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esme festival invitation letter 2025 
(download pdf version here)
 

Dear Music Colleagues,

 

esme (expanding success in music education) is pleased to invite you to participate in our seventh non-competitive music festival on Tuesday, April 29 and Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at CW Jefferys CI (340 Sentinel Rd, Toronto, ON) 

 

Often, in order to engage all of our students, we find ourselves teaching classes or running extracurricular groups with very non-traditional instrumentation, structure, or repertoire, which can make it difficult to find performance opportunities for our students. It is our hope that this festival will give your school a chance to showcase different groupings and/or styles of musical programming, including, but certainly not limited to, rock band, improvisation, hip-hop, DJ-ing, composition/arranging, sound exploration, rap, and unique instrumentation.  

 

This is a unique festival that celebrates forms of music education in addition to traditional ensembles. Each session involves four groups performing “in the round” (facing each other) and engaging with a guest artist (this is most often centred on creativity, joy, and confidence). Each session ends with all four groups jamming en masse on a popular tune (we’ll send a lead sheet!).​​​​​​​​​​​​​

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​​Each of these days will include two half-day sessions (morning and afternoon) during which groups will perform for one another and work with a special guest artist. Students will have a chance to perform for their peers, hear other student groups, and receive meaningful feedback in a very supportive, creative, and engaging environment. 

 

Schedule at CW Jefferys CI (340 Sentinel Rd, Toronto, ON)
29th -
am session - 9 check in/set-up, 9:30-11:30 performances

pm session  - 12 check in/set-up, 12:30 - 2:30 performances 

30th -
am session - 9 check in/set-up, 9:30-11:30 performances

pm session  - 12 check in/set-up, 12:30 - 2:30 performances 

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Finally, we would also like to keep this festival very student-focused. For this reason, we encourage each ensemble to assign a student MC to briefly introduce/speak on behalf of their group.

 

To register for this festival:

• Complete the online registration form (one per group) by (extended to) February 21st, 2025. https://forms.gle/8QzkfN61QJxnKNjVA 

• After receiving notice of acceptance, send a cheque* ($50 dollars per performing group) info for the check to follow with acceptance letters

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* All money collected will go directly to our guest artists/adjudicators.

 

If you have any questions, please email doug.friesen@gmail.com or kayla.garrett@tdsb.on.ca.

 

Sincerely, 

esme​​​​

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