There are 14 concerts (usually) in the week, Monday to Friday. Students are encouraged to present one number -- they may also enter another number if it is a different instrument or a different group. (e.g., a piano student may enter a piano solo and a piano duet).

1. All competitions are for amateurs only. The term amateur shall mean "one whose principal livelihood is not derived from musical, theatre, or dance services". This condition does not apply to those bona fide students of the performing arts who teach for the purpose of applying the money so earned for furtherance of their education, and does not preclude occasional remuneration received for services rendered in the arts.

2. Age: All pre-school, elementary school, and high school students are eligible.

3. Each competitor may have only one entry in each division: Piano/Vocal/Dance/Speech Arts/Violin/Guitar/Band instrument or other performing art. However, any performer may be part of a group as well as one solo performance in the same division.

4. A performing group is eligible for one entry of no more than 10 minutes.

Simply fill out the form online, and all of its required fields.

This will help the committee determine how to schedule the concerts. If a field does not apply to you, simply fill in “n/a”. It is important for all individual/group/dance performers to list their school class and teacher, to avoid performance or costuming conflicts within the same concert.

The deadline to enter is Friday, March 13th, 2026. After which the registration forms will no longer be available.

For alumni performers, the deadline to enter is Friday, April 3rd, 2026.

School groups have their rehearsals in the week prior to the concerts.

The concert coordinator will book these rehearsal times in co-ordination with the schools. Other performers, individual and group, have a rehearsal day before the concert week.

For 2026, the school rehearsals will be the last week of April, and for private and dance students the rehearsal day will be Saturday, May 2nd.

For alumni performers (as this year is our special 40th year of Focus on Youth), they can coordinate different days/times to rehearse, if they want.

This year’s week of concerts is from May 4th to May 8th, 2026 with performances throughout the day. Including 3 concerts per day and approximately 4 evening concerts.

For one of the evening concerts this year, we will be hosting a special Focus on Youth alumni concert.

• Props / amps / other equipment: should arrive back stage 30 minutes before start time.

• Soundtracks: please provide a thumb drive which can be left with the technician, to be loaded into the computer. The preferred format is MP3.

• Photos/videos: please provide via email to the technician.

• Performers: should arrive in costume, 15 minutes before start time. If you need to change backstage, please arrive 30 minutes ahead of time.

• Reserved seats: in the front rows are for solo/group performers and their teachers.

• Please go backstage: one number before you perform. Do not walk to the back during a performance, wait for applause.

• Bows: be sure to walk to the designated spot to take your bow; piano players should walk to the end of the piano bench, turn to the audience and bow, before sitting on the bench.

• Check your: microphone height, piano bench height, etc., to make sure things are comfortable for you. If there is a problem, ask the stage crew to help you make the adjustments.

Photography - Please take a photo of your class rehearsing and send it to Laura From.*

*Please note: These photos may be used on our Focus on Youth Gallery page on this website for sharing and marketing purposes.