<![CDATA[Shaping Canada's Vast Musical Landscape

<![CDATA[Shaping Canada's Vast Musical Landscape - News]]>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 04:26:46 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[A Message from Dale Donaldson, CNCM Chairperson]]>Mon, 15 Dec 2025 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/a-message-from-dale-donaldson-cncm-chairperson

Dear Friend of CNCM and Future Musicians,

On behalf of all of us at Northern Lights Canadian Conservatory of Music (CNCM), I bring 2025 year end greetings. Christmas time in Canada brings out the best in everyone. The sights and the sounds of Christmas remind us of how fortunate we are to live in Canada.

For 23 years, through its national network of teachers, CNCM has been inspiring and mentoring Canada’s next generation of musicians. The student curriculum that CNCM has developed is comprehensive and robust offering a full 10 grades, all with Canadian piano repertoire. Now more than ever the development of a young person’s musical talent is such a productive alternative to the countless hours of device time that dominate their lives everyday.

We are very grateful for your support in the past, as it has allowed our conservatory to maintain its programs and expand opportunities to youth across Canada’s vast musical landscape. If you have donated in the past, please consider continuing to support CNCM. If you have not donated before, your assistance will be greatly appreciated. [MORE]

]]><![CDATA[Northern Lights Christmas Festival]]>Wed, 01 Oct 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/northern-lights-christmas-festival

When:  Friday, November 28th, 2025
Where:  First Baptist Church, 116 Fergus Str. Mt. Forest, ON
Application Deadline:  October 31, 2025

CNCM is pleased to announce our upcoming 14th Northern Lights Christmas Festival, a non-competitive festival celebrating traditional and popular Christmas music. Teachers are invited to attend a noon luncheon at the festival venue but MUST pre-register with student applications.

Here are a few of the advantages of performing in a Festival:

Preparation and memorization of works ensures a polished performance
Performance before an audience boosts self-confidence and poise
Horizons are broadened by hearing other interpretations of the same piece
Benefits of expert critiques from an unbiased adjudicator
Recognition of the talent of others develops a sporting instinct, and helps to foster a sense of fair play
Incentive and encouragement for small ensemble groups
Consciousness of the Arts is raised within the wider community

Sponsored by Mount Forest & District Arts Council, Northern Lights Canadian National Conservatory of Music and Mount Forest's Lions Club

For complete information about the festival and application information, download the PDF below:

northern_lights_christmas_festival_2025.pdf
File Size:	264 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

]]><![CDATA[Mini Summer Sizzler! Returns to Ontario]]>Tue, 01 Apr 2025 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/mini-summer-sizzler-returns-to-ontario

Tuesday, August 19, 2025 at 11:00 am
(registration 10:30)
Location: Millbank Heritage Arts Society, 6988 Church St, Millbank, Ontario
Guest Composers: Susan Griesdale (Tottenham, ON) Kevin & Angelina Gibson (London, ON) Plus 8 Online Canadian Composers!

Northern Lights CNCM is proud to announce our latest Canadian music program the - Mini Summer Sizzler! The post-COVID era has created challenges for music studios, families, performers and even composers. The Mini Summer Sizzler! is a program that offers popular sessions from our Summer Sizzle event in a simpler and more economical format with easier access for families.
[MORE INFO]

]]><![CDATA[Summer Sizzle: "Prairie Chords and Keyboards - Biggar 2025!]]>Wed, 05 Mar 2025 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/summer-sizzle-prairie-chords-and-keyboards-biggar-2025

**UPDATE: OUR EARLYBIRD RATES FOR SUMMER SIZZLE HAVE BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL APRIL 30**

We are so pleased to announce that our Summer Sizzle Student Keyboard Kamp and Teacher's Pedagogy Symposium will be returning to Biggar, SK this year!

July 8th and 9th, 2025

Register now for this fantastic event to ensure your spot at this energizing and engaging
event in the friendly heart of rural Saskatchewan. It will be your chance to participate directly in a variety of workshops with Canadian composers, students and teachers, while helping to shape Canada’s vast musical landscape.

We look forward for seeing this summer, “Prairie Chords and Keyboards – Biggar 2025!”

