Come see what we do! Follow us on Instagram and check out ourYouTube channel!
PVA Applications for 2027-2028 open November 1, 2026
PVA Strings Program Overview
The following information is for students interested in our auditioned, advanced orchestra cohort, offered as part of Central’s Performing and Visual Arts Program (PVA). For courses open to all students at Central visit Fine Arts
PVA Strings is the only program in the Calgary Board of Education where advanced string players make music together every day. In our class, expect to be working on solo, chamber, and full orchestra repertoire, performing alongside professional ensembles and musicians, collaborating with our in-house pianist, refining your technique, and deepening your understanding of the music you play. PVA String Students receive credit for Instrumental Music, General Music, and Sinfonia each year, adding up to 45 credits by graduation. Our program works alongside your current instrument study, whether you are in private lessons, part of Mount Royal’s program, or one of the many other fantastic privately offered string programs in the city – PVA Strings is a place to belong in high school.
To be considered for our specialized PVA program, students are required to apply online and audition/interview with our staff.
More information on the application process can be found on the PVA homepage
Why Choose the PVA Strings Program?
Be a great musician and a great student at the same time.
You don't have to choose between academic rigour and your music. Central offers among the most comprehensive College Board Advanced Placement ® programming in Calgary, so you can tailor your studies to suit your strengths. We also have one of the largest selections of complimentary courses in Calgary for you to enjoy thanks to CBE’s Career and Technology Centre being located on our campus.
Want to go on to study music after high school? Our recent graduates are currently studying music at Berklee, Eastman, McGill, The Glenn Gould School, The Royal Conservatory of Scotland, UBC, and The University of Toronto. PVA Strings is the place where their passion for music was ignited.
Thinking of an unrelated career path? Our graduates have also gone on to find success in many other fields of study, and their music courses helped to get them there. Studying music seriously in high school gives you the tools you’ll need to be successful no matter where you go next.
Your music counts academically.
Instrumental Music and General Music, the courses you take inside the timetable as part of PVA, are considered by Alberta Education as academic courses weighted the same as any other 30-level courses (like biology or math) for university admission. You earn up to 15 music credits per year. Your commitment to music works to strengthen your high school transcript. The hard work you’ve poured into your instrument over the years is something you need universities to see.
The only place in the CBE to play with serious string players every day.
PVA Strings is the only CBE program where advanced string players make music together daily. That consistency — working daily on solo, chamber, full orchestra repertoire, technique, and musical understanding — is something no private studio or conservatory program can replicate. Much like signing up for an exercise class, our daily playing will make sure you are in the best shape for all your musical endeavours.
Built-in momentum.
Private lessons are essential, but playing alone has limits. PVA Strings gives you a community of peers who push each other, built-in daily practice in a high-level ensemble, and the kind of musical growth that only happens when people who truly love music and love each other work together every day.
Real professional experience.
Our students work with guest clinicians, our in-house collaborative pianist, professional musicians, and perform alongside professional ensembles, most recently The Kensington Sinfonia and String Collective. PVA Strings commissions works from leading Canadian composers such as Donovan Seidle and Tobin Stokes, tying our community into the professional music world in a deeply personal way. These aren't passive experiences — you're in the room with the pros, on the stage, doing the work.
A program with a destination.
PVA Strings travels each year on tour to participate in festivals, retreats, workshops, and to witness some of the best music being made in the world. Recent destinations have included Vienna, Salzburg, Halifax, and Victoria. These experiences inspire our students and are where lifelong friendships are built.
A place to belong.
Most importantly, PVA Strings gives you a place to belong in high school. We get it, the transition from Jr. High to High School is a huge change, and where you go is an important decision. Being part of the PVA Strings community will give you a family of people who truly know you and care about you during your time in high school.
PVA Strings Course Series
PVA Strings 10 Level (Grade 10)
- Instrumental Music 10
- General Music 10
- Band 15 (Sinfonia)
PVA Strings 20 Level (Grade 11)
- Instrumental Music 20
- General Music 20
- Band 25 (Sinfonia)
PVA Strings 30 Level (Grade 12)
- Instrumental Music 30
- General Music 30
- Band 35 (Sinfonia)
- Leadership in the Arts 35
Instrumental Music & General Music
All PVA String students will be registered each year in Instrumental Music in Semester 1, and General Music in Semester 2. These classes run with all three grade levels of PVA Students combined, allowing us to create opportunities to share knowledge and create a strong community. These courses run inside the timetable and ensure students can make music every day. Our courses inside the timetable focus on skill and technical development, solo preparation and performance, collaboration in both chamber groups and string orchestra settings, sectionals and masterclasses with professional musicians, all while fostering a deep appreciation for string repertoire. Both courses are recognized by Alberta Education as academic courses just like Biology or Math.
Central Sinfonia - Band 15/25/35 (3 or 5 credits) - Co-requisite: Instrumental Music 10/20/30 and General Music 10/20/30
Central Sinfonia is the only full orchestra in the Calgary public school system. Sinfonia combines all PVA String players with selected members of the PVA Band to create an auditioned full orchestra that explores professional level orchestral repertoire from across diverse eras and genres. Sinfonia rehearses twice a week in the extended timetable, and is offered in either both semesters, or in second semester only depending on availability in certain years.
Leadership in the Arts 35
All Grade 12 PVA students complete Leadership in the Arts 35 to receive the CBE Fine and Performing Arts Certificate. This course runs inside your PVA classes throughout high school (not scheduled separately) and includes:
- Creation of your own artist portfolio
- Development of your own artistic personality, brand, and story
- Planning real events in your Grade 12 year
This comprehensive portfolio prepares you for a life enriched by music, whether you pursue post-secondary music studies or not.
