New Canadian Classical Competition Offers $50K Prize

By FYI Staff

The Azrieli Foundation has launched a $50,000 music prize competition that’s open exclusively to Canadian composers.

Renowned soprano Sharon Azrieli (widow of Foundation founder David) announced the expansion of the Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) – already Canada’s most lucrative awards for music composition – at an AMP gala concert held at the Maison symphonique de Montréal last week.

The winning composer of the Azrieli Canadian Prize will be commissioned to create a new work specifically for Le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne and its Music Director, Lorraine Vaillancourt. The composition will receive its world premiere alongside the other Azrieli Music Prizes works at a Gala Concert planned for October 2020. Future rounds of the new Prize will be called for other leading Canadian ensembles and performance groups, specifically to help expand the Canadian music repertoire.

Beyond the cash prize and gala world premiere, the Azrieli Canadian Prize package includes a recording on the Analekta label and related promotional opportunities. The prize-winning composer will also be engaged in an international performance date organized by the Foundation as well as pre-gala education and outreach events. The total prize package is valued at over $200,000 per composer, making it the largest such prize in Canada and among the most lucrative on the world stage.

Established in 2014 by the Azrieli Foundation, the Azrieli Music Prizes offer opportunities for the discovery, performance and celebration of excellence in new music. The first two prizes, awarded for the composition of new Jewish music, are now open to the international music community, including Canadians. Works are nominated by individuals and institutions from all nationalities, faiths, backgrounds and affiliations, and submitted to the jury through the biennial open call for scores and proposals.

The inaugural AMP Gala Concert took place in October 2016 with the Orchestre symphonique de Montreal under Maestro Kent Nagano.

About the Azrieli Foundation
For almost 30 years, the Azrieli Foundation has funded institutions as well as operated programs in Canada and Israel. The Foundation supports music and the arts, scientific and medical research, higher education, Holocaust education, youth empowerment and school perseverance, architecture and quality of life initiatives for people with developmental disabilities. – Canadian Jewish News/Azrieli Foundation