Newmarket Voice Festival

Syllabus 2026

28th Annual Newmarket Voice Festival Syllabus

Mission Statement
The Mission of the Newmarket Voice Festival is to operate an annual music festival for singers and actors, and to promote interest in the study and performance of the arts of singing and acting. The Festival seeks to foster a passion for singing and acting, and an appreciation for the innate joy and self-expression, talent, self-discipline, goal-setting and work ethic necessary to achieve a level of excellence in the arts.

The Festival offers a wide variety of categories in Classical Voice, Musical Theatre, Popular Voice, Songs From The Screen and More, and Speech Arts and Drama. The Festival provides amateur singers and actors of all ages with a valuable learning experience and the opportunity to perform in public, hear and learn from others, and to be adjudicated by recognized professionals in the field of singing and acting.

Each entrant receives valuable feedback on technique and performance skills from the adjudicator. There is also an opportunity to participate in a masterclass with each adjudicator.

The Festival strives to create an encouraging, supportive atmosphere that will allow participants to improve their skills and develop confidence in their abilities.

Each entrant receives a certificate of participation and written feedback from the adjudicator for each class entered. Adjudicators will also choose a number of performers to receive scholarships. Some performers will also have the opportunity to perform at the Concert of the Stars held a week after the festival.

As a member festival of the OMFA (Ontario Music Festival Association), three performers in each category and age level are eligible to advance to the Provincial competition in June and represent the NVF. The Newmarket Voice Festival is run entirely by dedicated volunteers, including its Director and Committee.

The Festival obtains its funding through entry fees and donations from local businesses and individuals who share our passion and vision.

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything” - Plato

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement:
The Newmarket Voice Festival is dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion and accessibility in our artistic and social interactions. Our festival aims to create an environment of understanding and mutual respect for the value and dignity of all persons, regardless of gender, race, ability, sexuality, religion or any other factor. We strive to identify, remove and prevent barriers that hinder complete and meaningful participation in the Newmarket Voice Festival.

Land Acknowledgement:
The Newmarket Voice Festival recognizes and acknowledges that Newmarket sits on the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee and the Anishinaabe peoples whose presence continues to this day. We honour them and acknowledge that these lands were originally occupied by the First Peoples of the Williams Treaties First Nations and other Indigenous people. We thank them for sharing this land.

We also acknowledge the Chippewas of Georgina First Nation as our closest First Nation community. They are the water protectors and environmental stewards of these lands and we join them in these responsibilities.

Festival Committee