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Recent News & Events

In memory of Victoria Megalos

Posted December 23, 2016 by Julie-Anne Saroyan

Steven Wilkes, Vancouver Symphony Assistant Principal violist remembers Victoria Megalos. Vicky came to Vancouver, via Montreal, at the start of the 1970-71 Vancouver Symphony season.  We were stand partners in the viola section for several years.  After finishing her orchestra career, she col...

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NOTICES

Posted December 09, 2016 by Julie-Anne Saroyan

GENERAL MEETING OF THE VANCOUVER MUSICIANS’ ASSOCIATION Monday, January 9, 2017 @ 1:00 PM VMA Offices, Ste 100 – 925 W. 8th Avenue, Vancouver The Agenda includes: Information and discussion with VMA Executive Director, Julie-anne Saroyan and the VMA board members about VMA initiatives,...

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Member Feature – David Sinclair

Posted December 09, 2016 by Julie-Anne Saroyan

What are your musical activities? What genres of music do you play? I play with various artists, including my guitar and harmonica duo ‘David Sinclair and Keith Bennett’, musical theatre shows, studio sessions both in studio or tracks over the internet. I play many genres, other than classical...

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Stolen Instruments

While we hope no one has to go through the stress and horror of stolen instruments, we know it happens.

When it happens, aside from contacting the appropriate authorities (your local Police Department or RCMP detachment), we can try to lend a hand by posting information here about your stolen instrument(s) and/or equipment.

Email office@vma145.ca with all the information you can such as photos, descriptions, serial numbers and contact information for you and/or the officer in charge of your file.

A Message From Our President

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Welcome to the Vancouver Musician’s Association (VMA) web site. We are an affiliated charter local (Local 145) of the Canadian Federation of Musicians (CFM) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) whose combined membership totals over 67,000 professional musicians in North America. The VMA is the largest musicians’ association in Western Canada and the third largest in Canada.

Our 1800 plus members perform with the Vancouver Symphony, Vancouver Opera Orchestra, Okanagan Symphony, Prince George Symphony, Richmond Gateway Theatre, The Arts Club Theatre, and other local and travelling musical theatre productions. Our large number of freelance musicians perform in all genres and play on recorded electronic media, film and television productions, commercials, and live broadcasts.

Since 1901, our mission is to represent the interests and the well being of professional musicians throughout mainland British Columbia by:

  • establishing professional fees, pension rates, and working conditions for freelance musicians
  • negotiating and administering collective agreements for symphonies, theatre productions, etc
  • facilitating musicians’ contract payouts and remittance of pension contributions directly to the Musician’s Pension Fund of Canada through our inhouse payroll service
  • lobbying civic, regional, and provincial governments for policies to sustain a BC music industry and improve the social and economic conditions for all musicians.
  • advocating with industry associations, music, film and television, and post production, to increase work opportunities for musicians.

With rising inequality, globalization, pressures to play for free, it is crucial for musicians to be unified with a collective voice. Being a part of the VMA will give you just that.

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