PVA Strings Student Testimony
"This program has been my family, my home, and my world. What started as just a class turned into three of the best years of my life." - Reiss, double bass, class of 2025, studying music at the Royal Conservatory of Scotland
"Joining PVA changed my high school experience and changed me. I learned how to play in an ensemble, how to grow as a cellist, and how to figure out who I wanted to be." - Jerek, cello, class of 2026
“Collaborating with my classmate (and best friend that I met in the program) to put together an original composition with the Central Sinfonia was one of the most valuable and unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had. All of that wouldn’t have been possible without the PVA program.” - Curtis, cello, class of 2025, studying music at McGill
“PVA strings brought a dream to reality for me; pursuing classical music as a career (and having fun doing it!). The community was so fun and supportive and pushed me to do what I love. I will always hold this program and its people in a special place in my heart as I go forward in life as a musician.” -Ariya, harp, class of 2026, studying music at The Glenn Gould School
"Over three years in PVA Strings, I didn't just grow as a violinist. I learned how to collaborate, how to perform in front of an audience, and how to overcome stage fright -- skills I'll carry for the rest of my life." - Finn, violin, class of 2026
"PVA has made me a better leader and more accountable for what I bring to the table. Being part of an ensemble, where every player matters, pushed me to work harder and become more outgoing." - Alisha, cello, class of 2026, studying Astronomy and Physics at the University of Toronto
"I had always been a soloist, and in learning to play in an ensemble, I learned that everyone has a part to play and that supporting each other matters the most." Solange, cello, class of 2026 duel PVA (Strings & Dance) studying Biomedical Sciences at the University of Ottawa
"Choosing PVA was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I wouldn't trade it for the world." - Zoe, violin and viola, class of 2026, studying Forestry Sciences at UBC
“Strings means getting a safe space to be and find who you are. It is also a place where you can find other people who love music just like you do! The community is beautiful.” Nat, viola, class of 2027
“The Strings program has honestly given me the high school experience everyone hopes for. Beyond the music, it’s the people that make it unforgettable. The PVA community is full of passionate, supportive students who quickly become your closest friends. At the same time, the program provides a professional environment that challenges you to grow, and I’ve seen my skills improve more than I ever thought possible.” - Danyil, violin, class of 2027
“My time in PVA Strings was undoubtedly one of the best experiences of my life. It gave me the chance to be part of a musical community that felt much more like a family, surrounded by teachers and peers who genuinely care for each other. I even met my best friend there, and he was kind enough to learn a cello concerto I wrote that was performed with Central’s Sinfonia, something I never would have imagined when I first joined the program.” - Josef, class of 2025, studying music at Berklee College and Eastman School of Music
On travel:
"Travelling to Vienna in grade 11 gave me some of the most amazing memories I'll look back on for the rest of my life."
"The Austria-Germany trip was the highlight of my time in the program. The inspiration I felt watching performances on tour is something I still draw on today."
"Hearing the Vienna Philharmonic was surreal. This trip taught me the importance of community, and the impact that connection has on the music being performed. This trip isn’t something I could have ever experienced without PVA Strings.”
PVA Strings FAQ
Are PVA music students required to take private lessons? Private lessons are strongly recommended but not required. Students can apply to receive a limited number of private lessons through our program to prepare for solos if they aren’t studying with a private teacher.
What level should I be at to find success in PVA Strings? The most important characteristic we look for at auditions are students who love music, are open to working collaboratively, and want to be in a supportive community of dedicated musicians. Most of our students are between RCM levels 6-10. A solid understanding of finger patterns and positions up to position 5, control over the bow in the performance of détaché, spiccato, and hooked bowing patterns, along with a developing left-hand vibrato will put you in a great place to start.
Is PVA Strings a program right for students already studying strings elsewhere? Absolutely. Our program is meant to compliment — not replace — the work of organizations in the city including MRU and Academy, Calgary Youth Orchestra, Amici Strings, Calgary Fiddlers, and others. We build our timetable and concert schedule to avoid as many conflicts with those organizations as possible, and we encourage our students to join outside ensembles! Our goal is to make string education in Calgary more comprehensive and accessible to everyone.
Is Central Memorial a strong school for academics? Central Memorial boasts among the most comprehensive College Board Advanced Placement ® offerings in the city. In these classes, you will often get to experience smaller class sizes than other academic classes, ensuring you get the support you need to succeed. AP courses are flexible and customizable; you get to select the courses you want to study to a more advanced level. AP courses can save you time and money in university by granting you direct credit for a variety of first year university courses. Information about the AP courses offered at Central and the university courses you can earn credits for can be found here: https://centralmemorial.cbe.ab.ca/advanced-placement-advanced-placement
More information about AP and the College Board can be found here: https://ap.collegeboard.org/
Beyond our AP offerings, Central offers a diverse selection of streamed academic courses so that you can progress in each subject at the level that’s right for you. Our school scores above average for final exam marks in the province and has been recognized as a school on the rise according to the Fraser Institute. We offer a huge selection of complimentary courses not offered anywhere else in the city due to the CBE’s Career and Technology Centre being located on our campus. More information about the CTC programming can be found here: https://ctc.cbe.ab.ca/
What time commitment should I expect? PVA music students are involved in the extended timetable twice a week for either one or two semesters. Daily practice outside of class is expected. Students participate in concerts, events, and annual tours. Attendance to these events, as well as attendance in daily classes, is important for success in our program.
Do I need to own my own instrument? Instruments are available for all string classes through CBE rental ($100 per school year). Most students come into the program with their own instruments, and secure and humidified storage for instruments is available.
For Band program inquiries, please email Katrina Greenbow
krgreenbow@cbe.ab.ca