Keyboard Kamp
>>More information & brochures
>>REGISTER online for Keyboard Kamp now!
>>Summer Sizzle Composers/Guests

Pedagogy Symposium
>>More information & brochures
>>REGISTER for Teacher's Pedagogy Symposium now!
>>Summer Sizzle Composers/Guests

]]><![CDATA[2023 - 2024 CNCM Silver Medalists]]>Sat, 07 Sep 2024 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/2023-2024-cncm-silver-medalists

Grade: PP Student: Jaaron Horst Location: Ontario Teacher: April Martin	Grade: 1 Student: Nick Scharfenberg Location: Ontario Teacher: Beth Hamilton	Grade: 2 Student: Sophie Plett Location: Manitoba Teacher: Tenley Dyck
Grade: PP Student: Audrey Raes Location: Manitoba Teacher: Tenley Dyck	Grade: 4 Student: Lilia Plett Location: Manitoba Teacher: Tenley Dyck	Grade: 5 Student: Jana Horst Location: Ontario Teacher: April Martin
Grade: 6 Student: Noah Christensen Location: Saskatchewan Teacher: Linda Burns	Grade: 7 Student: Evan Raes Location: Manitoba Teacher: Tenley Dyck	Grade: 8 Student: Mya Martin Location: Ontario Teacher: PP
Grade: 9 Student: Owen Raes Location: Manitoba Teacher: Tenley Dyck

]]><![CDATA[2024 Online Piano Festival Scholarship Winners]]>Mon, 29 Jul 2024 12:07:45 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/2024-online-piano-festival4964243Northern Lights CNCM is pleased to announce the Scholarship Winners and Honourable Mentions for our 2024 Online Piano Festival!

P1 Scholarship Recommendation:
Eleni M. Nielsen

P2 Scholarship Recommendation:
Sophia M. Raes

E1 Scholarship Recommendation:
Audrey L. Raes
Honourable Mention: Lilia K Plett

I1 Scholarship Recommendation:
Lexi Franks

E2 Scholarship Recommendation:
Maya Simmonds
Honourable Mention: Samiya Martens

S1 Scholarship Recommendation:
Shyra Aliguyon
Honourable Mention: Andrew W. Martin

]]><![CDATA[Mini Summer Sizzler!]]>Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/mini-summer-sizzlerDate:  Monday August 19, 2024 at 1:00PM EST (registration 12:30PM EST)
Location:  Millbank Heritage and Arts Society, 6988 Church Street in Millbank, Ontario.
Guest Composers:  Andrew Harbridge (Peterborough, ON) & Joanne Bender (Kitchener, ON) Plus 15 Online Canadian Composers

Northern Lights CNCM is proud to announce our latest Canadian music program the - Mini Summer Sizzler! The post-COVID era has created challenges for music studios, families, performers and even composers. The Mini Summer Sizzler! is a program that offers popular sessions from our Summer Sizzle event in a simpler and more economical format with easier access for families. [MORE]]]><![CDATA[2023 Online Piano Festival Scholarship Recipients]]>Wed, 01 May 2024 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/2023-online-piano-festival-scholarship-recipientsNorthern Lights CNCM is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2023 online Piano Festival scholarships:

Janelle Gotengco (Intermediate Level)
Charles Wlock (Intermediate Level)
Eleni Nielsen (Primary Level)

Congratulations to our students!]]><![CDATA[2024 Online Piano Festival]]>Thu, 18 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/2024-online-piano-festivalNorthern Lights Canadian National Conservatory of Music celebrated 20 years of excellence in 2022. In celebration of this anniversary, CNCM launched a non-competitive Northern Lights Online Piano Festival. This festival is now an annual celebration of Canadian music. REGISTER NOW

Participants may select any work(s) for performance from the following list of Northern Lights Canadian National Conservatory of Music publications:

Northern Lights (any level) An Exploration of Canadian Music (solos or duets)
Making Tracks volumes 1,2, 3, 4 or 5 (NL NLMT 1/2/3/4/5) An Expedition in Canadian Music
Canadian Folksongs volumes 1 or 2 (NL FS1/2) (solos or duets)
O Canada (NL OC1) arrangements of Our National Anthem (solos or duets)
Dancing with the Northern Lights (either level)

[MORE INFO]]]><![CDATA[Summer Sizzle returning to Biggar, Sask in 2023]]>Sat, 25 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMThttps://www.cncm.ca/news/summer-sizzle-returning-to-biggar-sask-in-2023Northern Lights Canadian National Conservatory of Music announces is pleased to announce that an onsite, in-person Summer Sizzle event will take place July 11-12, 2023 in Biggar, SK. This includes both Keyboard Kamp and the Teacher's Pedagogy Symposium.

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