utsc/oba small ensemble festival
Event info
17th Annual
UTSC/OBA Small Ensemble Festival
April 7th - 9th, 2026
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
University of Toronto Scarborough
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1265 Military Trail, Scarborough ON​
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Registration Coming Soon​​​​​
The OBA Provincial Band Festival is an affiliate festival of
ACCEPTED GENRES
Choice and level of repertoire is as inclusive as possible: any genre will be welcomed and adjudicated, and is up to the preference of the teacher and students. Our typical ensembles include jazz combos, woodwind/brass chamber ensembles, string chamber ensembles, percussion ensembles, guitar ensembles, and rock/pop bands! We encourage all small group sizes to sign up for our festival, as flex band arrangements (under 8 performers) work quite well. For more ideas, please see the provided list of repertoire selections below!
fees
Teachers require an active OBA membership and may enter as many ensembles as they'd like.
Registration Fee: $100 per ensemble
Membership Renewal Fee: $55
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Payments will be accepted in the form of credit card or cheque that should be mailed ahead of the festival. Cheque payments should be made out to 'Ontario Band Association' and mailed to the following address:
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Ontario Band Association, c/o Michael Barth
605 Amberwood Crescent
Pickering, ON
L!V 3Y6
Canada
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utsc festival requirements
The festival will take place on campus during the days of April 7 - 9, 2026.
The Title/Composer/Arranger/Publisher information for each performed piece will be required, and directors/schools must submit TWO (2) licensed/authorized copies of the music scores. If these are arranged by students, please print TWO (2) copies from your arranging software.
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Average/recommended playing time is:
5-10 minutes of music.
(Maximum playing time is 15 minutes.)
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Directors will be asked to fill out a form that details the setup of their performance, including numbers of chairs & stands, equipment needed, and stage plot that the stage crew can reference for setup.
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(Failure to provide adequate information on setup may result in loss pf performance/adjudication time).
CONTACT US!
On behalf of my team and myself, we look forward to seeing you at the festival in April. Questions?
Please feel free to contact the festival director, Andy Guo, at sef@onband.ca
ADJUDICATION
This is an excellent opportunity for students to obtain external adjudication on their performances. All entries are eligible for an adjudication, optional rating, and a chance to qualify for
MusicFest Canada - The Nationals 2026.
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Students will receive thoughtful guidance, suggestions, and feedback offered by our adjudication team. Adjudications will focus on overall musicianship, ensemble specific such as blend and balance, and technical/fundamental considerations of the chosen repertoire. Each group will receive feedback from TWO (2) adjudicators: one written, and one live adjudication in front of the group immediately following their performance.
For 2026, we are happy to announce that the festival will be adjudicated by:
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Roger Mantie & Nancy Promane
Please take a moment to look at their bios below.
Adjudicator biographies
ROGER MANTIE (Day 1 & 2, April 7th, 8th)​
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Roger Mantie is a Professor in the Department of Arts, Culture, and Media at UTSC, with a graduate appointment at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Roger grew up in Manitoba, where he subsequently taught instrumental music in schools (in Dauphin, Brandon, Winnipeg, and Oakbank), and performed as a member of Saxology Canada and the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra. He is the author of Music, Leisure, Education: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives (2021), co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of Technology and Music Education (2017) and the Oxford Handbook of Music Making and Leisure (2016).
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Roger has been an adjudicator for the UTSC/OBA Small Ensemble Festival for 2019, 2021, and we're happy to have him back for our 2026 festival. With over 30 years of experience in music education and pedagogy, our performers are in great care with our seasoned adjudicator. Complete information at: rogermantie.com
NANCY PROMANE (Day 1 & 2, April 7th, 8th)​
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Nancy Promane is a highly accomplished music educator, conductor, and instructor with over 30 years of experience developing and leading instrumental music programs. Ms. Promane holds a Master's degree in Music from the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Music from McMaster University, and a Bachelor of Education from Nipissing University. Her extensive career spans teaching Primary Music through to Senior-level ensembles, including a signifiant 13-year tenure as Head of Music in an independent school. She is widely respected in the instrumental music community for her expertise in cultivating successful wind band programs. Her dedication to conducting excellence has earned recognition from the Ontario Band Association, and her school bands have repeatedly achieved "Gold" status at major competitions, including the Ontario Band Festival and the Heritage Music Festival in the United States.
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Ms. Promane continues to impart her knowledge and passion to future educators, having recently served on secondment with Nipissing University working with in-service teachers in the B.Ed. program. She currently holds the position of Sessional Instructor at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, and is pleased to be a part of the UTSC/OBA Small Ensemble Music Festival.
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