Rising Stars Showcase
Ottawa Chamberfest’s showcase for young, emerging, pre-professional artists!
Ottawa Chamberfest is thrilled to announce the launch of its annual Showcase for pre-professional classical musicians, performing solo or in a chamber ensemble. Successful applicants will have the opportunity to perform as part of the 2026 summer festival. This showcase is adjudicated by a panel of Chamberfest artists, and scholarships are awarded to the strongest performances, including Anne Presentey Rising Stars Award scholarships in junior (under 18) and senior (18-25) categories.
Chamberfest’s Rising Stars program, including the showcase concert and scholarships, are presented with the generous support of Nicole Presentey in memory of her mother, Anne Presentey. Rising Stars laureates include Bryan Cheng, Silvie Cheng, Mikaela Bennett, Alexander Soloway, Lara Deutsch, David Baik, Anita Pari, Suren Barry, and Anna-Sophie Neher.
Participant eligibility
- Must be between 12 to 25 years of age as of July 1, 2026.
- Junior category will include ages 12-17 as of July 1, 2026.
- Senior category will include ages 18-25 as of July 1, 2026. (for singers, 18-28)
- Must reside in, or be from, Canada’s National Capital Region (Ottawa-Gatineau)
- Must be willing and able to participate in this summer’s Rising Stars Showcase during our 2026 festival in Ottawa between July 23-August 2 (exact date to be confirmed).
Application requirements and instructions
By the deadline above, please submit the following to cbecke@chamberfest.com, with the email subject “[Applicant name] – Rising Stars Application”:
For each video, please specify:
- The title of the piece
- Name of the composer
- When/where the recording was made
Please include the following information in your email:
- Applicant’s full name (for chamber groups, list each member’s name/instrument)
- Chamber group name (if applicable)
- Applicant’s age
- Applicant’s teacher(s)
- The name of applicant’s collaborative pianist (if applicable)
- Preferred email contact
- Current address (for chamber groups, the address of each member)
For applicants under the age of 18, please confirm that their parent/guardian has provided permission for them to submit their video and perform in the festival if they are selected.
Jury and process
The Jury for this year’s Rising Stars Showcase consists of:
- Nicole Presentey (piano)
- Leah Wyber (cello)
- Karen Donnelly (trumpet)
The jury will review video applications between the 18th and 30th of April. All applicants will be contacted by the 4th of May and notified if their application was successful or not. If you are successful, Chamberfest will indicate which piece the jury would like you to play in the showcase (selected from the two pieces you submitted), and confirm the date of the performance in the same email. You must confirm your participation by the 8th of May.
Important information about your video submission:
- Your video should be of the best quality you are able. If a recording is not possible from the past six months, you may submit a video from the last 18 months providing an explanation as to why no recent recording is available (please provide date and place of performance/recording) and provide a brief description of your current training.
- Videos can be uploaded as unlisted links on YouTube, on Vimeo. Please note that videos are large files and therefore should not be transferred directly as an email attachment. The Chamberfest team will confirm receipt of your video link to ensure it has arrived. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt within a few days of submission, please follow up. If you are unsure how to upload an unlisted link, please contact us and we’ll guide you through the process.
- By applying for this program, you (or your parent or guardian, if applicable) agree to have your image, including audition videos, shared on social media and other platforms for non-commercial use.
