Open Ears Festival creates unique concert experiences intended to disrupt the audience’s conceptions of what ‘music’ is, or what it can be. We present an eclectic range of festival events from indie classical music to electroacoustic to sound installations. The festival explores the theme of integrating community brought together in unexpected musical settings.

The focus of Open Ears events is the art of listening. Featuring a mix of local, national and international artists, performances have featured ensembles from string quartets, chamber orchestras, and choirs to turntable art, multimedia, performance art, film and dance. Our music is presented in traditional concert halls and churches, as well as alternative spaces, including abandoned buildings, coffee shops, and civic squares and parks.

Open Ears remains unique, though, thanks to the mix of composed with improvised music, combined with our commitment to collaborations with other organizations (musical and otherwise). With an increased focus on ‘sound-making’, we explore beyond a traditional music concert. The festival has developed a national and international identity and continues to play a vital role in the life of contemporary art in Waterloo Region.