Alberta International Band Festival - Calgary Festival

04/06/2026

🎉 Slide Into Spring - Calgary's Trombone Day to celebrate International Trombone Week!

📆 Sunday, May 3rd, 2026 is going to be all about the trombone!

Calgary is holding its 13th Annual Trombone Day.

Join trombonists from all over the city and surrounding area for a day all about the trombone.
12:00 PM - Arrival, greeting and warm-ups
1:30 PM - Workshop presentation from Kristofer Leslie
3:00 PM - Massed trombone choir rehearsal
5:45 PM - Short rhearsal
7:00 PM - Evening Concert conducted by Carolos Foggin

This is a great opportunity to celebrate the trombone! Whether you're new to the instrument or an experienced pro, there is room for everyone. Grab your trombone friends at school or in band and help spread the word!

Scan the QR Code on the left to learn more, download the music.

03/10/2026

The Westwinds Music Society offers an incredible opportunity for adults in our community to learn about music - instrumental and choral. Come on out and see some of their ensemble performances this week! (Details below)

Spring is in the air and so is the music! 🎶🌷 Join us for the Westwinds Music Society's Spring Concert at the beautiful Bella Concert Hall! We have two incredible sessions lined up for you:

​🕒 1:00 PM Session:
Featuring Mixed Choir, Choral Ensemble, Silver Concert Band, Wind Orchestra, and Bronze Strings.

​🕒 6:30 PM Session:
Featuring Young Adult Choir, Treble Choir, Bronze Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Blue Strings.

​📅 Date: Sunday, March 15, 2026
📍 Location: Bella Concert Hall (4825 Mt Royal Gate SW)
🎟️ Tickets: $25 for adults | $15 for students/children

A few VERY IMPORTANT notes:
* Tickets are available online and at the door for both concerts. Seating is assigned!

* Parking is free at Mount Royal University on Sundays, including the parkade!

​Come celebrate the season with us in one of Calgary's premier concert venues! 🌷
​Visit https://tickets.mru.ca/eventperformances.asp?evt=668 (link in bio) for tickets and more information.

We can't wait to see you there!

​ Hall

02/27/2026

🎺🎼 Band Basics Bootcamp: Every Band Starts Somewhere!

Did you know that at festival, bands perform at different grade levels — just like in school?

Some groups are advanced high school or community ensembles. Others are brand-new beginners who only started playing this year.
And today, we want to give a HUGE shout-out to our youngest performers. 💛

Our Grade 6 (and sometimes Grade 7) beginners are learning everything from scratch:
🎵 How to make their first sound
🎺 How to hold and care for their instrument
🎼 How to read music
⏱️ How to play together as a team

Now imagine stepping onto a big stage in a real concert hall… and knowing another band performing that day might be much more advanced.
That can feel overwhelming.

But here’s the amazing part — these young musicians rise to the challenge. They show up. They focus. They play their very best. And they grow stronger because of it.

In this video, you’re hearing the Westmount Charter School Grade 6 Beginner Band, under the direction of Dr. Ilkim Tongur and Kelsey Crandell — and we couldn’t be prouder.

It takes courage to start.
It takes bravery to perform.
And every great musician was once a beginner.

👏 Please join us in congratulating all of our beginner bands who stepped onto our stage this year. We are so proud of you!

02/27/2026

✨🎺 2026 Concert Band Gold Award Recipients 🎺✨

At the Alberta International Band Festival, a "Gold Award" is presented to ensembles who earn a combined overall rating of 90% or higher from our adjudicators. This recognition reflects an exceptional level of musicianship, preparation, and performance. It is not something given to every band (although many of our band programs work hard throughout the year). They have to be earned and represent the top echelons of our school and community music programs.

Reaching this milestone takes more than talent. It takes focus in rehearsal, attention to detail, teamwork across every section, and a shared commitment to excellence. From the first warm-up to the final note on stage, these ensembles demonstrated maturity, artistry, and pride in their work.

