Cataraqui Chamber Music Festival

A Summer Festival of Music, Culture, and Connection in Kingston, Ontario

Project Summary

The Cataraqui Chamber Music Festival is a landmark summer music event rooted in the cultural heritage and natural beauty of Kingston, Ontario — on lands historically known as Cataraqui, a Mohawk and Anishinaabe word meaning “where the river meets the lake.” This name guides the spirit of the festival: a meeting place for music, land, and people.

Organized by Harmonaire Musique, the festival is produced in close collaboration with Indigenous communities, local artists, cultural institutions, and community partners. It offers a platform for emerging Canadian chamber musicians and international musicians, while creating space for intercultural dialogue and collective reflection.

Each summer, concerts are held in concert halls, heritage buildings, and community spaces throughout Kingston, presenting intimate, high-quality performances that celebrate both tradition and innovation. The 2026 season will expand the festival’s reach, offering an extended series of concerts, public workshops, and cultural activities across the city.

A central feature of the festival is its commitment to Indigenous cultural corridor. Audiences are invited to experience Indigenous art installations, storytelling, and historical exhibitions through a dedicated Indigenous Cultural Corridor. These elements are designed in consultation with local Indigenous partners to foster respectful exchange, education, and awareness.

Beyond music, the Cataraqui Chamber Music Festival strengthens Kingston’s cultural identity by:

• Empowering young Canadian artists with paid performance opportunities in a professional and culturally meaningful setting.

  
  

• Bridging musical performance and local history, helping audiences experience chamber music in new and socially relevant ways.

  
  

• Contributing to local cultural tourism and economic development, by drawing audiences from within and beyond the region.

  
  

• Honoring the land and its stories, while building a shared cultural future rooted in dialogue, inclusion, and artistic excellence.

  
  

More than a music festival, Cataraqui is a meeting ground for past and present, tradition and experimentation, Indigenous and non-Indigenous voices. It is a living, evolving celebration of Canada’s cultural complexity and artistic promise.


Format

The festival season includes:

• Chamber Music Concerts: Live performances by emerging Canadian artists in concert halls, cultural centres, and community spaces across Kingston.

  
  

• Indigenous Cultural Exhibitions: Visual art installations, storytelling sessions, and guest talks by Indigenous knowledge keepers, featured before or alongside concerts.

  
  

• Cultural Corridor: A curated exhibit that traces the local Indigenous histories and cultural narratives through interactive installations and educational panels.

  
  

• Workshops & Community Engagement: Musical and cultural workshops offered to youth, students, and underserved groups, encouraging participation and discovery.

Season Plan (2026)

The 2026 edition will run about two weeks between June through early September, with a program of about 10 concerts and indigenous cultural corridor. All concerts will be bilingual (English/French), with selected events including Indigenous language components.The festival will collaborate with local museums, Indigenous-run organizations, and arts institutions to amplify diverse voices and ensure wide community access.

Goals & Impact

• Support Emerging Artists: Provide professional performance and career-building opportunities for young Canadian chamber musicians.

  
  

• Celebrate Indigenous Culture: Highlight Indigenous voices and artistic expressions through respectful, collaborative programming.

  
  

• Community Cultural Enrichment: Contribute to Kingston’s artistic landscape and tourism by positioning chamber music as a tool for connection and heritage appreciation.

  
  

• Reconciliation in Practice: Promote meaningful engagement between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities through shared creative experiences.

  
  

• Promote cultural exchange and artistic collaboration: Music-culture exchange between Canadian musicians and international artists.

Target Audience

• Classical music lovers and cultural tourists

• Local residents and families

• Indigenous youth and community members

• University and high school students

• Arts and cultural organizations

• Educators and heritage sector professionals

Why This Project Matters

In a time where cultural reconciliation, youth engagement, and arts accessibility are national priorities, the Cataraqui Chamber Music Festival creates a unique intersection of classical performance and Indigenous cultural presence. It respects the land’s heritage while envisioning a shared artistic future.

By providing platforms for young artists and honoring Indigenous traditions, the festival helps rewrite what chamber music festivals can be: inclusive, place-based, community-oriented, and relevant to today’s Canada. It’s not only a celebration—it’s a statement of values.