Masterclass Lecture for Bowed Strings - ages 15 & Under

Alberta Registered Music Teachers' Association in partnership with the Alberta String Association presents

Choosing & Preparing Competition Repertoire for Junior Strings

The Alberta Registered Music Teachers’ Association and the Alberta String Association are collaborating on the first-ever event dedicated to preparing the younger generation of string players for upcoming Junior String Competitions in 2026.  

The “Masterclass & Discussion” event format is a multilayered event that focuses on the preparation for public or competition-level performances, stage presence, various aspects of repertoire selection, and Q&A sessions with participants, teachers, and auditors. The event is open to anyone interested in learning about the art of string performance and pedagogy. There will be a clinician at each event who will handle the masterclass and discussion.

Events are open to all Alberta Teachers’ students.

Calgary

Sunday, October 26, 2025
1:00-2:30pm
Seton Public Library

4995 Market St SE, Calgary

Clinician: Diana Cohen

Calgary masterclass is kindly sponsored by Long & McQuade Seton.

Edmonton

Sunday, November 30, 2025
3:00-4:30pm
Lois Hole Library

17650 69 Ave NW, Edmonton

Clinician: Frank Ho

Application deadline: October 10, 2025, 11:59pm
Application fee: FREE
Fee for those selected to perform: $20

• Apply

Masterclass Details

Eligibility

Competitors must be:

  • no older than 15 years of age as of January 1, 2026
  • Canadian citizens or landed immigrants
  • string student of an Alberta teacher at the time of application

Audition by Video Submission

A link (YouTube, Google, etc.) to applicant’s unedited performance of two different pieces of the student’s choice (5 minutes in total) is to accompany the application.

  • Repetoire theme – “Celebrating Great Composers’ Anniversaries” such as but not limited to the following:
    • J. S. Bach (340 b), L. van Beethoven (255 b), Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mario (130 b), B. Bartók (80 d), G Enesco (70 d), M. Ravel (150 b), C. Saint-Saëns (190 b), E. Satie (100 d), D. Shostakovich (50 d), F. Kreisler (150 b), G. Faure (180 b), N. Paganini (185 d), I. Albeniz (165 b), P. Tchaikovsky (185 b), G. Tartini (255 d), L. Boccherini (220 d)

The video judge will select three to five students for each city. Selected participants will be asked to provide a short bio and headshot photo.

Announcement of the selected students for each city will be announced after October 10, 2025.

For more information, contact Chrysanthema Pashunkova.