With an esteemed heritage dating back to the Knights of Pythias in 1923, and under the attentive stewardship of the Kiwanis Club of Vancouver since 1960, ours is now B.C.'s premier music festival, offering professional adjudication to some 10,000 students in high school bands and choirs, and in the private study of classical guitar, classical voice, music theatre, piano, strings, brass and woodwinds. Several years ago, an Ethnic Chinese instruments category was added making ours a truly multi-cultural event. Especially gifted students can go on to compete at the Provincial and National levels.

In 2009, with continued support from the Vancouver Kiwanis Club, we became a separate Society. We are now delighted that new benefactors, The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group and the Robert L. Conconi Foundation, have come forward with generous sponsorship.

We know helping to foster an appreciation for music, hard work and commitment in one child positively impacts not just their lives but the future of our community and our world. That's why, even when we hear a song sung a little off-key or a few missed notes -- it's all music to our ears.