CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES:

Chalmers Performance Space Artist is Residence Program
Deadline / rolling
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The CMC Short-term creative residencies are a rolling residency program for composers, ensembles, and production companies involved in the production or researching of Canadian Music in CMC’s Chalmers Performance Space in downtown Toronto. These self-directed residencies provide you or your organization with space and time in which to experiment and cultivate new works or research new avenues for creativity. Residencies take place during work hours, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday. Residencies may range from a few days up to 4 weeks (excluding weekends) and may take place at any time of the year subject to availability of the performance space. 

Resident artists and ensembles benefit from access to CMC’s production facilities and knowledgeable staff who are available to provide technical support and assistance. In addition, you will have the opportunity to build connections, create networks, and share your work with the broader CMC community through artist talks, publications and/or livestreaming.   

Chalmers Performance Space Artist is Residence Program
Deadline / rolling
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The Canadian Music Centre in BC (CMC BC) is pleased to launch a new Artist in Residence program for the upcoming 2022/2023 season. Select artists (composers, performers, small ensembles) will be chosen as ‘Artists in Residence’ in CMC BC’s Murray Adaskin Salon.

These residencies are offered to artists involved in the production or researching of Canadian Music. The Canadian Music Centre in BC has always tried to support and encourage artists in our community and continues to do so with this investment in a private, creative working space to focus on your goals.

The AiR program is a flexible model to encourage experimentation and creativity. Basically you decide what you need to work on and we give you the space and time within which to do it.

CMC Ontario – Concert Series
Deadline / rolling
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Starting in 2023,  The Ontario Region of the Canadian Music Centre is offering up to six $1,000 sponsorships each year, available to Associate Composers and new music performers, ensembles, and presenters, to produce a concert featuring at least 50% of music by Ontario Associate composers, allocated regionally in the following areas:

  • Eastern Ontario (Ottawa, Kingston)
  • Southern Ontario (Hamilton, Kitchener, Niagara)
  • Western Ontario (London, Windsor)
  • Central Ontario (Peterborough, Barrie, Owen Sound)
  • Northern Ontario (North Bay, Sudbury, Manitoulin)
  • Northwestern Ontario (Thunder Bay, Sault-Ste-Marie, Kenora)

CMC ON will promote the concerts via the CMC Ontario eBlast, our website, and social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). In return we ask that the concerts are billed as co-presentations providing equal billing to CMC ON on programs, website page about the concert, and any promotional materials using our logo. After the event, CMC ON will solicit a statement about the benefit of the support. Where possible, someone from CMC ON will attend.

While offering a source of new funds to areas historically deprived of new music performances and our help promoting concerts under this umbrella, this new paradigm of working has the potential to increase the number of concerts CMC ON presents each year, broaden our presence across the province, help us meet new people doing creative things, and help us better fulfill our provincial mandate and mission.

A specific number of sponsorships will be allocated to each area annually. Applications will be reviewed by staff as they are received until the funds for each area are committed.

The Molinari Quartet’s Ninth International Competition for CompositionDeadline / April 1, 2024
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Through its Composition Competition, the Molinari Quartet wishes to encourage young composers.

The Molinari Quartet contributes to the development of the string quartet literature by encouraging composers to send new original scores to its Competition.

The Molinari Quartet is pleased to announce its Ninth International Competition for Composition for string quartet.

Composers are invited to submit an original work for string quartet. The winning compositions will be played in concert during the Molinari Quartet’s Twentieth and Beyond series to be held in Montreal (Quebec, Canada) during the 2024-2025 concert season.

Virginia Parker PrizeDeadline / April 2, 2024
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Are you a young classical singer, instrumentalist or conductor? Have you conducted or performed as a soloist or chamber musician internationally?

Consider applying for the Virgina Parker Prize.

The prize is awarded annually to a classical singer, instrumentalist or conductor from Canada under the age of 32. It recognizes outstanding talent, musicianship and artistic merit and valuable contributions to artistic life in Canada and overseas.

  • Value: $25,000
  • How to qualify: Apply by email to the Canada Council
  • Deadline: April 2, 2024

Guidelines

ARCADY-RBC EMERGING COMPOSER COMPETITIONDeadline / April 6, 2024
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Arcady is pleased to present the eighth annual Arcady-RBC Emerging Composer Competition for new works for voice and piano

The award: The winner of Arcady’s 2024 Emerging Composer Competition will have their work premiered during the 2024/25 season by members of Arcady’s professional ensemble. They will receive a recording and if desired, one-on-one sessions with esteemed Canadian composer and Arcady’s Resident Composer and Artistic Director Ronald Beckett (via Skype or in-person). Please note: Travel expenses to the premiere are the responsibility of the prize recipient (though composers’ attendance is not required at the premiere).

