Emerging Composer Workshop 2015

Applications to Soundstreams’ 2015 Emerging Composer Workshop are now open!

We are thrilled to share that we will be hosting two visiting international guest mentors in 2015: prominent Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho and pioneering electronic-music composer Jean-Baptiste Barrière. Combined, they represent a complete spectrum of approaches between acoustic, electroacoustic, and electronic music—perfect for today’s aspiring composers who are increasingly fluent in both worlds.






It’s been a joy to watch this program evolve over the last three years. Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney has connected our participants with distinguished international composers and terrific resident ensembles. We’ve taken care to listen to feedback from our emerging composers and the community, and this year our Artistic Associate Kyle Brenders has crafted a particularly rich and diverse set of activities for our group of emerging talent. Everything from composition seminars, ensemble workshop sessions, concerts, to clinking glasses at networking sessions, combine for an intensive ten-day experience.

The Emerging Composer Workshop allows us to realize our goal of providing emerging Canadian composers an invaluable opportunity to advance their careers to the next level. Not only is this a great opportunity for the program participants, Soundstreams also has a vested interest in seeking out and supporting the next generation of composers in Canada. Our workshop alumni will no doubt forge exciting careers over the coming decades, and we are thankful for the opportunity to be a part of that journey. We’re proud of the culture of innovation that permeates everything Soundstreams does. Lawrence Cherney tirelessly seeks new directions and inspirations for our programming.  As we evolve our artistic identity in the years to come, we hope to grow alongside the next generation of emerging talent.

In thespirit of freely exchanging ideas, there will also be a host of exciting events surrounding the workshop which are open to the public and the broader music community. Some of the highlights include:

  • May 19 – Composition Seminar with Jean-Baptiste Barrière
  • May 19 – Concert of works by Jean-Baptiste Barrière and Kaija Saariaho at The Alliance Française de Toronto
  • May 21 – The Royal Conservatory of Music presents the works of Kaija Saariaho, part of the 21C Festival
  • May 22 – Concert of Emerging Composers Works at The Royal Conservatory of Music, part of the 21C Festival

We encourage you to spread the word about this fantastic opportunity widely, and hope you’ll join us at some of these occasions.


Learn more about the Emerging Composer Workshop

APPLY NOW! Applications are due December 15, 2014 at midnight.

The Soundstreams Emerging Composer Workshop is made possible with generous support from The Koerner Foundation, The Ernst von Siemens Music Foundation, RBC Emerging Artists Project, Roger D. Moore, The Canadian Music Centre, Murray and Marvelle Koffler, The Hal Jackman Foundation and the SOCAN Foundation.