PODIUM 2026: Singing Group/Choir Performance Application Form

(Formulaire français)

PODIUM 2026 national choral conference and festival is presented by Choral Canada and the British Columbia Choral Federation (BCCF), May 14-17, 2026 in Victoria, British Columbia. PODIUM 2026 encourages applications from singing groups/choirs of all kinds, and we welcome repertoire from the vast array of group singing experiences.

We are seeking proposed concert programs that expand our minds, open our hearts, and highlight different composers and music creators from across the country and beyond.

This application is to perform at one (1) of our four (4) daytime concerts at the Philip T Young Recital Hall. Each concert will feature three (3) groups. Twelve (12) groups in total will be selected. 

Different from past Podiums: Each daytime concert will be presented twice. 

There are also four (4) evening concerts that are curated by the PODIUM 2026 Artistic Committee. One of these concerts is the National Youth Choir of Canada. There is no application for the evening concerts. 

It is imperative that you read the TERMS & CONDITIONS outlined below before completing this application.

FEE: There is no application fee.

DUE DATE: Application form and all materials are due April 23, 2025.

MEMBERSHIP: Groups applying must be members of either Choral Canada or the BC Choral Federation. 

QUESTIONS about your application? Please contact PODIUM 2026 Co-Chair Elizabeth MacIsaac at elizmac@telus.net.

Need an alternative way to apply? If you require any accommodations or support to fill out your application or if applying online is a barrier, please contact info@choralcanada.org for alternative arrangements (for example: written/oral applications).

Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
SECTION 1 - TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. It is required that the group be a member of either the British Columbia Choral Federation (BCCF) or Choral Canada.

2. It is highly encouraged, but not required, that conductors/leaders of the groups be current members of Choral Canada.

3. Proposed concert programs should be a maximum of 20 minutes of music. Program proposals that are over 20 minutes will not be considered.

4. Each concert will be performed twice with extended periods between concerts.

5. The PODIUM 2026 committee strongly encourages programs that feature works by living composers and music creators, particularly those from equity-seeking groups (Indigenous, Black, people of colour, official language minorities, d/Deaf, Disabled, 2SLGBTQ+, gender-diverse, women, and intersections of these identities), as well as a diversity of languages. Additionally, you are encouraged to include music written by people who live in Canada.

In making final selections for festival concert programs, the Selection Committee will strive to curate a diverse lineup of groups representing a range of voicings, ages, musical styles, languages, singing group types, and geographical regions within Canada.

6. International groups are eligible to apply. Two performance slots are available for international groups. Please note that groups from Canada are prioritized.

7. It is understood that Choral Canada and the BCCF assume no financial responsibility for travel, food, or accommodation for the group. The submission of an application implies that, if selected, the group is prepared to travel to and perform at PODIUM 2026 Conference and Festival at its own expense.

8. Selected groups will be supplied with risers, a conductor’s podium, and an acoustic piano for their dress rehearsal and performance. Any other additional instrumentation, staging and technical needs must be discussed and approved by the Podium Committee and may be the fiscal responsibility of the group.

9.  Selected groups will receive discount codes for the PODIUM 2026 Conference and Festival. If space allows, the group may sit in the audience for the other part of their own concert.

10. Selected groups may receive a professional unedited sound recording and video recording of their performance at PODIUM 2026 to be used for their own personal use. While this is a potential offering, it is not guaranteed. Selected groups will be notified when this decision has been made. These recordings would be intended for future use, with credit to the PODIUM 2026 Conference and Festival, and all copyright policies and rules must be respected.

11. Should selected groups wish to combine their appearance at Podium with a tour or partnership with a local group, the Podium Committee will be pleased to support these efforts by providing contact information for groups and travel agents.

12. In addition to scheduled festival concert performances, PODIUM 2026 will also offer other performance and learning opportunities such as pop-up concerts, Connections Series (collaborative “open rehearsals” between community-based groups), conducting masterclass lab choir participation, and other special projects. These additional performances are open to all groups, not just those selected to perform in a concert. Anyone who submits an application will be contacted with more information at a later date.

SECTION 2 - CONTACT INFORMATION
Email *
Name of Group *
City/Town *
Province/Territory *
Country *
Website (if applicable)
 Contact Person Last Name
 *
Contact Person First Name
 *
Contact Person Position in relation to the group (e.g. manager, singer, conductor)
 *
Contact Person Email Address
 *
Contact Person Telephone
 *
SECTION 3 - ABOUT YOUR GROUP
The PODIUM 2026 Committee strives to have a Festival that reflects a diversity of groups and singing styles across the country. For the Selection Committee to have a deeper understanding of the group’s mission and practices without identifying the group, please respond to the questions below.

