Band and Choir Festival Returns Nov 17-19
Music students from throughout Vancouver Island will soon gather in the Comox Valley to perform, listen and learn as part of the annual Comox Valley Schools Band and Choir Festival, running November 17–19.
The three-day festival brings together school choirs and concert bands for a unique educational and performance experience that celebrates music education and community collaboration. This years’ festival welcomes clinicians from Manitoba and Alberta whose musical knowledge and passion for music-making is sure to inspire students
The choral portion takes place at Courtenay Fellowship Baptist Church on November 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This session will be overseen by clinician Scott Leithead, founder and artistic director of the Korora Choir Association and the TIME Association. He has served as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator across Canada and internationally, leading 29 provincial and state honour choirs and presenting workshops throughout North America and abroad.
On Tuesday, November 18 and Wednesday, November 19 the band portion of the festival moves to the Sid Williams Theatre, with celebrated clinicians Dr. Wendy Zander and Kathie Van Lare working with groups throughout both days (starting 8:30 a.m. Tuesday and 9:00 a.m. Wednesday).
“The festival has become an honoured tradition for many local and out of town groups. These Educators appreciate the opportunity to stretch their students’ musical abilities early in the academic year and provide them with an authentic festival experience in their own back yard,” says Jennifer Riley, Festival organizer and Fine Arts Lead Teacher for Comox Valley Schools. “Education has always been at the forefront of this festival, and our mandate is to offer the students encouragement, and concrete musical ideas and concepts that they can continue to expand on throughout the year.”
School District administration and local music teachers continue to support the festival both financially and with volunteer hours because they believe strongly in the importance of music in our schools. Comox Valley Schools also acknowledges the generosity of Long & McQuade, The Old House Hotel, and other local partners who contribute financially and through in-kind support each year. We are very grateful to perform in fantastic venues like the Courtenay Fellowship Baptist Church and the Sid Williams Theatre.
The community is invited to attend the festival and enjoy performances by students from across Vancouver Island.
A detailed schedule can be seen here: https://www.comoxvalleyschools.ca/fine-arts/festival-information-concert-choir/
Backgrounder – Event Schedule
Choir Festival Schedule Monday, November 17 at Courtenay Fellowship Baptist Church
| PERFORMANCE | #’s | CHOIR |
|
9:00-9:50 |
21 |
Mark R. Isfeld Choir |
| 10:00-10:55 | 20 | Highland |
| 11:00-11:55 | 40 |
Cedar Community Secondary |
| 12:15-1:10 | 25 |
Oak Bay – Bella Voce Concert Choir |
| 1:15-2:10 | 50 | Belmont Concert
Choir |
| 2:15-3:10 | 30 | Oak Bay Secondary Jazz Wave |
| 3:15-4:10 | 15 | Edward Milne Community School |
| 4:15-5:10 | 50+ |
Royal Bay Concert Choir |
Concert Band Festival – Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at Sid Williams Theatre
| PERFORMANCE | #’s | BAND |
| 8:30-9:30 | 25 | Edward Milne Community School Concert Band |
| 9:30-10:30 | 25 | Belmont Jr. Concert Band |
| 10:30-11:30 | 20 | NDSS Senior Concert Band |
| 11:30-12:30 | 30 | NDSS Junior Concert Band |
| 12:30-1:30 | 35 | Belmont Sr. Concert Band |
|
1:30-2:30 |
40 |
Royal Bay 9/10 Concert Band |
| 2:30-3:30 | 34 | Highland Sr. Concert Band |
| 3:30-4:30 | 38 | Royal Bay Secondary Senior Concert Band |
Concert Band Festival – Wednesday, November 19, 2025 at Sid Williams Theatre
| PERFORMANCE | #’s | BAND |
| 9:00-10:00 | 40 | Mark Isfeld Sr. Concert band |
| 10:00-11:00 | 50 | GP Vanier Jr. Concert Band |
| 11:00-12:00 | Highland Junior Concert Band | |
| 12:00-1:00 | 50 | GP Vanier Sr. Concert Band |
