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."

Mia Bach, Teacher

"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."

John Burge, Composer

"The Contemporary Showcase Festival (CSF) provides an excellent opportunity for students to explore Canadian music and share this music with others. The CSF values an educational experience that is encouraging and growth minded. Through a warm and receptive environment, students can perform their pieces and listen to each other’s pieces with positivity. The festival allows students to learn through the feedback and comments of an adjudicator, who may offer additional insights to that of their primary teacher. Students can expect to grow and learn from participating in the CSF as they prepare and perform great Canadian pieces of music."

Dorothy Francis, 2024 CSF Piano Adjudicator

"I want to express my thanks to Janet Fothergill and Wendy Potter for continued dedication to the CS festival (and therefore, to me and my students)! Their work has made possible my emphasis, in our music program, on the performance and commissioning of contemporary Canadian music. Most importantly, they have helped me validate student-composition as the focus of our four year music theory program."

Alan Torok, Music Teacher

"I want to thank the organizers of Contemporary Showcase for organizing this warm, encouraging, and stimulating showcase and learning experience for my daughter, Leah, and so many young musicians. Leah had the good fortune of having musician and composer Susan Griesdale as her adjudicator. Ms. Griesdale is such an astonishingly good teacher. It was such a learning experience for me to see how she motivated and got all these young musicians to reach for the next level even in the two minutes that she had with each one. Leah thoroughly loved playing Arctic Voices in front of the actual composer. She was also energized by her participation in the showcase as she had heard several interesting pieces that she wants to learn and different ideas that she wants to try out in her own playing. Thank you again for creating this precious learning opportunity"

Belinda Huang, Parent

"Thank you very much for the generous Senior Piano Award. I also really appreciated receiving Mary Gardiner’s Currents from Eva Michalak. I feel very fortunate to have an original copy of her work. Playing in the showcase certainly broadened my repertoire by learning and performing a more contemporary piece of music, Spring Celebration by Stephen Chatman. The adjudicators were great and I enjoyed the other performances. I look forward to next year’s showcase."

Joseph Perrone, Performer

"It was such a pleasure and honour to be involved with Contemporary Showcase this year. I was touched by the dedication and interest from the young pianists I worked with. Congratulations also to the festival, teachers, and parents for their commitment and organization."

Joseph Ferretti, Adjudicator

"I have had the privilege of adjudicating Piano Classes at Contemporary Showcase in Toronto. I especially love working with the children and love seeing their eyes light up when they hear all the things they are doing right, which they don’t hear often enough. They all performed so wonderfully and the people volunteering and running this year’s Festival outdid themselves with their prompt and courteous attention to every detail. It’s a wonderful festival and you can sense the fun and excitement felt by everyone. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of this great event!"

Susan Griesdale, Adjudicator

"It is my conviction that the Contemporary Showcase Festival serves a vital function in the cultural fabric of our country."

Gerhard Wuensch, Composer

"I wanted to let you know I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering at the festival and will happily do it again next year. It was such a treat to listen to students at different levels perform for the adjudicator who would then give individualized suggestions for improvements in technique and artistry. What a great opportunity for the students, and for me."

Astrid Stec, Volunteer

"I would personally like to thank the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects, Contemporary Showcase Toronto, for selecting me as the recipient of the Advanced Winds Award. I appreciate the prudent involvement of the Alliance in forwarding, promoting and easing the exploration of endemic contemporary music in Canada. With the support of the ACNMP, many contemporary works and composers are easily accessible to young students throughout the country, strengthening national fidelity and aiding in the development of the Canadian musical landscape."

Giancarlo Mincone, Performer