15th Banff International String Quartet Competition
August 25 - 31, 2025
Recognized as one of the premier chamber music competitions in the world, BISQC is a large celebration of chamber music in a festival format attracting enthusiastic capacity audiences.
Largest Prizes in Chamber Music
During BISQC 2025, the world's finest young string quartets will compete for over $500,000 CAD in cash, prizes, and career development opportunities which include touring, a recording residency, the Southern Methodist University Peak Fellowship Ensemble-in-Residence Prize of a paid residency worth $110,000 CAD, an Esterházy Foundation Residency with concerts at Haydn Hall in Eisenstadt and the Lucerne Festival, and an opportunity for a two-week Chamber Music in Residency at the prestigious Britten Pears Arts in England. Every participating quartet will benefit with all non-finalists receiving a Christine and David Anderson Prize of $5,000 CAD. Additionally, BISQC will cover all travel, accommodation, and meals for invited quartets, ensuring an inclusive and supportive environment for all competitors.
Be Part of the BISQC Experience
Scroll down for information regarding packages, schedule, and individual concert tickets for the 15th BISQC.
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View the 2025 BISQC Audience Brochure.
The BISQC Package Experience
An immersion in creativity and place
BISQC 2025 promises audiences a week of breathtaking performances in the Jenny Belzberg Theatre, illuminating lectures, shared meals, special events, the opportunity to engage with fellow music-lovers, and the unparalleled mountain views of Banff National Park.
ON SALE DATES:
Thursday, January 30 at 9:00 a.m. MT until end of day Monday, February 10
Seating Renewal period for BISQC 2022 package buyers (both on-site and passport packages)
Thursday, February 13 at 9:00 a.m. MT
General Package Sales begin
PLEASE NOTE: Due to overwhelming demand, all BISQC 2025 packages are sold out. We are no longer accepting waitlist requests.
Individual concert tickets for BISQC 2025 will go on sale in May.
Wednesday, May 14 at 9:00 a.m. MT
General Single Event Ticket Sales begin
Event Schedule
Campus Legend: PDC = Professional Development Centre; JBT = Jenny Belzberg Theatre; KCCI = Kinnear Centre for Creativity and Innovation
Sunday, August 24
3:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | PDC (Lobby) | BISQC package pick-ups for full week guests (on-site and passport)
4:00 p.m. | PDC (Front Desk) | Check-in begins for on-site audience
7:30 p.m. | KCCI* (Cenovus Great Hall) | BISQC package audience welcome reception
Monday, August 25
Competition Round 1: 21st Century Haydn
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | KCCI (Cenovus Great Hall) | BISQC Package Audience Event: Training Young Quartets Lecture with Mentor-in-Residence Mark Steinberg in conversation with director Barry Shiffman and select BISQC jury members
2:00 p.m. | JBT | Concert 1
7:30 p.m. | JBT | Concert 2
Tuesday, August 26
Competition Round 1: 21st Century Haydn (cont'd)
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. | KCCI, Cenovus Great Hall | BISQC Package Audience Event: Lecture with violinist, educator, and disability advocate Adrian Anantawan
10:30 a.m. | JBT | Concert 3
2:00 p.m. | JBT | Concert 4
7:30 p.m. | JBT | Concert 5
Wednesday, August 27
Competition Round 2: Romantic
Free morning to explore (Learn more about pre-booked excursions and self-guided adventures)
2:00 p.m. | JBT | Concert 6
4:30 p.m. | Location TBC | BISQC Package Audience Event: Open Masterclass for youth quartet participants
7:30 p.m. | JBT | Concert 7
Thursday, August 28
Competition Round 2: Romantic (cont'd)
10:00 a.m. | JBT | Concert 8
Free afternoon to explore (Learn more about pre-booked excursions and self-guided adventures)
8:00 p.m. | JBT | Alumni Concert featuring previous BISQC winner the Isidore String Quartet, and friends
Friday, August 29
Competition Round 3: Kati Agócs World Premiere
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. | JBT | Director Barry Shiffman in discussion with composer Kati Agócs on her new work Rapprochement (all concert ticket holders welcome)
10:00 a.m. | JBT | Concert 9: All competitors perform Rapprochement
New for 2025: Optional add-on event | Viennese Waltz Night with dancing, desserts, and wine for ticketed guests. Includes afternoon dance lesson. ($189 CAD, limited ticket availability; book through the BISQC office)
Free afternoon and evening for guests not attending the Viennese Waltz Night (Learn more about pre-booked excursions and self-guided adventures)
Saturday, August 30
Competition Round 4: Beethoven/Schubert + 20th Century
10:00 a.m. | JBT | Concert 10
2:00 p.m. | JBT | Concert 11
7:30 p.m. | JBT | Concert 12
Press release late evening announcing the three finalist quartets.
