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Banff Musicians in Residence Winter 2024
Program Information
Banff Musicians in Residence 2023, Niña Dioz and Duane Forrest. Photo by Rita Taylor
Overview
This program provides space and focused time for musicians of all genres to concentrate on artistic development while working on projects that can be either individually or group/ensemble based. You may be working in your established genre(s), or exploring a new one.
Along with the freedom to structure your time around the needs of your project, you will receive artistic inspiration and career advice from well-established faculty. You will have access to a range of artistic influences across the 3 weeks with the opportunity for interaction and collaboration to produce outstanding, creative results.
What does the program offer?
While this program is largely self-directed, there will be opportunities to gather as a group for lectures, seminars, and collaborative jam sessions. Faculty will be present to assist and mentor you throughout the program for group and/or one-on-one consultations. As well, a personal studio space is provided, accessible 24 hours per day, while production spaces are shared among all participants in the residency.
Culminating in a series of public concerts in an intimate Banff Centre venue for a receptive and casual local audience, you will have opportunities to explore new material, perform repertoire, and share the stage with fellow artists and faculty. These concerts are also recorded for your archival use.
Those interested in additional professional development can apply for the role of Artistic Associate and act as the liaison between faculty and musicians for the program's duration. An individual of exceptional musical ability and maturity will be offered this unique opportunity to be involved in the delivery and event curation of the Banff Musicians in Residence program. The Artistic Associate will liaise between visiting artists and resident musicians as well as Music programming and production staff.
We regret that demo and commercial recordings will not be available during this time period. Any additional technical requests for lighting, projections, sound amplification for your project may be limited and require review to confirm availability.
Who should apply?
The program is ideal for individual musicians, ensembles, bands, composers, and music researchers, to spend focused time working on a specific project; creating new works; preparing for concerts, auditions or competitions; or exploring and researching innovative ideas.
Participants should be comfortable working autonomously in an unstructured environment to benefit the most from the program. Musicians at all levels are encouraged to apply.
We welcome musicians of all ages (18+), backgrounds, gender identities and expressions to apply. Artists from historically underrepresented and equity-seeking groups are especially welcome.
Participants must attend all three weeks of the residency.
What's Included
Using a credit-based system to dine on campus, our flexible meal plans allow you to select meals according to your own needs during your stay. Banff Centre can respond to most dietary requests.
The Full Flex meal plan is equivalent to $61.95 credit per day, equivalent to breakfast, lunch and dinner at our Buffet service.
Your program fee includes a single bedroom on the Banff Centre campus for the duration of your program.
Get connected with other artists on campus and focus on your projects in a creative environment while we take care of the day-to-day essentials.
Create in the privacy of one of our specialized studios.
Group seminars and workshops with faculty.
Enrich your experience and get to know other artists on campus by taking advantage of the activities and support provided by our Participant Resources team.
Your program fee includes free access to the swimming pool, climbing gym and fitness suite as well as discounted rates for classes at the Sally Borden Fitness and Recreation Centre.
Enjoy special artist rates for ticketed performances or complimentary access to events.
This program offers opportunities to showcase your work-in-progress.
The Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives - Current Services
The Library is delighted to support Banff Centre Participants, Artists, and Faculty with the following services:
- Open hours: 9:30 am to 1 pm, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
- Access to collections, including program relevant books, scores, artists’ books, recordings, periodicals, and object library.
- Library accounts for borrowing materials.
- Digital Library, on campus and remote access.
- Library research assistance, by appointment.
- Archives research, by appointment only.
Please email library@banffcentre.ca or archives@banffcentre.ca for more information or assistance.
Fees & Financial Assistance
Application Fees: $65 for individuals or groups. ($35 for applicants who identify as Indigenous)
Application fees are not refundable.
Individual group members must pay an additional registration fee of $35 on acceptance.
Please note the above fees are per person.
*Financial Aid of 100% is available to cover tuition, and Financial Aid of 50% is available to offset food and accommodation costs
If you would like to be considered, please complete the Financial Aid section when uploading your supporting materials to SlideRoom.
The Artistic Associate will receive a scholarship to cover 100% tuition, meals, and accomodation costs, a daily living allowance, and a travel allowance (regional maximums apply).
French Artists
Thanks to the generosity of the DRG foundation, a number of successful applicants who are citizens of France and former French territories and currently residing there will receive a full scholarship. Covering full costs of tuition, meals and accommodation and a travel allowance (subject to regional maximums).
French applicants should follow the normal application process. Those eligible will be considered for the DRG Funds automatically and be contacted if successful.
Help fund your experience at Banff Centre. View a compiled list of national and international opportunities here.
Banff Centre will issue official tax receipts for eligible tuition fees and financial assistance and awards as required by the Income Tax Act. You will receive a T2202 (Tuition and Enrolment Certificate) for eligible tuition fees paid and a T4A (Statement of Pension, Retirement, Annuity, and Other Income) for applicable financial assistance and awards.
How to Apply
Learn more about the steps to Complete Your Application.
Portfolio
- Performers: A sample of approximately 10 minutes of your work on audio or video support. You should aim to demonstrate the full scope of your capability by selecting contrasting works. Pre-formed ensembles must submit group recordings. There is a limit of three audio/video files within the tool.
- Composers: Scores of two of your compositions and if possible a recording of these works. Indicate performance history if applicable. Compositions submitted should have been completed no more than five years prior to the application deadline.
- Music researchers: Two to three essays/papers whose topics are closely related to your residency project at Banff Centre. If published, it is recommended to indicate the date of the essay/paper's publication as well as the periodical(s) it is published in.
Artistic Associate
If you are interested in applying for the role of Artistic Associate please provide the following:
- A letter of intent explaining why you are interested in taking on the additional responsibilities with this role. Please explain how your experience meets the Artistic Associate criteria and how it would benefit your career.
- Contact details for a relevant professional reference.
Additional Information
- If you are applying as an individual, you must complete both the online application form (including $65 processing fee) and a SlideRoom application.
- If you are applying as an ensemble, the ensemble leader must complete both the online application form (including $65 processing fee) and a SlideRoom application. Please submit only one SlideRoom application per group. There will be a $35 registration fee of each member upon acceptance to the program.
Adjudication
Adjudication is based on artistic merit, the potential impact of the program on artists’ practice and careers, project feasibility and the capacity of Banff Centre to help realize the project, and the project’s fit with Banff Centre’s values and strategic directions as described in its strategic plan. Adjudication is carried out by impartial disciplinary experts on the basis of applicants’ submitted material.
Banff Centre respects the need for artists to plan ahead for their visit; applicants will be notified as soon as adjudication is complete.
International Applicants
Banff Centre welcomes domestic and international applicants for this program. Please note, Banff Centre programs do not meet Canadian Student Visa eligibility requirements, you must obtain a Visitor Visa to enter Canada. Accepted individuals are responsible for identifying and complying with the immigration requirements to enter Canada as a visitor from their country of origin. Current wait times to receive a visa are much longer than normal, so applicants who require a Visitor Visa should check the current expected processing times prior to applying.
Eligibility
Applicants must be ages 18+ at the time of the program start date.
All programs, faculty, dates, fees, and offers of financial assistance are subject to change. Program fee is subject to applicable taxes. Non-refundable fees and deposits will be retained upon cancellation. Any other fees are refunded at the discretion of the Banff Centre. The application deadline is 11:59 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
Contact Admissions
For questions on preparing your application, please contact Admissions:
