About Us

Our Mission: to encourage and promote the enjoyment and study of music in our community’s young people through the production of an annual competitive music festival.

Contact us:
Kim Chadsey, Executive Director – 613-818-4664 | kim@okmf.ca
Christopher Askwith, Program Director – 613-324-0156 | festivalcorrections@gmail.com

Our History

The National Capital Region Music Festival (1945), known by all as the Kiwanis Music Festival, began its life as the Ottawa Music Festival in 1945.  At that time it celebrated the music talents of Ottawa’s young people through a three-day competitive festival.  Over time the Festival grew in size and prominence. The Festival now runs a full four weeks every April, featuring over 3,000 entries (over 8,000 participants) and is managed by a small part-time staff and over 300 volunteers.  It takes place at various churches and schools around Ottawa. Our Festival concludes with the Highlights Concert, a full-length concert held at Algonquin Commons Theatre featuring some of the best and most entertaining of the young participants.  We are a registered charity (118984251RR0001) supported by donations, sponsorships, and participant registration fees and governed by a voluntary Board of Directors.

Provincials

The National Capital Region Music Festival (1945) is a member of the Ontario Music Festivals Association Inc.

The OMFA Provincial Competition is held in June in a different Ontario city each year. Our Adjudicators make recommendations for the following Classes: Voice, Piano, Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Chamber Ensembles, Guitar, Harp and Music Theatre.   Recorded entries based on recommendations of the Adjudicator are also made for Bands, Choirs, Orchestras and Percussion. 

Our Adjudicators make their recommendations in most Solo Classes – Graded, Diploma and Open. These recommendations are based on the Royal Conservatory or Conservatory Canada Grade Level of the repertoire performed at our Festival. Music Theatre Classes are categorized by age.  You can find the  Provincial Syllabus at www.omfa.ca.

Note that at the OMFA AGM held on October 4 2019, the membership voted to withdraw from the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals.  The OMFA will work diligently to create valuable experiences and awards for those senior participants who might have been recommended to represent Ontario at the National competition in the future.