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September 11th, 2017


Graham Sommer Competition for Young Composers
New in 2017, the Graham Sommer Competition for Young Composers encourages the creation of new Canadian chamber music by up-and-coming composers. The competition recognizes works for chamber music formations, including piano, that have the potential to engage a wide audience and become part of the standard repertoire. This national competition is administered by McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The jury is made up of international and Canadian composers, Canadian musicians, and seasoned chamber music concert-goers. Five finalists will receive cash prizes ranging from $5,000 to $15,000 CAD and their works will be premiered in a concert at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. Submissions for the 2017 Graham Sommer Competition for Young Composers are now open. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2017. more


August 29th, 2017


Welcome to Georgia Spiropoulos, Distinguished Visiting Chair in Music (Composition) and Acting Director of the Digital Composition Studios for the 2017/18 academic year. Born in Athens - Greece, 1965. She studied classical piano, harmony, counterpoint and fugue in Athens and she worked as a performer, arranger and transcriber of Greek oral-tradition music. She moved to Paris in 1996 where she studied composition & electroacoustic music with Philippe Leroux, form analysis with Michael Lévinas and computer music at IRCAM (with Jonathan Harvey, Tristan Murail, Brian Ferneyhough, Marco Stroppa, Philippe Hurel and Ivan Fedele) and at the "Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences" (EHESS, Paris) with Marc Chemillier, Pierre Judet de la Combe and Francis Zimmermann. She won the "Villa Médicis Hors les Murs" prize for NYC and she has been made Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters of the French Republic. Georgia Spiropoulos collaborates regularly with IRCAM where she has been working as a composer-in-residence. She gave lectures and master classes at Columbia University NY, University of California Santa Barbara, IRCAM, Hochschule für Musik und Theater München, University of Paris 7 and Paris 8, ICMC and SMC International Conferences, Paris Conservatory CRR, Tel Aviv Conservatory, Alte Schmiede-Vienna, French Institut of Athens. She writes articles on contemporary music and she has been a jury member for the ICMC and SMC International Conference and for IRCAM Cursus and artistic research residences. She is the Instructor of: MUCO341-Digital Studio Composition I, Fall 2017


January 24th, 2015

John Rea Days @ Schulich: Public Interview with John Rea and Chris Paul Harman: Introduction to John Rea’s works and aesthetic (30’) Presentation/Analysis by John Rea and performance of Études Multiples (1996) for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn and piano (15’+15’), featuring: Jocelyne Roy, flute; Michael Johnson, oboe; Lorenzo Kleine, clarinet; Peter Clark, horn; Kristy Tucker, bassoon; Suren Barry, piano; Jacqueline Leclair, coach. Presentation/Analysis by John Rea and performance of Treppenmusik (1982) (15’+17’), featuring: McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Guillaume Bourgogne, in collaboration with the Digital Composition Studios.
Tanna Schulich Hall
7:30pm


July, 2013

Fonds de recherche du Quebec: Jimmie Leblanc (PhD student in instrumental composition) is an award winner of the Fonds Société et culture for his publication Xenakis’ Aesthetic Project: The Paradoxes of a Formalist Intuition Published in Xenakis Matters, Pendragon Press, New York. "In a cultural context in which arts and technologies are combined and compounded as never before, Jimmie Leblanc’s paper demonstrates the great relevance of Xenakis’ work. While the study reveals how science and art can sustain each other and produce unprecedented innovation, it also challenges the place and role of science in the aesthetic experience. Composers, performers, concert producers and music enthusiasts will gain from this reflection, which touches upon current issues in music."


June 25th, 2013

SOCAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF 22nd ANNUAL YOUNG COMPOSERS AWARDS; Nine of the fourteen composers awarded in the 2013 edition of the SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers are current or former McGill composition students.

Toronto, June 19th, 2013-The SOCAN Foundation (the Foundation) announced today the recipients of the 22nd Annual SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers. This year's competition attracted 184 entries,awarding a total $29,250 in prizes. This year, for the first time ever, a female composer, Marielle Groven (BMus 2006, MMus 2009) was the sole winner of -The John Weinzweig Grand Prize-. The annual SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers recognize Canadian composers under 30 years of age for specific musical works in five categories of concert music.

