Spring 2021 Session
Registrations accepted until May 10
Video performances due May 17
Vancouver Academy of Music’s Performance Exams are a celebration of the achievement and progress made during the course of the academic year. Students are invited to a performance opportunity that includes guidance from distinguished music educators.
For Ages 5 to Adult, Students of All Levels
VAM Performance Exams are inclusive of all levels. There are no restrictions on works performed regarding difficulty; students are encouraged to work with their private instructor to determine which repertoire selections are best to help them achieve their own personal goals. Any level may be completed regardless of whether or not the student participated in exams for the preceding levels.
Exams will be evaluated and scored on the basis of the student’s performance in relation to the demands of the chosen repertoire and will include written commentary from the examiner.
Adjudicators
Mark Fewer, strings
Associate Professor of Violin, University of Toronto
Kathy Dornian, piano
Piano Faculty, Mount Royal University Conservatory (Calgary)
Mary Lynch, woodwinds
Principal Oboe, Seattle Symphony Orchestra
Megan Hodge, brass
Sessional Teacher, University of Toronto
Michael Jarrett, percussion
Percussionist, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Jennifer Swartz, harp
Assistant Professor of Strings, McGill University
Jeanette Gallant, voice
Vocal Teacher, Clinician, Ethnomusicologist, and Conductor
Remote & In-Person Exams
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- All non-recital levels are held remotely. They can be filmed at home, at VAM, or any venue of the student’s choice. Piano accompaniment is recommended.
- Recital levels are held as an in-person exam in VAM’s Koerner Recital Hall. For Spring 2021, recitals must be held as private events, with attendance limited to the adjudicator and a small number of family members.
Fees
Junior Exams (ages 5-8): $40
Intermediate Exams (ages 9-12): $50
Senior Exams (ages 13-16): $60
Advanced Senior Performers’ Certificate (age 17 or graduating high school): $80
Adult Learning Class 1 (ages 17+): $40 | Class 2: $50 | Class 3: $60 | Class 4: $80
Submitting Videos for Remote Exams
After completing registration and payment, prepare your video ensuring that each repertoire selection is completed in one take and that the student is clearly audible and visible. Upload your video to a file sharing platform of your choice (e.g., Dropbox or Google Drive) so that the file can be shared by a link, or if there are multiple files, that there is access to the folder by a link that contains all the files.
After submitting registration and payment, the student will be placed into a category based on their age and receive a follow-up form by email. Students will provide the link to their performance using this second form. It is not necessary to send the performance immediately following registration, provided that it is received by the video submission deadline.
Full details, including repertoire requirements by level
Download a Performance Exam & Honour Society Brochure
Apply for VAM Honour Society (VAM private students)
Applicants must include the following as part of their Honour Society application:
-Register for a Performance Exam (available below during registration period)
-Complete a VAM Honour Society Application Form
Deadline for Honour Society applications: May 31