Alberta Band Association

National Youth Band of Canada - Application Deadline Extended!

The National Youth Band of Canada (NYB) showcases a national representation of outstanding young band musicians through community collaboration and performance that celebrates band pathways and traditions. NYB provides an opportunity for 17-22 year old musicians to gather for an enriching and inspiring musical and cultural experience.

Hey a very big congratulations to our former President Brent Pierce. Helping put our Alberta band community on the map!

The Brandon University Student Music Educators Association (BUSMEA), in partnership with the Westman Band Directors Association (WMBDA), are excited to announce winners of the Beginning Band Composition Competition.

The competition was launched to celebrate the 40th anniversary of BUSMEA and the 20th annual Da Capo Conference, and the committee was ecstatic to study 33 submissions from across Canada.

Winners are:

First Place:
Twilight on the Prairies, Brent Violini Pierce (Okotoks, AB)

Second Place:
Heartwood, Lee Whitehorne (York, ON)

Third Place:
Attack of the Drones, Ryan Meeboer (Burlington, ON)

Honorable Mention:
Baby Bobcat Boops, Chris Byman (Brandon University B. Mus/M. Mus grad – Winnipeg, MB)
Saint Hilda and the Snakes, Andrei Gueco (Abbotsford, BC)

Compositions will be performed this Saturday, January 17th in the Queen Elizabeth II Music Building (Room 1-20) during the 1:50-3:00 pm session of the 2026 Da Capo Conference. Works will be conducted by Competition Committee members, and conference attendees are invited to bring their instruments to participate in these exciting performances.

Additional competition details are available at https://www.brandonu.ca/busmea/compositioncompetition/.

For questions or additional information, please contact Dr. Wendy Zander, Composition Coordinator, at [email protected].

An exciting new initiative from our friends at Quebec Band Association

The inaugural Quebec Band Association BandFest, is taking place on April 17th, 2026. It promises to be an exciting, inclusive, and great Canadian event with some stellar Canadian adjudicators: Dr. Wendy Zander, Dr. Gillian McKay, and Dr. Mark Hopkins.

More information can be found here: https://www.quebecbandassociation.com/bandfest-2026.html

IT’S BACK!!!! Adult Concert Band Workshop

Alberta Band Association
Red Deer Community Bands
Women Band Directors International