Honour Groups Information
Meet Our Conductors
Dr. Catherine Robbins
Dr. Peter Boonshaft
Dr. Mark Tse
Audition Requirements
The Senior Honour Groups are open to Saskatchewan students who will be entering Grades 9*–12 in September 2026. These programs provide an enhanced musical experience for students who demonstrate proficiency at or above the high school level in their discipline.
*Grade 9 band students are eligible to participate in either the Junior Band and the Senior Honour Band programs. The Junior Band is selected through teacher recommendation for students in grade 8 and 9 as of September 2026 with a focus on creating a balanced ensemble. In contrast, the Senior Honour Band is selected exclusively through a blind audition process. Grade 9 students may choose to audition for the Senior Honour Band and may be accepted based solely on their audition results.
Application Timeline and Selection
The application window is open from March 15 to April 17, 2026. Please note that the selection process differs depending on the ensemble:
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Senior Honour Band: Participants are selected through a blind audition. To ensure total impartiality, auditions are conducted anonymously. Any recording that includes "identity-indicating" speech—such as the student’s name, school, or city—will not be considered.
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Senior Honour Choir: Participants are accepted based on recommendations.
In all cases, final placement within an Honour Group is at the sole discretion of the auditioning adjudicators. All applicants will be notified regarding the status of their application or recommendation approximately one month after the April 15 deadline.
Junior Band Information
For information regarding the Junior South Honour Band, please click here.
Contact and Support
If you have questions regarding the application process or specific program requirements, please reach out to our coordinators:
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Senior Band Coordinator: Sharon Bates at bandcoordinator@saskmea.ca
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Senior Choir Coordinator: Stacy Allan at choircoordinator@saskmea.ca
SUBMIT YOUR AUDITION | RECOMMENDATION
Rehearsal &
Performance Dates
November 12-14, 2025
Honour Groups will be held in
Saskatoon, SK location TBA
Final Concert will be November 14, 2026 at 4:30pm
Investment
The fee for the 2025 season will be $225.00 for the Senior Band and Choir. The Junior band program will be $125.
This fee covers the musical experience as well as covering the costs of adjudication, venue as well as our highly acclaimed guest conductors.
If you have questions about your fee or are inquiring about financial assistance, please contact ed@saskmea.ca.
SMEA Refund Policy for Honour Groups
Withdrawal on or before August 1st:
1. Full refund minus a $50 administrative fee
90 day or less before
Honour Groups will result in no refund with the following exceptions:
1. Death or compassionate reason
2. Severe illness accompanied by a physician note
Please note, a conflict with another event will not be eligible for a refund.
Concert Recording
The Honour Groups' concert recording will be available to purchase on Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify, and all major streaming platforms in the Spring following the November concert! The albums will be available for a period of one year.
Saskatchewan Music Educators Association Honour Groups 2025 - SaskTel maxTV Local on Demand
For more information
Please contact programs@saskmea.ca, for more information or questions about your audition submission or see Troubleshooting audition uploads.
Ticket Information
Doors Open at 3:45pm Rush Seating
Concert begins at 4:30
Advance Ticket Sales will be avaiable closer to the date
Ticket Prices are as follows:
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Individuals 12 years & Younger are free
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Individuals 13 Years & Older are $15/ticket
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Delegates attending Saskatchewan Multi-Arts Conference are $10/ticket
We encourage you to purchase your tickets in advance, as QR codes will be scanned for quick and easy entry. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door on a first-come, first-served basis, but please note this event is expected to reach maximum capacity. On-site payments will be accepted by cash, credit, or e-transfer; however, the preferred option is to secure your tickets online before.