Blog Composer Spotlight

Why does Vivier matter?

by Lawrence Cherney, Founding Artistic Director, Soundstreams It has been said that as a composer, Claude Vivier had the purity of a child, and as a man, he played with fire. He was murdered one fateful… Read More

Soundstreams and R. Murray Schafer — A 30-Year Collaboration

We mourn the loss of R. Murray Schafer. He was one-of-a-kind, one of the most remarkable artists ever to come out of Canada. He was the Wagner of the North:… Read More

Composer Spotlight: Kevin Lau

In honour of the Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, we’re pleased to feature Toronto composer Kevin Lau.  Piece: Between the Earth and Forever (2020) From the Composer: Between the Earth… Read More

Composer Spotlight: Bruce A. Russell, Part 2

We’re pleased to be featuring composer Bruce A. Russell this February as part of Black History Month. Check in for deep dives on works specially chosen by him. Piece: Companion,… Read More

Composer Spotlight: Bruce A. Russell

We’re pleased to be featuring composer Bruce A. Russell this February as part of Black History Month. Check in for deep dives on works specially chosen by him. Piece: Kalimba… Read More

SoundStories: Spotlight on James Rolfe

We hope you enjoy this edition of SoundStories, with a deep dive into the music of James Rolfe. Composer Spotlight: James Rolfe “One of our most gifted composers of new… Read More

SoundStories: Spotlight on Cecilia Livingston

We hope you enjoy this edition of SoundStories, with a deep dive into the music of Cecilia Livingston. Composer Spotlight: Cecilia Livingston “this vast and curious creative mind” – Wholenote… Read More

SoundStories: Spotlight on Morton Feldman

We hope you enjoy this edition of SoundStories, with a deep dive into the music of Morton Feldman. Composer Spotlight: Morton Feldman “Art in relation to life is nothing more… Read More

SoundStories: Spotlight on Max Richter

We hope you enjoy this edition of SoundStories, with a deep dive into the music of Max Richter.  Composer Spotlight: Max Richter One of the classical repertoire’s best-known standards gives birth… Read More

SoundStories: Spotlight on Christopher Mayo

We hope you enjoy this edition of SoundStories, with a deep dive into the music of Christopher Mayo. “I’m so grateful to have been given the opportunity to participate in the Seven Deadly Sins project… Read More

SoundStories: Spotlight on Ana Sokolović

We hope you enjoy this edition of SoundStories, with a deep dive into Ana Sokolović, recent Juno award winner for the classical composition of the year. Composer Spotlight: Ana Sokolović Composer Ana Sokolović was born in Belgrade… Read More

The Rise of Minimalism

(the following is an article from the Winter 2012 edition of Listen Magazine, reprinted with permission) A short history of the people and gestures that made a movement. By Menon… Read More

SoundStories: Spotlight on Steve Reich

We hope you enjoy this edition of SoundStories, with a deep dive into the world of Steve Reich. Composer Spotlight: Steve Reich “American composer Steve Reich has strong links to Toronto: 2… Read More

SoundStories: Spotlight on John Cage

by Soundstreams Staff We hope you enjoy this edition of SoundStories, with a deep dive into the music of John Cage. Composer Spotlight: John Cage “History of Western music can be… Read More

TD Online Composer in Residence: SlowPitchSound

“The first thing I let my students know is that there are no limits,” – SlowPitchSound Soundstreams is excited to announce that DJ SlowPitchSound is our 2018 TD SoundMakers Composer… Read More

Need to Know: The Composers of “Northern Encounters”

Stumped by Somers? Stuck on Sibelius? Our season opener Northern Encounters features works by some of history’s greatest composers, but that doesn’t mean it’s stuffy. Get to know a little… Read More

Four Things You Need to Know About Claude Vivier

Written by: Katerina Gimon Montreal-born composer, Claude Vivier was not your typical Western classical composer. He lived a short, intense, and passionate life driven by his yearning for new experience… Read More

August Murphy-King is the Frank Delling and Elisabeth Bihl Emerging Composer of Distinction for 2017

All six of Soundstreams’ 2017 Emerging Composer Workshop participants are exciting rising stars in contemporary music. From this talented cohort, Soundstreams, in collaboration with Frank Delling and Elisabeth Bihl, chooses… Read More

Announcing Soundstreams’ Emerging Composer Workshop Participants

We are thrilled to announce our participating composers for our fifth annual Emerging Composer Workshop. This year’s six participants are from across Canada and the USA, including New York, Halifax… Read More

TD Composer of the Month: Philip Glass

Philip Glass, born in Baltimore Maryland in 1937, is an American composer and, despite not liking the term, he is considered the father of minimalism. Glass discovered his love of… Read More

TD Composer of the Month: R. Murray Schafer

Canadian R. Murray Schafer (C.C.) has achieved an international reputation as a composer, educator, environmentalist, scholar, and visual artist. He was born in Sarnia, Ontario and raised in Toronto. A… Read More

Q and A with Composer Riho Esko Maimets

On February 2, Riho Esko Maimets returns home for the premiere of his newest work Three Prayers from the Holy Rosary with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir. Born here in… Read More

TD Composer of the Month for January: Omar Daniel

Omar Daniel is a Toronto-based composer creating work for solo voice, electronics, and orchestra. Currently an Associate Professor of composition at Western University in London, Ontario, Daniel has received multiple… Read More

Q&A with 2017 TD SoundMakers Composer in Residence Andrew Staniland

Soundstreams is excited to announce that Canadian composer Andrew Staniland is our 2017 TD SoundMakers Composer in Residence! During his time in this role, he will be working with students… Read More