Sunday, August 31
Competition Round 5: Finals
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | KCCI, Cenovus Great Hall | BISQC Package Audience Event: Lecture with Denis Brott on Gregor Piatigorsky
2:00 p.m. | JBT | FINALS: The three finalist quartets present programming of their choice
7:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. | JBT | Awards Ceremony
Audience Packages
With various package options and seat tiers to choose from, you can find your musical bliss at the 15th BISQC.
On-Site Packages
Stay on-site in the comfort of Banff Centre’s hotels with full amenities, meals in our award-winning Vistas Dining Room, reserved seating to concerts, and built-in savings over individual item pricing. Hotels are centrally located on campus, surrounded by forest and mountain views making for a relaxing and rejuvenating stay as well as easy access between venues.
Full Week Packages
(Sunday, August 24 – Monday, September 1, 2025)
Full week packages include:
- Accommodation in one of Banff Centre’s hotels for the full week (8 nights)
- Meals in Vistas Dining Room, including arrival day dinner and departure day breakfast*
- Same reserved seat for all concerts throughout your package stay
- Access to all lectures and youth quartets masterclass
- Welcome reception
- Commemorative competition program booklet
- Use of on-site extensive fitness, aquatic, and recreation facilities
Tier A Seating:
Solo $4,338.39
Duo $6,390.92
Tier B Seating:
Solo $4,043.16
Duo $5,800.47
Weekend Packages
(Thursday, August 28 – Monday, September 1, 2025)
Weekend packages include:
- Accommodation in one of Banff Centre’s hotels for the weekend (4 nights)
- Meals in Vistas Dining Room, including arrival day dinner and departure day breakfast*
- Same reserved seat for all concerts throughout your package stay
- Access to all lectures
- Commemorative competition program booklet
- Use of on-site extensive fitness, aquatic, and recreation facilities
Tier A Seating:
Solo $2,554.85
Duo $3,966.76
Tier B Seating:
Solo $2,367.11
Duo $3,591.28
Passport Packages
Tailored to our audiences who do not require accommodation or meals but still want to experience it all, a passport package includes reserved seating to all concerts and access to lectures with built-in savings over individual ticket pricing.
Passport packages include:
- Same reserved seat for all concerts throughout the event from Monday, August 25 to Sunday, August 31, 2025
- Access to all lectures and youth quartets masterclass
- Welcome reception
- Commemorative competition program booklet
Tier A Seating:
$951.55
Tier B Seating:
$659.48
PLEASE NOTE: All package prices are in Canadian Dollars and inclusive of all taxes and fees. Extras such as Viennese Waltz Night or merchandise are not included in packages but will be available as optional add-on purchases during the on-line booking process. Duo package prices are for shared accommodation, plus the meals and tickets for two. Refund of 75% prior to July 1, and 50% prior to August 1.
* Full-week packages do not include lunch on Wednesday, August 27 so you can enjoy time exploring the area
New! Viennese Waltz Night
The splendor of Austria is coming to BISQC with a special evening of dancing, live music, desserts, and wine from the region on Friday, August 29.
Viennese Waltz Night starts with an afternoon group dance lesson so you can brush up on your steps before the gala. Change into your festive dress and enter our Austrian Palace later that evening for an enchanting experience complete with live music, dancing, regional wine and desserts.
Tickets: $189 CAD. Limited ticket availability. Contact the BISQC office to book.
Esterházy Palace in Eisenstadt, Austria
Jenny Belzberg Theatre
All concerts will be held in the Jenny Belzberg Theatre.
Audience Excursions
Nestled in Canada’s first national park in the heart of the spectacular Rocky Mountains, Banff attracts some four-million visitors a year. With towering peaks and clear alpine lakes and streams, breath-taking scenery awaits at every turn. Be inspired and rejuvenated in this UNESCO World Heritage site, without missing any of the music.
You can join us for pre-planned excursions (such as a bus tour to the Bankhead and Cave & Basin historic sites, or a chairlift ride to take in the panoramic views of Banff from Mount Norquay) or embark on your own adventures. Either way, we hope you take advantage of easy access to endless outdoor activities in Banff National Park.
For questions please contact:
Email: bisqc@banffcentre.ca
Phone: 403.762.6231
Lisa Ramsey, Manager
Jane Russell, Coordinator
107 Tunnel Mountain Drive
Box 1020, Stn. 23
Banff, Alberta
T1L 1H5 Canada