To our 2026 Gold Award recipients — congratulations. Your dedication was evident in your tone, your balance, your precision, and the way you communicated the music to your audience. You set a high bar and represented your schools and communities with distinction.

We celebrate your achievement and the many hours of effort that brought you to this moment. Bravo to each and every one of you. 💛🎶

02/26/2026

🎷🎺 Groove School Basics: What’s the difference between a Concert Band and a Jazz Ensemble?

They both have horns.
They both have drums.
They both sound amazing.
So what makes them different?

🎼 Concert Band
A concert band usually plays music written exactly as you see it on the page. Everyone follows the conductor closely, and the goal is to blend together like one big instrument. The sound is often smooth, powerful, and balanced. You might hear marches, movie themes, or beautiful slow pieces.

🎷 Jazz Ensemble
A jazz band (or jazz ensemble) has more room for creativity. Musicians still play written music, but they also improvise — which means they make up parts of their solos on the spot! Jazz has different styles like swing, funk, Latin, and blues. The rhythm section (piano, bass, drums, guitar) keeps the groove going while the horns add energy and personality.

In simple terms:
🎶 Concert band focuses on precision and blend.
🔥 Jazz band focuses on groove and individual expression.

In this video, you’re hearing the North Trail Jazz Band, under the direction of Keshini Senanayake — a great example of teamwork, creativity, and that unmistakable jazz energy!

Which do you love more — the smooth power of concert band or the cool groove of jazz? 👇

02/26/2026

🎺✨ What a remarkable celebration of concert band music. ✨🎺

Over the past week at the 2026 Alberta International Band Festival, we had the privilege of hearing so many exceptional ensembles — from junior high, senior high, and community bands. The commitment to excellence, the growth shown on stage, and the pride in every performance were truly inspiring.

While there were many memorable performances, a select group of ensembles distinguished themselves in a special way.

Today, we are honoured to recognize our Concert Band Award Winners — ensembles whose performances reflected outstanding tone, precision, balance, musical depth, and artistry. These groups demonstrated not only technical skill, but a deep understanding of how to shape and communicate music.

Recognition like this represents a journey. It reflects steady rehearsal habits, careful attention to detail, strong leadership from directors, and students who pushed themselves to improve step by step throughout the season.

To all of our award recipients — congratulations. Your dedication, teamwork, and passion for music were evident in every note.

And to every ensemble who took the stage this year — thank you for sharing your hard work with our festival community. We are proud of you all. 🎶💛

👏 Please join us in celebrating our 2026 Concert Band Award Winners in the comments.

02/26/2026

🎺👂 Band Basics Bootcamp: What Are Adjudicators Really Listening For?

When a band walks on stage at festival, our adjudicators aren’t just checking if the notes are right. They’re listening for the whole picture.

Here’s what our adjudicators are listening and looking for:
🎶 Tone – Does the band sound warm and clear? Not too harsh, not too thin — just strong and balanced.
⏱️ Rhythm & Togetherness – Are all the players lined up like a team? Do the fast parts stay steady and the slow parts stay controlled?
⚖️ Balance & Blend – Can you hear the melody clearly? Are some sections supporting while others shine? A great band sounds like one big instrument.
📈 Dynamics (louds and softs) – Does the band use volume to shape the music? The best performances don’t stay at one level — they rise and fall like a story.
💛 Musical Expression – Does the band make you feel something? Music isn’t just about playing correctly — it’s about sharing emotion.
🎼 Music Selection – Did the director choose pieces that fit the group well? Great music choices challenge the band, show off their strengths, and help them sound their best.
🎭 Stage Presentation – How does the band look on stage? Are they walking on and off with confidence? Sitting with good posture? Wearing uniforms neatly? Presentation helps the audience take them seriously before they even play a note.

