apply to tour with prairie debut

photo by gloewen photography

Prairie Debut invites established and emerging professional Canadian musicians in the classical and global music genres to apply to tour. 

 

APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 28, 2024

 

VERSION FRANÇAISE

Classical musicians and global music artists are invited to apply to tour.

 

Prairie Debut has helped develop the careers of some of Canada’s finest musicians by providing increased national profile through exposure to thousands of audience members across the prairies, valuable touring experience and performance opportunities.  By providing access to artists of excellent caliber, Prairie Debut also contributes to the quality of life in the communities it serves.

Prairie Debut organizes block-booked tours and ensures that both presenter and artists have a successful experience. Tour concerts take place in venues of all sizes, from recital halls in professional theatre complexes to churches and the intimate settings of house concerts. Tours are based on full-length concert programs, and include community activities such as school concerts and performances at seniors residences, master classes, workshops, and private lessons.  Prairie Debut is responsible for all tour routing, concert contracts, travel logistics and organization.

 

Applicants:

  • May be individuals or small ensembles.
  • Must view the discipline as a vocation and be recognized as professional in their artistic discipline by their peers.
  • Must be a Canadian citizen, or have permanent resident status, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You do not need to be living in Canada when you apply.
  • One or more members of the ensemble must have a valid driver’s license and be comfortable with highway driving.
  • Must be willing to obtain a police clearance check to be eligible for education outreach activities.

Applicants must be available to tour for two 2-week periods during the Prairie Debut season (September to March) and showcase at a minimum of one of the Provincial Contact events – the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta Showcase, the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils Showcase, or the Manitoba Arts Network Showcase. 

 

HOW TO APPLY

Applications to tour with Prairie Debut are submitted through Acceptd and require the following:

Application registration form – Please fill out the form completely.

High quality video files – The submitted repertoire must include at least three contrasting works (concerto works are not eligible) and a short video introduction to a piece. Please upload works as separate files. You may submit these files directly in the application, or you may alternatively submit video web links. In the video, please introduce yourselves, tell us something interesting about your group, instrumentation, proposed program and why audiences should come see your performance.

Biography, current reviews and photo (high res) – Please note: Applications which do not include the name and information for the collaborating musician(s) in an ensemble will not be considered by the jury. 

List of recent, current and upcoming performance activities.

Proposed program for tour performances – Suggest two 45-minute halves, with intermission, and one 60 minute performance with no intermission. All selected applicants will be required to include Canadian work(s) on their touring performance programme.

Artistic statement – Maximum of 500 words. Please explain the artistic vision for your program and how the program appeals to audiences, including those who are not familiar with classical or global music, and specifically how this may be appealing to Prairie audiences.

Proposed program for outreach performances – Outline a 45-minute school program, a proposed educational (school) workshop, and a brief description of the learning activities.

List of technical requirements – Acoustic and amplified (if applicable) and if appropriate, a stage plot for tour performances. Include instruments required, both those supplied by the artist/ensemble and those which must be supplied by the presenter (e.g. grand piano). Please specify sound equipment required for tour performances and address any potential logistical concerns regarding instrument transportation.

We invite potential applicants to discuss their initiative with Prairie Debut staff prior to application to ensure touring program fit. Please connect with Po Yeh through our contact form or call 403 862 2954 to discuss your application. 

Completed applications to tour in Prairie Debut’s 2025-26 season must be submitted through Acceptd no later than the required deadline of Thursday March 28, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. MT.

Application Fee –  USD$35

Upon receipt, all materials become the property of Prairie Debut. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is complete. All applications will be considered, but only successful artists will be notified.