Toronto Emerging Composer Award

The Canadian Music Centre Toronto Emerging Composer Award recognizes the excellent work of emerging concert music creators in the Greater Toronto Area.

The Award supports the creation of a new musical work, or the completion of an existing music-based project. It will be offered to the candidate who best demonstrates artistic excellence matched by innovation, experimentation, and a willingness to take risks. The Toronto Emerging Composer Award is made possible through the support of Roger D. Moore, and generous individual supporters.

Prizes and Awards

The prize value of the CMC Toronto Emerging Composer Award is $6,000. If the jury offers an honourable mention to a candidate, the Award prize may be reduced to no lower than $5,000 CAN and the candidate receiving the honourable mention may receive a prize of no more than $1,000 CAN. Composers who receive an honourable mention in previous rounds of the Award competition may re-submit in an attempt to win the CMC Toronto Emerging Composer Award.

Eligibility

Self-identified early career (emerging) composers residing within the Greater Toronto Area.
Please be aware that commissioned musical works, and compositions that have already received full financial assistance from elsewhere, are ineligible.
Past winners of the Toronto Emerging Composer Award are not eligible to apply.

Submission Requirements

Candidates should submit:

Project Description: Outline the proposed new work or existing but incomplete music-based project. The description should explain how the project and the Award will advance the candidate’s artistic and career development.
Project Plan: A preliminary timeline for project completion.
Budget Summary: provide estimates of revenue and expenses. If expenses exceed the Award’s prize amount, candidates must demonstrate how they will secure the additional revenue.
Candidate Description: CV including a list of works and activities to date.
Support Materials: The musical scores of three works, plus accompanying recordings of these works in performance (where possible). Electroacoustic pieces may be presented without written scores.

Submission Format

Proposals should be submitted using the CMC’s online form. Written components are entered into the form. Scores and CV can be attached as PDF documents. Audio and/or video support material should be uploaded to Vimeo, Youtube, or another reliable streaming service and should remain available until the conclusion of the jury process. A link to streaming audio and video can be added to the online form.

Selection Process

A jury comprised of three representatives from Toronto’s new music community will assess the submissions and select the successful Award candidate. The jury’s membership will include a mix of composers, artistic directors, and presenters/administrators from Toronto. The Ontario office of the CMC will be convener for the jury.

While the jury is instructed to select one winner, they may offer an honourable mention to one other candidate. The decision of the jury will be treated as final. Applicants can request feedback from the jury process. There is no procedure for appealing the jury’s decision.

Condition of Award

The Award winner must submit a one-page progress report and any relevant documentation to the Ontario Regional Office of the Canadian Music Centre (CMC-Ontario) within six months of receipt of the Award. The Award winner, with the support of CMC Ontario, will make efforts to see her/his Award project realized for public presentation in a future concert season.