original copy of your submitted work.
IX) Only entries with name and address clearly printed in block letters will be accepted.
X) The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into after final judging.
XI) Any entrant who moves after June 1, 2009 must advise the CFMTA Secretary-Treasurer of their change of address, including postal code.
XII) The winner's cheque must be cashed within thirty days of receipt of same.
XIII) An entry fee must accompany each composition submitted for Canada-wide judging.
  PREPATORY - $15.00
  CATEGORY A - $15.00
  CATEGORY B - $25.00
  CATEGORY C, D & E - $35.00
XIV) Prizes will not be awarded if the adjudicator feels the standard has not been achieved.


  ENTRY FORM

In order to participate in the 2009 Canada Music Week^TM Music Writing Competition please complete the entry form ( available in PDF format by clicking [HERE] ), print it out and mail it to the address indicated on the form.


  HISTORY OF CANADA MUSIC WEEK^TM

In 1957 Violet Isfeld, who was then president of the Canadian Federation of Music Teacher's Association, proposed that a National Week for Music be initiated in 1960 to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Federation. The response was enthusiastic and the celebration so successful that the next year (1961) it was decided by CFMTA council to make "Canada Music Week" an annual event.

In 1963 Reginald Bedford, president, suggested the setting-up of a committee with the convener for Canada Music Week, Sister M. Rodriguez Steel of Nova Scotia and Eleanor Patch of British Columbia were appointed as co-conveners. (Arthur Putland succeeded Miss Patch in 1969). It was also decided that Canada Music Week be observed the last full week of November to coincide with Saint Cecilia's Day thereby giving church musicians the opportunity to contribute to the special week.

In 1969 Flora Goulden, president, wrote to each Provincial Premier to ask for their initial interest and co-operation through their Minister of Education and thence to their schools. To achieve greater National unity in the oberservance of the 10th Anniversary of Music Week, a Poster Competition was under taken and continued on an annual basis with popular support.

For nine years the directors of Canada Music week were chosen by CFMTA council. Now each Province is autonomous in its programming. From 1970 to 1992, Helen Dahlastom chaired the project and was Editor of the Canada Music Week Magazine. From 1993 to 1998, the National Co-ordinator was Penny Joynt from Meacham Saskatchewan. From 1999 to 2001 Lore Ruschiensky from Regina Saskatchewan was the co-ordinator and from the 2001 to the present the National Co-ordinator is Ron Spadafore from Timmins Ontario. Publicity material is available in the form of seals, poster and pencils.

Canada Music Week is dedicated to music in its fullest sense but since 1967 particular stress has been focussed on the Canadian cultural content. The Music Writing Contest was introduced in 1971 in an effort to simulate young people in the art of musical composition.

It is open to all students of members of CFMTA. A highlight was the performance of four winning original compositions heard in concert at the CFMTA Convention in Halifax, July 1973. This special event was the result of a general invitation for all composers to compete whether they be professional or amateur. Manuscripts were submitted from Canada, Czechoslovakia, Belgium, France, Norway, England, Scotland, and Ireland. Judges have included Dr. Violet Archer, the late Robert Fleming, Godfrey Ridout, Jean Papineau-Couture, Talivaldis Kenins and Keith Bissell.

In 1998 the process to have the Canada Music Week name registered as a trademark was undertaken by CFMTA. As of September 2002 this process has now been completed and the Canada Music Week name is a trademark.

Canada Music Week activity has now become a positive experience for thousand of Canadians. Radio and TV coverage, press, magazines, libraries, schools universities, composers, symphony orchestras, concert societies, church choirs, organists, all uniting in the ever-expanding promotion of Canada Music Week. This is the direct result of the tremendous effort put forth by members of the CFMTA who have responded to the challenge with enthusiasm and created an air of music awareness and festivity throughout the country.

This history was written by Thelma Wilson, Past President CFMTA, and updated by Ron Spadafore, National Co-ordinator.