TSO Affiliate Composer ApplicationDeadline / April 8, 2024
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The Toronto Symphony Orchestra (TSO) is inviting applications for the position of Affiliate Composer, to begin during the 2024-25 season. The Affiliate Composer will work closely with Music Director Gustavo Gimeno, TSO Composer Advisor Emilie LeBel, the artistic staff, and the musicians of the TSO. This two-year position includes opportunities to write works for the full orchestra, to interact with Canadian and international visiting composers and to participate in the TSO’s extensive education programs. Critical training in program planning, orchestra operations, marketing, public relations, education, and development activities will be provided to the Affiliate Composer to enhance understanding of a professional orchestra. In addition to involvement with the selection and programming of contemporary music, the Affiliate Composer will also have a role in promoting and advocating for the creation and performance of Canadian and contemporary music. While no age requirement is mandated, it is expected that this position will be filled by an emerging composer who has already demonstrated substantial accomplishment in the Canadian orchestral world.

Bourses du Nouvel Ensemble Moderne in new music performanceDeadline / April 15, 2024
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The Nouvel Ensemble Moderne and the Faculty of Music of the Université de Montréal invite emerging Quebec and Canadian performers to participate in the upcoming edition of the Bourses du NEM competition in the interpretation of new music. The objective of the scholarship fund is to promote awareness of new music and facilitate the dissemination of repertoire by supporting young performers.

This competition is open to all young performers at the collegiate and university levels playing one of the following instruments: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, piano, percussion, violin, viola, cello, double bass.

Henri Lazarof International Commission PrizeDeadline / April 15, 2024
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Henri Lazarof once said, “The world is big enough for all kinds of composers. … I try to always write for new instrumental forces — to search out the limits of the performer and one’s own limits as a composer.” The Henri Lazarof International Commission Prize will provide support to composers attempting to do the same today.

The winner of the annual prize will receive a commission for an original work for select instruments. The specific instrumentation will change each year to complement an existing work by Henri Lazarof, and the commissioned piece will be performed alongside Lazarof’s work.

Instrumentation for the 2024 prize is string trio (violin, viola, cello). Electronic music components and/or multimedia may also be included. The winner will be awarded a $15,000 commission prize, and the winning composition will be performed at Brandeis University in the spring of 2025.

Orchestras Canada Betty Webster AwardDeadline / May 1, 2024
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Orchestras Canada has just opened nominations for the 2024 Betty Webster Award, our way of recognizing outstanding contributions to the Canadian orchestral community.   

Supporting and sustaining an orchestra in Canada in the 21st century is a collective, collaborative effort, involving both high-profile artistic leaders and a significant number of people working tirelessly on stage and behind the scenes to create the conditions in which Canadian orchestras can flourish.   

The Award specifically honours an individual who has made an under-recognized but sustained and significant contribution to the community of Canadian orchestras through their work, be it paid or volunteer. 

CMC Prairie Region Emerging Composer Competition for OrchestraDeadline / July 1, 2024
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Emerging Composers with a connection to Canada’s Prairie Region are invited to submit their orchestral works to the 22nd edition of the CMC Prairie Region Emerging Composer Competition for Orchestra with a cash prize of $1,000 and performance by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO) during the 2025 edition of the Winnipeg New Music Festival (WNMF).

Emerging composers of any age who are current residents of, were born in, or have completed a substantial portion of their musical education in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, The Northwest Territories, or Nunavut, may enter.

6th edition of the International Mauricio Kagel Composition CompetitionDeadline / September 20, 2024
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Since its first edition in 2010, the competition has been committed to promoting contemporary piano literature for children and young people. The task is to write a piano work in a contemporary tonal language that is easily realizable for piano lessons and thus provides young players with adequate artistic access to the music of the present.

The Mauricio Kagel Composition Competition is distinguished by its particularly transparent and fair selection process. The renowned international jury will publicly discuss the decision in a mulit-day judging process. The finalists will receive attractive prizes of €6,500, €4,500 and €3,500 as well as a publication of the work in cooperation with Universal Edition.