Adjudicators are listening for growth, teamwork, and artistry — not just perfection.
Next time you watch a band, try listening for these elements. You might hear even more than you expected! 🎼✨

In this video, you’re hearing the Western Canada High School Grade 11 Symphonic Band, under the direction of Brendan Hagan .cbe .band

02/26/2026

🎷✨ When the groove is undeniable… you feel it. ✨🎺

Over the course of the Alberta International Band Festival, our jazz adjudicators heard so many outstanding performances. The energy, creativity, and musicianship from all of our performing groups on stage were truly inspiring.

But among the many great ensembles, a few performances rose to the very top.

Today, we are proud to introduce our Jazz Award Recipients — the bands and performers who stood out for their exceptional artistry, tight ensemble playing, expressive solo work, and deep understanding of style.

These recognitions reflect more than just one performance. They represent months of rehearsal, teamwork, courage, and commitment. They show what can happen when preparation meets passion.

To each and every award recipient — congratulations. Your hard work did not go unnoticed. You have made your directors, your schools, and your communities incredibly proud. 💛🎶

👏 Please join us in congratulating our Jazz Award Recipients in the comments below!

02/26/2026

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors!

The University of Calgary School of Creative & Performing Arts is one of the Alberta International Band Festival's sponsors as a Festival Supporter. We are grateful to them for providing the percussion instruments for our clinic workshop space where the adjudicators work with our concert bands. We're also appreciative of all of their theatre events staff, their front-of-house staff and the stage technicians that work behind-the-scenes to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Your generosity keeps the music playing and makes festival week possible. 🎶👏

02/26/2026

🎷✨ Congratulations to Our Jazz Gold Award Recipients! ✨🎷

At the Alberta International Band Festival, a Gold Award is presented to jazz ensembles who earn an overall rating of 90% or higher from our adjudicators. That means these groups didn’t just play well — they demonstrated excellence at the highest level.

What are adjudicators listening for?
🎶 Style & Groove – Does the band truly capture the feel of swing, funk, Latin, or ballad? Is the rhythm section locked in and driving the music forward?
🎷 Balance & Blend – Do the sections work together so melodies shine and harmonies support without overpowering?
🎺 Articulation & Precision – Are rhythms tight and together? Are accents, dynamics, and phrasing consistent across the ensemble?
🎹 Improvisation – Do soloists show creativity, confidence, and understanding of the style?
🥁 Musicianship & Expression – Beyond the notes, does the performance communicate energy, emotion, and connection?

Earning Gold reflects months of rehearsal, teamwork, listening, and dedication. These ensembles represent the very best of jazz education in our region.

To all of our Jazz Gold Award recipients — congratulations. Your hard work, passion, and commitment to excellence were heard loud and clear. We are so proud of you. 💛🎶

02/26/2026

Welcome to BAND BASICS BOOTCAMP! 🎼

🎺🎶 Ever wondered how 60+ musicians can play at the same time… and it actually sounds amazing?

A symphonic band works like a giant musical team. Every section has a special job — and when they all do their part, the magic happens.

🎵 Woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, saxophones, oboes, bassoons)
They often carry the melody — the tune you find yourself humming later. They can sound light and sparkling or smooth and warm.

🎺 Brass (trumpets, horns, trombones, euphoniums, tubas)
They bring power and boldness. Brass can soar above the band with heroic lines or add rich harmony underneath.

🥁 Percussion (drums, mallets, cymbals, and more!)
They keep the rhythm steady and add color and excitement. Sometimes they’re subtle… and sometimes they shake the whole room!

Think of it like a puzzle. 🧩
The melody, harmony, and rhythm all fit together. If one piece is too loud or too soft, the picture isn’t complete. That’s why balance and listening are so important.

In this video, you’re hearing the St. Francis High School Symphonic Band, under the direction of Brigida Battistessa — a perfect example of sections working together to create one powerful sound. 🎼✨

👇 Tell us in the comments — what’s your favorite instrument in the band?