Contemporary Showcase Toronto

"For over two decades now, Contemporary Showcase has served as a wonderful source of inspiration for my piano students, by unlocking new creative perspectives and fostering a willingness to explore music beyond the conventional repertoire. Every year, they look forward to this event with a refreshing enthusiasm. Parents and students alike enjoy the non-competitive aspect and the sense of camaraderie among participants. As a teacher, I believe it is important to foster a curiosity of various musical styles from an early age, and there is no better way to achieve this than through the introduction of our finest Canadian composers. Kudos for the superb organization of this gem of a festival!"

Maria Dolnycky, Teacher

"I am honoured to have been an adjudicator for the Contemporary Showcase Festival throughout the years and I am thrilled to see how it has grown to be such a valued event in Canada. The Contemporary Showcase has given Canadian music an important voice by the teachers who teach the young and adult performers. The Festival’s Masterclasses give a supportive and instructive venue to introduce this excellent classical and contemporary Canadian repertoire, which deserves to be on the world stage."

Christina Petrowska Quilico
Pianist and Contemporary Showcase Festival Advanced Piano Workshop Clinician

"I would just like to say again a HUGE thank you to everyone for the 2021 Virtual Workshop, and especially to composer John Burge – this was such a motivating and thought-provoking experience for the students. I taught most of Monday, and a couple of the applied students that had been listening online came in already having found “the heart” of their other compositions! Instant cross-applications! One student likened the concept to how one views a painting. We often visually capture the essence/main image instantly. As we keep looking, we notice more and more of what is in the picture, and how these elements belong and nourish one’s perception of the main image of the overall painting."

Teacher Mia Bach

"It was a pleasure to be the clinician for the 2021 Toronto Contemporary Showcase Festival which very successfully shifted to a virtual workshop format for this year. Everything was well-organized and Mia Bach’s students were well-prepared, musical, and responsive. As this was the first time I tried out the approach of identifying and using the heart of a composition to inspire an interpretation in a public forum, I am sure I learned as much as the participants which is always exciting. Keep up the great work."

Composer John Burge