A piano concerto written in the 1940s by an 18-year-old Canadian composer, described as a genius by Sergei Rachmaninoff, is about to receive its Ontario première more than 70 years later.

Pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico joins the Kindred Spirits Orchestra and conductor Kristian Alexander in the first Ontario performance of the Piano Concerto No. 4 by André Mathieu (1929-1968), on May 11, 2019, at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts, in Richmond Hill, ON.

Montreal composer André Mathieu was a child prodigy, considered the “Canadian Mozart.” Having composed his fourth concerto at only 18, he gave several performances of it. However, no complete score seemed to exist until noted Quebec pianist Alain Lefèvre was given recordings made by Mathieu. Lefèvre engaged composer Gilles Bellemare to re-construct the work from the recordings, and a few handwritten pages. Lefèvre subsequently recorded it in 2008, and performed it in Montréal and the U.S.  Lynn René Bayley of Fanfare called the concerto “truly a work of genius.”

“Rachmaninoff on steroids,” is how Petrowska Quilico describes the concerto. “It’s challenging to play, but is a very expressive work, with lush harmonies, that I think will appeal to a wide audience. The pianist also has the benefit of leeway, in places, for his or her own interpretation.”

“André Mathieu has a unique style and exceptional talent for mixing orchestral colours,” said Kristian Alexander, Music Director of Kindred Spirits Orchestra. “I hope his inspired writing will continue attracting audiences across Canada and abroad.”



SOCAN member Drake won 12 awards out of 17 nominations at the 2019 edition of the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) on May 1, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, bringing his career total to 27 trophies – which makes him the top award winner in the almost 30-year history of the event.

Among Drake’s 2019 Awards were Top Male Artist, Top Artist, and Top Billboard 200 Album – and it was the second time that he’s won the latter two awards in the past three years.

While accepting the Top Billboard 200 album for Scorpion, Drake said he’d fulfilled his wish to make a double album, and won’t be making another one. “Thank you to everybody who gave me their time and their energy,” he said, “who stayed away from their family and their friends while we were trying to complete this.” He also added, in a reference to the April 28 episode of Game of Thrones, and while making a stabbing motion with his trophy, “Shout-out to Arya Stark for putting in that work last week, ay!”

After he won Top Artist, he said, “I just want to thank my mom for her relentless effort in my life. I want to thank my mom for all the times you drove me to piano. All the times you drove me to basketball and hockey – that clearly didn’t work out. All the times you drove me to Degrassi. No matter how long it took me to figure out what I wanted to do, you were always there to give me a ride, and now we’re on one hell of ride.”



The next edition of the SOCAN Awards Gala will once again salute the remarkable work of music publishers with the Publisher of the Year Award. Publishers are invited to submit their nominations starting today.

The SOCAN Publisher of the year Award recognizes a publisher member who contributed in a significant and positive manner to the music industry and creative community during the year leading up to the Gala.

The eligibility period for the 2019 edition of the SOCAN Awards is from January 1 to December 31, 2018, and only the accomplishments that occured during this period will be taken under consideration. All nominations will be evaluated by a jury of music industry professionals.

To be eligible, a publisher mus be based in Canada and their repertoire be in large part Francophone or having had a significant Francophone impact creatively and commercially. A publisher whose representative sits on the selection committee is not eligible for this award. Nominations for the Montréal SOCAN Awards Gala must be submitted to Stéphanie Falco (stephanie.falco@socan.com) no later than May 31, 2019, at 5 p.m., EDT.

The Publisher of the year Award will be presented during the 30th Montréal SOCAN Awards Gala on Sunday, September 22, 2019.

Download the nomination form