SING! The Toronto International Vocal Arts Festivel

The power of the human voice takes centre stage at SING!  May 19 - June 1. Over 20 a cappella events, from pop to jazz, world to contemporary a cappella, barbershop to beatboxing,: concerts, workshops, singalong with Pitch Perfect Music Director Deke Sharon, Sweden’s The Real Group at the SING! With Pride Major Cultural Event for Pride Toronto, SING! Canadian A Cappella Championships with 16 groups from around North America competing for cash prizes and trophies, Great North Beatbox Festival with international beatbox champions, free online Business Summit for musicians and other artists, and more! tickets www.singtoronto.com  SING! is an FEO Top 100 Festival.

Event schedule:

Tuesday, May 19 – Art Battle at The Great Hall, pairing painters with singers

Wednesday, May 20 - Nathan Phillips Square, 5:30- 7:30 pm festival preview performances by multicultural groups and others

Thursday, May 21 – College Park free concert, 5 – 7 pm with multiple groups

Friday, May 22 - Countermeasure concert “One More Spin” at Paradise Theatre - sold out

Saturday, May 23 - daylong events - clinics and networking at Royal Conservatory of Music

Saturday night May 23 – SING! Canadian A Cappella Championships at Koerner Hall at the TELUS Centre for Performance and Learning

Sunday May 24 – SING! with Us - Pitch Perfect singalong at the Royal Ontario Museum featuring songs and stories with “godfather of contemporary a cappella” and Music Director of the three Pitch Perfect movies Deke Sharon plus Splush (2025 Championship winners to lead the songs 

Sunday, May 24 – Retrocity sings 80's with a Retro-oke live karaoke singalong  at the Royal Ontario Museum 

Monday through Thursday - Business summit online – sessions noon to 1:30 pm and 7 – 8:30 pm

Friday, May 29 – All from the Mouth beatbox evening event at the Rec Room

Saturday, May 30 – Great North Battle beatboxing performances and competition at the Rec Room

Sunday, May 31 – Great North Battle competition beatboxing  at The Rec Room

Monday, June 1, 4 – 5 pm – SING! with Confidence presented by The Real Group – live interactive public workshop/Q and A at the Royal Ontario Museum

Monday, June 1 - SING! with Pride at the Royal Ontario Museum with Headliner The Real Group with Singing Out, plus host Thom Allison and Legacy Award presentation to Heather Bambrick

 

Business Summit 2026

Online:

Contracts – how to read them, how to negotiate in your best interest – Paul Sanderson

Road Ready to Showcase – what to expect and how to manage – Sandy Graham (Cashbox Canada, Record World Canada).

How to Build a Career in A Cappella – Dylan Bell, Scott Jackson

Building a Sustainable Music Career - Jim Norris from Canadian Music Spotlight

Royalties, grants, crowd-funding – where to find the money? Kristen Antunes (SOCAN), Ryan Farley (grant writer)

The Future of the Canadian Music Industry – John Harris

Meet the Press – how to talk to the media – publicists Eric Alper, Caroline Horcher

"Show Business Savvy: Mastering the Money & Management of Music– D. Jae Gold - The show happens in front of the curtain; the business happens behind the curtain.  Learn about the appropriate business model for your situation, no matter where you are in the industry or where you are in your career.  AND, part 2 - how to monetize your assets (song copyrights) - where are all the revenue streams?

Live workshops at Koerner Hall on May 23:

B to B Roundtables live at Koerner Hall on May 23, 12:30 – 2:30 pm -

Two hours where artists can meet directly with industry influencers and icons, ask questions, network, and make connections with the clinicians, artists and producers

Agents – Patricia Silver, founder and President of Sphere Entertainment for 32 years; Elwood Saracuse, President of ESP Entertainment; Paul Ryan, owner of Limelight Entertainment, former manager of The Nylons and Raffi, singer, music producer, work with international venues, festivals, and touring artists

Assembling and managing a group or choir – Brett Ludwig, leader of 6 Minute Warning A Cappella and Manager of SING! Edmonton;  J-M Erlendson, award-winning performer, Gold-record certified, frequent workshop leader, manager of three a cappella ensembles, international touring artist, General Manager and Co-Founder of SING! Toronto.

Canada’s Music Incubator  – opportunities through that organization with Jesse Mitchell Canada’s Music Incubator| Vice President - Specialized mentorship and professional development programs for artists, managers and other Canadian music industry professionals building sustainable careers.

A Cappella in the media – how do you get on TV, movies, recording and releasing your album =– Deke Sharon, “godfather” of contemporary a cappella, Music Director for the three Pitch Perfect movies and the Sing Off TV series

Your Voice, Your Brand: Social Media for Musicians -  Shivonne Okoye and Nathan Okoye, owners of OCIDM, a Brand Strategy agency, specializing in online and social media marketing.

Other workshops:

Songwriting with Aaron Jensen, 4 pm, Royal Conservatory of Music, May 23