Calgary Suzuki Strings Association

The CSSA 25th Annual Non-Competitive String Festival

May 29-30, 2026

The CSSA String Festival will be held at Parkdale United Church: 2919 - 8th Ave NW Calgary.

Violinists & Guitarists will attend in person with adjudicator in person.

Violin Festival Classes with guest adjudicator Paule Barsalou

Open to all ages and levels (Students may play Suzuki, RCM or other repertoire)

Students may register for Solo, Solo Recital, Duet/Trio/Quartet and/or Ensemble classes. Students may be scheduled on Friday or Saturday. See registration form for complete details and cost information.

Violin Group Classes with guest adjudicator Paule Barsalou

Suzuki violin students in books 1 - 3 are invited to participate in a fun, motivational group class with adjudicator, Paule Barsalou. Participants will be grouped into classes with others who play at a similar level. Students may be scheduled on Friday or Saturday. Cost $20 per student

Classical Guitar Festival Classes with guest adjudicator Brett Gunther

Open to all ages and levels (Students may play Suzuki, RCM or other repertoire)

Students may register for Solo, Solo Recital, Duet/Trio/Quartet and/or Ensemble classes. Students will be scheduled on Saturday. See registration form for complete details and cost information.

String Festival Guidelines

  • Event is open to all, both CSSA members and non-members.
  • All festival classes are non-competitive. Students may play Suzuki, RCM or other repertoire.
  • The festival class will include the participants' performance, an individual adjudication with written comments, along with some focused time with the adjudicator to review and expand on their observations.
  • Music selections in solo and solo recital classes should be played without repeats (exception for Suzuki Books 1 & 2.)
  • If possible, students should perform their selections from memory.
  • Participants will need to bring orginal copies of any non-Suzuki repertoire with them to the festival. Please mark the bar numbers.
  • Recording (audio or visual) the performance of your child only is permitted.
  • Violin Students may participate in the group class option only or in addition to a festival class(es).
  • All group classes and adjudicated Festival Classes will take place at Parkdale United Church.
  • Violin students must provide their own accompanist.
  • Registrations will be cut off once the maximum enrolment has been reached.
  • Please register early to avoid disappointment.
  • Late entries may be considered, but not necessarily accepted.
  • Fees are non-refundable after April 25th 2026.

Bios and Information About our Adjudicators

Paule Barsalou - Violin Adjudicator Brett Gunther - Guitar Adjudicator

Registration

Registration Deadline April 18, 2026

Violin/Viola/Cello Guitar

Paule Barsalou

A native of Dunham, QC, Paule Barsalou holds a B.A. in Music Performance from Laval University (P.Q.) and an M.A. in Performance and Suzuki Pedagogy from the Cleveland Institute of Music (OH). Ms. Barsalou has been teaching at the Suzuki String School of Guelph since 1989 and was artistic director of the school in 2004 to 2021. She is the coordinator of the SSSG long-term teacher training program held at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ON. She is a sanctioned SAA Suzuki teacher trainer and trained musicians in the Suzuki approach at institutes and workshop throughout Canada, Barbados and El Salvador. Ms. Barsalou is also the co-founder, with Christie Zimmer, of Practice Notes, a reflective note taking system for fostering independent learning in young musicians. She lives in Guelph with her husband pianist Ken Gee.

Brett Gunther

Canadian classical guitarist Brett Gunther has been active for over 25 years, with a varied and dynamic musical career. Known for “exciting performances, thoughtful interpretations, and sensitive musicality” (thisisclassicalguitar.com) Gunther has appeared on stages throughout Western Canada as a soloist and chamber musician. He has performed with notable Canadian acts including virtuosa guitarist Iliana Matos, renowned flutist Jiajia Li, and the Calgary Festival Chorus. To date Gunther has released three albums: Distant Shores (2024), An Idea (2017), and Guitar Music (2012). The recordings explore a wide range of music including favourites from the repertoire, hidden gems, and contemporary compositions.

Brett Gunther is in demand as an educator and is on faculty at Mount Royal University Conservatory teaching private lessons and ensemble classes for their prestigious Academy program. He is a regular adjudicator at festivals across Canada including Hamilton Guitar Festival, Ontario and British Columbia Provincial Music Competitions, and the CMC Canadian Music Competition. He has been an examiner with the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto since 2019. A passionate advocate for classical guitar in the community, Gunther is Artistic Director of the Classical Guitar Society of Calgary and Director of the annual GuitarFest West classical guitar festival. He holds Masters and Bachelors Degrees in guitar performance from the University of Calgary.

Beyond the classical guitar world, Gunther has been featured on five commercial releases with The Buzzing Bees, Beija Flor, and SAVK. His work with these bands includes radio performances on CBC, CKUA, and CJSW and playing to an audience of thousands at the Calgary Folk Festival.