High school singer during vocal competition

High School Vocal Competition

Outreach and Community Programs Contemporary Band Pedagogy Fall Preview Day High School Composition and Songwriting Competition High School Vocal Competition Instrument Days and Special Events Western/OBA Intermediate Honour Band Kodály Certification Program New Horizons Band Spring Open House Summer Vocal Intensive Young Winds Youth Wind Ensemble

2026 Competition Information

We are happy to announce the Western University High School Vocal Competition taking place on Thursday, Nov. 19 and Friday, Nov. 20 from 2:30pm to 5:30pm.

If you are a Canadian secondary school student thinking about pursuing post-secondary studies in music, this is a great opportunity to:

prepare your audition repertoire
receive written feedback
experience Western’s voice area
meet professors and students
tour the Don Wright Faculty of Music

This year there will be two streams for applicants to the competition:

A junior stream for students in grades 9 and 10
A senior stream for students in grades 11 and 12 (and students taking a gap year)

To ensure all entrants receive sufficient individual care and attention, the contest is limited to the first 25 registrants for each division. Entries attempted after this limit has been reached will not be eligible for entry into the competition.

Prizes

One winner of each stream will be awarded a cash prize of $250. There will be several honourable mentions and additional prizes which include tickets to an upcoming opera production (on Thursday March 4, 2027) or a voice lesson with one of our instructors.

All participants will receive written feedback from multiple faculty members, as well as a recording of their performance.

Competition prizes are limited to the first 25 eligible registrants for each stream; odds of winning depend on the total number of participants and timing of registration. The approximate retail value of each runner up prize is $100 CAD.

When is the competition?

Thursday, Nov. 19 (juniors) and Friday, Nov. 20 (seniors) from 2:30pm to 5:30pm.

Participants are required to be available during the full time period of their competition day. Exact time slots will be confirmed on November 13. You will have access to a practice room ahead of time. You may also have a rehearsal prior to the competition with a faculty-provided collaborative pianist.

When do I need to register?

To ensure all entrants receive sufficient individual care and attention, registration is first-come-first-served, and each stream is limited to the first 25 registrants for each division. Entries attempted after this limit has been reached will not be eligible for entry into the competition.

The registration deadline, should space remain available, is Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.

There is no cost to register.

How do I participate?

Prepare two (2) songs (art song, folk song, musical theatre) to be performed live with piano accompaniment. One must be in English, and the other may be in any language (including English). Only one of the two selections may be music theatre.

Total performance duration cannot exceed ten minutes (both songs, combined).

A collaborative pianist is required. You may bring your own or we will provide one free of charge. Please indicate your choice upon registration; those using a Western collaborative pianist will receive a brief rehearsal time prior to the competition.