First prizes($3000) in the five categories were awarded to Wei-Chieh Lin -Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards- and -Pierre Mercure Awards-, Marielle Groven (BMus 2006, MMus 2009) -Serge Garant Awards-, Frédéric Le Bel -Pierre Mercure Awards-, Marie-Claire Saindon (BMus 2007) and Anna Pidgorna -Godfrey Ridout Awards- (shared) and James O'Callaghan (MMus current) -Hugh Le Caine Awards-.

Additional Award recipients include: Ashkan Behzadi (BMus 2012) (second prize) and Haralabos Stafylakis (BMus 2010) (third prize) in the -Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards-; Taylor Brook (MMus 2010) and Alec Hall (BMus 2007) (second prize/shared) and Matthew Ricketts (BMus 2009) (third prize) in the -Serge Garant Awards-; Philippe Béland (second prize) and Anna Pidgorna (third prize) in the -Pierre Mercure Awards-; Patrick Murray (second prize) and Haralabos Stafylakis (BMus 2010) (third prize) in the -Godfrey Ridout Awards-; and Stephen Spencer (BMus 2012) (second prize) and Guillaume Côte (third prize) in the -Hugh Le Caine Awards-.

The John Weinzweig Grand Prize in the 2012 SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers was awarded to Berlin-based composer Marielle Groven (BMus 2006, MMus 2009). The prize, for the best overall work submitted in the competition, is valued at $3,000. Marielle was recognized for her work Animaris Currens Ventosa for large ensemble

“What made Groven’s work unique and especially attracted us,is the uniqueness of her sound, the wonderful use of instrumental techniques that makes the violin sound almost like an ondes Martenot. She is clearly very creative.”


April 6th, 2013

MUCO 542 Class Concert - Final Projects of MUCO 542- The students presented their final projects from Advanced Digital Studio Composition II (MUCO 542) Philippe Leroux; instructor, Eliot Britton; teaching assistant


April 7th, 2013

MUCO 342 Class Concert - Final Projects of MUCO 342- The students presented their final projects from Digital Studio Composition II (MUCO 342) Beavan Flanagan; Instructor, Scott Rubin; teaching assistant


March 28th, 2013

ASCAP Foundation news: Matthew Ricketts (BMus 2009) is among this year’s recipients of the 2013 ASCAP Foundation's 'Morton Gould Young Composer Award'.


March 24th, 2013

Schulich Professional Concerts: Emily Westell, violin __ (Eliot Britton/electronics)


February 28th, 2013

Schulich School Singers: Rachid Safir, guest conductor (Scott Rubin/electronics)


February 20th, 2013

CME concert: Cristian Gort, guest conductor Feauturing works by VIVIER,ADÁMEK and SAARIAHO (Scott Rubin/electronics)


June 12th, 2012

SOCAN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF ANNUAL YOUNG COMPOSERS AWARDS; 15 young composers honoured in total,ten of whom hold degrees from or are currently studying at McGill University's Schulich School of Music.

Toronto, June 12th, 2011-The SOCAN Foundation (the Foundation) announced today the recipients of the 21st Annual SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers. This year's competition attracted 167 entries,awarding a total $29,250 in prizes. This year, for the first time ever, a female composer, Zosha Di Castri (BMus 2007) was co-winner of -The John Weinzweig Grand Prize-. The annual SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers recognize Canadian composers under 30 years of age for specific musical works in five categories of concert music.

First prizes($3000) in the five categories were awarded to Zosha Di Castri (BMus 2007) -Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards-, Matthew Ricketts (BMus 2009) -Serge Garant Awards-, Frédéric Le Bel -Pierre Mercure Awards-, Marielle Groven (BMus 2006, MMus 2009) -Godfrey Ridout Awards- and Adam Basanta -Hugh Le Caine Awards-.

