MusicFest Canada Scholarships

Share in about $50,000 of MusicFest Canada scholarships if you play in a MusicFest Honour Ensemble or an ensemble registered at the 2027 Nationals — apply with an audition recording by January 21, 2027.

Published by G Paul · last checked September 26, 2026

Deadline

Jan 21, 2027

Level

K-12, Undergraduate

Open to

Across Canada

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

An online record on musicfest.ca: select Login, then sign in or create an account
An audition recording that follows the audition requirements for the matching National Honour Ensemble
Membership in a MusicFest Honour Ensemble, or in an ensemble registered at MusicFest Nationals
Application and recording submitted by January 21, 2027

About this award

MusicFest Canada and its partners give out about $50,000 in individual scholarships at each festival, spread across about 20 named awards — for example, the National Arts Centre Orchestra Outstanding String Player Award is $1,000. As these are scholarships, not loans, you do not have to pay this money back. This is for you if you are a young musician, usually in high school, who is a member of a MusicFest Honour Ensemble or plays in an ensemble registered at MusicFest Nationals. For MusicFest 2027 (the Nationals in Calgary), your application and audition recording must be submitted through the MusicFest website by January 21, 2027. Winners are told by email before the festival. Winners are chosen from applicants' audition recordings by festival officials, who also consider recommendations from Honour Ensemble directors and clinicians. Ask MusicFest Canada during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with MusicFest Canada whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

Members of MusicFest's seven National Honour Ensembles at the Nationals are automatically considered, and any student in an ensemble registered at MusicFest Nationals can apply through the online audition. For most scholarships you must be enrolled in high school in September 2026; a limited number are for post-secondary students.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
Open to K-12 or undergraduate students
Studying music

How to apply

Read the award's official page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Submit your application
Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

MusicalityAvoid focusing only on technical skill. Instead, show how your music achieves specific goals. Record a piece that demonstrates your unique artistic voice.
AuditionAvoid recording without checking the rules. Instead, follow the audition requirements for the National Honour Ensemble that matches your instrument or voice.
StrategyAvoid applying to every single award blindly. Instead, match your instrument and style to the specific named scholarship. Review the list of 20 different awards to find the best fit for your specialty.
RealismAvoid assuming the full $50,000 goes to one person. Instead, remember that this is a total pool for many individual awards. Check the specific value for the particular award you are targeting.

Questions students ask

How do I apply?

Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.

When is the deadline?

Applications close on January 21, 2027. Submit a day or two early: application sites get busy at the end.

Can international students apply?

Yes. It is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and international students.

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FundMyCourse.ca · checked Sep 26, 2026