On June 8, 2025, the Canadian Music Competitions – BC Chapter (CMC-BC) successfully held its annual Gala Concert at the Annex Theatre in downtown Vancouver, celebrating the conclusion of the provincial auditions which ran from May 7 to 17. The concert featured 20 top performers selected from the 30 finalists who will represent British Columbia at the National Finals from July 2–7 at Bishop’s University in Quebec.
CMC-BC President Lynn Liu opened the event by congratulating all BC participants and prize winners for their hard work and musical excellence. She also introduced a major change to the competition format: each provincial chapter now organizes its own auditions independently, with approval from the national office. This restructuring helps reduce costs and ensures the continued viability of this historic music competition.
Dr. Robert Silverman, celebrated Canadian pianist and Professor Emeritus at UBC, spoke on behalf of the adjudicators. He fondly recalled his personal experience with the CMC as a young musician and praised its legacy in nurturing generations of Canadian talents. He noted that many outstanding artists—such as Angela Hewitt, James Ehnes, and Jon Kimura Parker—have participated in the competition over the years. He emphasized that CMC is more than a competition—it is a place where dreams are born and artistic spirit is cultivated.
The Gala Concert presented performances by 20 exceptional young musicians across a wide range of categories, including piano, strings, winds, voice, and chamber music. Their performances showcased both technical brilliance and deep musical expression, earning enthusiastic applause from a supportive audience of families, teachers, and peers.
The concert also featured the announcement of this year’s Provincial Prize Winners, recognizing their accomplishments while encouraging continued growth for all participants.
CMC-BC expresses sincere gratitude to all participants, teachers, and adjudicators for their contributions. Special thanks go to Tom Lee Music and the City of Vancouver for their generous venue sponsorship. We also thank every committee member for their volunteer efforts that made this event possible.
CMC-BC remains committed to providing a fair, professional, and inspiring platform for the next generation of Canadian classical musicians.