Type and/or level

 *
Please describe in a few words the type of group you are proposing to bring to PODIUM 2026 (e.g. adult community choir, drumming group, barbershop group, children’s choir, professional chamber choir, lower voices group, high school show choir, university choir, vocal jazz ensemble, small vocal ensemble, etc.). Please do not include any identifying information.
Voicing (please select one that best suits your group)
 *
Please describe in only a few sentences the demographics of the group, institution, and/or the wider community which the group reflects, without providing any identifying information about your group.
 *
What are the primary goals of your group?
 *
All goals are valid and weighted equally. Please choose a maximum of three.
Required
What are the secondary goals of your group? *
All goals are valid and weighted equally. Please choose a maximum of three.
Required
If you wish to provide more information about your group (max 1200 characters / 200 words), without identifying the leader or group, please do so here. This could include the group’s mission, values, and philosophy.
Number of Singers *
Please note: Stage capacity (max) is approximately 60 adults on risers with a grand piano on stage, or up to 80 adults on risers without a piano.
Provide the name(s) of the conductor(s)/leader(s) and their position(s) (eg. Co-Conductor, Artistic Director, Group Leader).
 *
Please only provide the name(s) of the leader(s) who would be leading the group at Podium, if selected.
How long has each conductor/leader been in their position with the group?
 *
Is the group a member of Choral Canada or the BC Choral Federation?
 *
SECTION 4 - AUDITION AND RECORDING GUIDELINES

Please read the following Audition and Recording Guidelines prior to completing this section. If any part of this application creates barriers to submitting your interest in performing, please contact us at info@choralcanada.org or (647) 606-2467 to explore alternative options.

1. Submit audition recordings of 2-3 pieces (totalling 7-10 minutes) via link (e.g. Dropbox or Google Drive) containing a digital audio recording of each work (not one long track containing all pieces) sent by email to podium@choralcanada.org. If it’s not possible to send your recordings via email, then please contact us at info@choralcanada.org.

2. Each digital track must be titled “Track # – Name of Piece – Last Name of Composer/Music Creator – Year Recorded”. For example: “Track 1 – Rise Up My Love – Willan – 2024”. Ensure that the track properties or anywhere else on the digital file does not contain any identifying information of the entering group.

3. It is encouraged to include at least one song without instrumental accompaniment. 

4. At least one of the recorded materials must be no more than 18 months old at the time of application and it is encouraged that all pieces submitted be from the past 18 months. Date of recordings is required on this application.

5. Recorded material must not contain any musical editing, use of artificial reverb, and the employment of special electronic techniques.

6. Only audio recordings will be accepted with the applications. To remain as fair as possible, video recordings are not permitted because this is an identity-hidden process.

7. It is highly encouraged that selected recordings reflect similar style and complexity of your proposed program for PODIUM 2026, but they do not need to be the pieces in your proposed program.

Audition Recording - Piece #1
 *
Include Title, Composer/Arranger, Publisher (if applicable), Length, and Date of Recording
Audition Recording - Piece #2
 *
Include Title, Composer/Arranger, Publisher (if applicable), Length, and Date of Recording
Audition Recording - Piece #3
Include Title, Composer/Arranger, Publisher (if applicable), Length, and Date of Recording

The email you send to podium@choralcanada.org that includes the link to your audition recordings must be accompanied by the following support materials:

A PDF score of each audition piece with no identifying marks of the group or leader.

 *
Required
SECTION 5 - PAST CONCERT PROGRAMS
Please include below two concert/event programs performed within the last year. Please make sure the music performed is listed in the order it was performed at the concert.
Concert Program #1
 *
Include the Title and Composer/Arranger/Music Creator for each piece and the date of the concert.
Concert Program #2
 *
Include the Title and Composer/Arranger/Music Creator for each piece and the date of the concert.
SECTION 6 - PROPOSAL FOR CONCERT PERFORMANCE
Please provide the proposed program for performance at PODIUM 2026 Conference and Festival (maximum 20 minutes of music). If selected, groups are expected to perform this proposed program at the Festival.
Please include the title, the composer/music creator and/or the arranger, the publisher (if any) and the duration of each work in the program. The total duration of the musical program cannot exceed 20 minutes. The total duration for each group is 25 minutes (moving onstage, offstage, applause).
SECTION 7 - SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process is identity-hidden which means the Selection Committee will not know the names of the leaders or of the groups, or where they are located.

Step 1: Each member of the Selection Committee will independently review all applications and select their top choices, based on the text responses in this application (excluding any names of leaders or groups and their location in Canada), the proposed programming, and the musical quality of the performance in the recordings.

Step 2: The Selection Committee will meet by teleconference and discuss their top choices. Equal and careful consideration is given to each application. In this step, the committee will be told of the geographical region of each group and if they have performed at the last two iterations (2022 and 2024) of the Podium Festival.

SECTION 8 - AGREEMENT OF TERMS
By submitting this application, I affirm that I have read the TERMS & CONDITIONS in its entirety and understand and accept all information and conditions contained herein. Furthermore, I affirm that, if selected, the group named in Section 2 of this form intends to travel to Victoria, BC in May 2026 to perform at PODIUM 2026. *
Required
Name of the individual responsible for submitting this form: *
This individual's position with the group:
 *
Date: *
MM
/
DD
/
YYYY
Submit
Clear form
Never submit passwords through Google Forms.
This form was created inside of Choral Canada.

Does this form look suspicious? Report

Google Forms