Hainica News · Arts & Culture · October 11, 2026
The Toronto-area competition enters its 21st season with multilingual performances, artist development and a tentative grand finale scheduled for May 2027.
TORONTO — The Long & McQuade Singing Contest with John Santos is promoting registration for Season 21, continuing a community music initiative that combines live competition with vocal and performance development. The first qualifying event is tentatively scheduled for October 21, 2026, according to the organizers’ published calendar.
Ned Quintana has confirmed his participation in the contest directly to Hainica. His involvement gives the magazine a firsthand connection to the initiative as it reports on the program’s history, opportunities and upcoming events.
A competition built around artistic development
Founded by John and Lisa Santos in 2006, the contest presents itself as a learning opportunity for singers at different stages of their development. Its format includes juvenile and adult categories and permits performers to sing in their preferred language.
The organizers describe coaching, professional studio experience and performance opportunities as central elements of the program. Their background information lists recording projects, promotional videos, workshops and individual vocal training among its offerings. Prospective participants should confirm the specific arrangements for Season 21 directly with the organizers.
This emphasis places preparation alongside performance: participants encounter rehearsals and artistic guidance as part of the competition, rather than only appearing for a final judged event. Source: contest background and program description.
Two decades of community music
The new season follows the contest’s 20th edition. In its May 6, 2026 report, Milénio Stadium identified Katrin Madoyan as the Youth category winner and Callixa Raposo as the Adult category winner. Its coverage also described the involvement of families, volunteers and sponsors, alongside community and public representatives.
Recognizing the voices behind the competition
Em Faith is among the confirmed Adult finalists of Season 20, alongside May Medeiros, Cassandra Oliveira Marques, Andrew Dichio and Callixa Raposo, according to Milénio Stadium’s coverage of the 2026 finale. This documents Em Faith’s participation in that edition; it does not establish a place in Season 21.
A special nod goes to Callixa Raposo, the Adult winner of the most recently completed season, in 2026. Her name also appears in Burloak Theatre Group’s cast listing for its September 2026 production of Mean Girls, as Sonja. Source: Burloak Theatre Group.
A little applause beyond the trophy: every voice belongs to a person, and every artist deserves room to be themselves.
The report situates the initiative within Toronto’s Luso-Canadian cultural life while highlighting its encouragement of performers from different backgrounds. Source: Milénio Stadium’s coverage of the 20th edition.
Season 21: the published timetable
The organizers label the current schedule as tentative. Qualifying events are listed for October 21, November 18 and December 16, 2026, followed by January 20 and February 10, 2027. The calendar places the semifinals on February 27 and March 6, 2027.
Orchestra rehearsals are listed for April 13 and 20, with a final dress rehearsal on April 29. The grand finale is provisionally scheduled for May 1, 2027, with doors at 5 p.m., dinner at 6 p.m. and the show at 8 p.m.
Dates remain subject to confirmation. Readers should consult the organizers for venue details, audience admission and any scheduling changes. Source: tentative Season 21 calendar.
April Yan: from the contest stage to streaming
April Yan was among the Youth finalists in the contest’s 2026 grand finale, as documented in Milénio Stadium’s coverage. Listeners can also discover her recorded work: Spotify lists Darkness (Be the Lights), credited to Ned Quintana and April Yan, as a 2026 release.
Listen to Darkness (Be the Lights) on Spotify
An invitation to new voices
For singers taking their first steps, the contest offers a way to explore performance within a program that its organizers describe as welcoming different levels of experience. Juvenile and Adult categories provide separate pathways for younger and older performers, while the option to sing in different languages broadens the repertoire represented on stage.
People interested in the 2026–2027 season are invited to register and ask the organizers about the appropriate category and remaining qualifying opportunities. Those considering a later season can contact John Santos for future announcements. The invitation extends to developing singers as well as experienced performers; applicants should confirm age eligibility and participation requirements directly with the team.
How to express interest
The linked registration form specifies that participants must live in or around the Greater Toronto Area. It asks applicants for contact details, their singing languages and six proposed songs, including titles, original artists and the language when a selection is not in English. It also asks about previous solo-album releases.
Singers interested in joining can use the official registration form and contact John Santos to discuss their repertoire, category, rehearsals and available qualifying rounds. The published form provides a practical starting point for performers in the Toronto area.
Organizer contact: 416-453-5646
Official online registration form
Official contest website
Sources: the contest’s published program and tentative Season 21 calendar; its linked registration form; Milénio Stadium’s May 6, 2026 coverage; and Ned Quintana’s direct confirmation of his participation. Participation was confirmed on October 11, 2026. Future dates remain the organizers’ provisional schedule.
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