SOCAN Foundation is proud to announce that this year, 21 honors, totaling more than $45,000, are being awarded to SOCAN member composers aged 30 and under who’ve distinguished themselves through their composition talent in the Young Canadian Composers Awards.
The annual awards are designed to recognize Canadian composers for their original concert music works in five categories:
- Large Ensemble (for works composed for at least 13 performers up to a full orchestra, with or without singers or electroacoustic elements);
- Chamber Orchestra (instrumental works composed for a minimum of three and a maximum of 12 performers, with or without singers and/or electroacoustic elements);
- Solo or Duo (for solo or duo works, with or without electroacoustic elements);
- Choral (works for an unlimited number of voices, with or without instrumentation and/or electroacoustic elements);
- Electroacoustic (live or pre-recorded electroacoustic works intended to be performed, at least in part, through speakers. Multimedia works and the use of acoustic instruments or voices, live or pre-recorded, are allowed in this category. The main element of the work must be electroacoustic).
A grand prize is awarded in this competition for the work deemed best by the jury members (jury composed of Stefani Truant, Philippe Macnab-Seguin and Nicholas Denton Protsack). This year, the award goes to Ontario‑born, London‑based Canadian composer Omri Kochavi for his piece Kishtatos.
“Supporting the next generation of music creators remains central to SOCAN Foundation’s mission,” said Executive Director Charlie Wall‑Andrews. “This award offers national recognition that can help elevate their visibility and open new pathways for their artistic and professional growth.”
Here are the 2025 winners in each category:
SOLO AND DUETS
1st Prize: Philip Przybylo (ON) – O Czasie, Twe Piramidy
2nd Prize: Corie Rose Soumah (QC) – Limpidités VI
3rd Prize: Michele Selvaggi (ON) – Slipping away, and merely a residue
21 and under: Danial Sheibani (ON) – 5 Knocks on Pearl Isle
CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
1st Prize: Luke Blackmore (NL) – Dark Nebulae
2nd Prize: Mark Marinic (BC) – Thaw
3rd Prize: Aliayta Foon-Dancoes (BC) – 12th and Fraser
21 and under: Danial Sheibani (ON) – In My Blooming Gray Heart
CHORAL
1st Prize: Esther-Ruth Teel (QC) – Sapphic Passion – Part Six (excerpt)
2nd Prize: Edwin Ng (QC) – Invoking the Sound of Wind
3rd Prize: Hope Salmonson (NB) – Ubi caritas et amor
21 and under: Christiaan Van Zyl (ON) – Question 107
ELECTROACOUSTIC
1st Prize: Michele Selvaggi (ON) – If all I had left you were my voice (i)
2nd Prize: Corie Rose Soumah (QC) – porcelains/eco/#stillmagical
3rd Prize (tie): Luke Blackmore (NL) – Gnarl
3rd Prize (tie): Nicholas Ma (ON) – Assembly Line Apparitions
LARGE ENSEMBLE
1st Prize: Leo Purich (QC) – SAMARAS: Passacaglia for Strings / pour cordes
2nd Prize: Nicholas Ma (ON) – Hijinks
3rd Prize: Liam Ritz (ON) – Dance Scenes from the Living Room
21 and under: Ashton Latimer (BC) – Overflow