Awards Available for the 2026 Festival

Specialized Awards

Will be given to a performer who has been recommended by adjudicators for awards in three of more of the following classes: (i) A solo instrument or voice; (ii) A second solo instrument or voice and one of: a duet, trio, quartet, or quintet in a musical instrument or voice; a solo, duet, trio or quartet in speech arts and drama; an original musical composition

   Kiwanis Original Composition Award

One for an applicant under the age of 18 and one for age 18 and over for the performance on an orchestral instrument (including piano.)

The winner(s) may be invited by Orchestra Kingston to perform with them at one of their scheduled performances during the following season. 

Piano

For Promising Young Piano Students

   Donna Fox Memorial Award

Will be awarded to a Piano student who is a permanent resident of Kingston or the surrounding area and, in the opinion of the adjudicator, shows greatest musicality, musicianship, promise and pleasure in performance. The recipient shall be working at a minimum level of grade eight.  He/she must have entered either a Sight Reading or Quick Study class.  The recipient must be prepared to perform at the Highlights Concert

For Promising Young Piano Students

For an accomplished Piano student at least grade 9 level

   Juliet Milsome Award for Senior Piano

   Joyce Putnam Memorial Awards for Senior Piano

   Dr. Bryan and Marion Smith Memorial Award for Senior Piano

Awarded to a piano student who performs a piece at a high standard for Suzuki Book 1 or 2.

   Michel Szczesniak Memorial Award for Advanced Piano

For Piano Duet and Trio and Sight Reading

Bands

  • Andy Forrester Memorial Award for Senior Band
  • Kiwanis Plaque
  • Kiwanis Award for Senior Band
  • The Pedlar Family Award for Elementary School Bands 

Strings

   Heeyun and Robert Brandon Memorial String Award

   L. R. Digby Award for a Senior String player, preferably a cellist

   Kiwanis Plaque for outstanding solo String Performance

   Kiok Han Kwon Memorial Award for Junior Violin

For Strings is given to a string student who performs a piece at a high standard from Suzuki Book l or 2 in Suzuki Strings Level 1 or 2

Woodwinds/Brass/Percussion

For most promising Winds/Brass/Percussion performer of a piece by a Canadian Composer

For outstanding solo Winds/Brass/Percussion performance.

For the most promising performance in Open Level
(18 and under)

For Woodwinds, Brass, or Percussion

Guitar

For Guitar or Voice

General Awards

   Barbara and Bill Campbell Memorial Award

   Donna Fox Memorial Awards

   Mary James Memorial Award

   Don McLean Memorial Award

   Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association, Kingston Branch, Awards

   Ed Preston Memorial Award

   Jean Robinson Memorial Award

For Performance Excellence

For Performance of Orchestral Instruments

For Instrumental Performer and/or Senior Voice

   Wendy Thorburn Memorial Award

   Westenberg Family Award    

Voice Awards

For any category under 18 in classical or musical theatre

Awarded to a Student Under 18 whose Performances receive Platinum or Gold standings in each of Classical, Musical Theatre, and Pop Vocal Disciplines.

For Most Promising Male Vocalist

For any vocal category with an invitation to sing at one of their concerts

   Olive Juby Memorial Award for Voice

   Pauline and Clifford Kemp Memorial Award for Voice or Guitar

For a Kingston and area pre-university aged Voice student who shows the greatest potential for serious vocal study.

For Excellence in Vocal Music

   Dr. Ruth Tatham Memorial Sacred Solo Awards

for Senior Voice and/or Instrumental Performer

Classical Voice Awards

   Juliet Milsome Award for Sacred Voice

For any category under 18 in classical or musical theatre

Musical Theatre and
Songs from the Screen

For the most outstanding Musical Theatre Solo Performance
(under 18 years old)

   Dr. Eric and Eleanor Mae Murray Memorial Awards for Musical Theatre

  Pedlar Family Award for Junior Musical Theatre or Songs from the Screen

For any category under 18 in classical or musical theatre

Pop Voice

For the Pop Vocal performance demonstrating the greatest originality or “Star Quality”

For the most outstanding Pop Voice Solo Performance
(under 18 years old)

   Elaine Pedlar Family Award for Junior Popular Voice

Choirs

Open for any community choir category

   The Martha Clark Choral Award

For Senior Choir (High School or Adult)

For Outstanding Choir

For an Adult Choir

for an elementary school choir which shows a joy in singing

For a choir entering the festival for the first time (School or Community)

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