Additional Award recipients include: Brian Harman (MMus 2007, DMus-current) (second prize) and Adam Scime (third prize) in the -Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards-; Christopher Goddard (BMus 2008) and Alec Hall (BMus 2007) (second prize/shared) and Duncan Schouten (MMus - current) (third prize) in the -Serge Garant Awards-; Luke Nickel (MMus - current) (second prize) and Ashkan Behzadi (BMus 2012) (third prize) in the -Pierre Mercure Awards-; Alec Hall (BMus 2007) and Christopher Goddard (BMus 2008) (second prize/shared) and Vahram Sargsyan (MMus - incoming) (third prize) in the -Godfrey Ridout Awards-; and Simon Chioini (second prize) and Guillaume Barrette (third prize) in the -Hugh Le Caine Awards-.

The John Weinzweig Grand Prize in the 2012 SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers was awarded jointly to Montreal-based composers Zosha Di Castri (BMus 2007) and Adam Basanta. The prize, for the best overall work submitted in the competition, is valued at $3,000. The two composers were recognized, respectively, for their works Alba for orchestra, and Three Myths of Liberalism an electroacoustic work.


April 15th, 2012

MUCO 542 Class Concert - Final Projects of MUCO 542- The students presented their final projects from Advanced Digital Studio Composition II (MUCO 542) Philippe Leroux; Instructor, Marlon Schumacher; teaching assistant


April 14th, 2012

MUCO 342 Class Concert - Final Projects of MUCO 342- The students presented their final projects from Digital Studio Composition II (MUCO 342) Anthony Tan; Instructor, Duncan Schouten; teaching assistant


April 3rd, 2012

DCS Hybrid concert - featuring works by 2 MUCO 542 students and 2 DCS Alumni.-Works by Stephen Sinclair,Kit Soden, Preston Beebe and Jason Noble with guest soprano Rebecca Woodmass


August 6th, 2011

The Composition Area is pleased to announce that distinguished composer Philippe Leroux will be joining the Schulich School of Music as Professor of Composition beginning in the 2011-12 academic year Leroux writes articles on contemporary music, has given lectures and taught composition at Berkeley University (California), Harvard, Grieg Academy (Bergen), Columbia University (New-York), Royal Conservatory of Copenhagen, University of Toronto, Fondation Royaumont, IRCAM, American Conservatoire at Fontainebleau, Paris and Lyon Conservatoires Nationaux Supérieurs, Domaine Forget (Quebec) , and Georgia Institute of Technology at Atlanta. From 2001 to 2006 he was a teacher in composition at IRCAM in the frame of the "Cursus d'Informatique Musicale".From 2007 to 2009 he was composer-in-residence at Metz Arsenal and at Orchestre National de Lorraine, then from 2009 to 2011, invited professor at Université de Montréal (UdeM). Professor Leroux was a fondation Daniel Langlois visiting professor at the Schulich School of Music for the 2005-06 academic year. His seminal piece Voi(rex)(2002) was performed by the Nouvel Ensemble Modern in Pollack Hall during the opening concert of the 2005 Montréal Nouvelles Musiques (MNM) Festival and again during MusiMars 2010.


July 14th, 2011

SOCAN FOUNDATION PRESENTS ANNUAL YOUNG COMPOSERS AWARDS; 12 young composers honoured in total,six of whom hold degrees from or are currently studying at McGill University's Schulich School of Music.

Toronto, July 14th, 2011-The SOCAN Foundation (the Foundation) announced today the recipients of the 20th Annual SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers. This year's competition attracted 218 entries,awarding a total $29,250 in prizes. Nine of the 12 prize winners are Quebec-based. The annual SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers recognize Canadian composers under 32 years of age for specific musical works in five categories of concert music.

First prizes in the five categories were awarded to Maxime McKinley (Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards), Beavan Flanagan (Serge Garant Awards), Adam Basata (Pierre Mercure Awards), Darren Russo (Godfrey Ridout Awards) and Eliot Britton (Hugh Le Caine Awards).

Additional Award recipients include: Jordan Pal (second prize) and Fiona Ryan (third prize) in the Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards; Zosha Di Castri (second prize) and Haralabos Stafylakis (third prize) in the Serge Garant Awards; Jared Miller (second prize) and Maxime McKinley (third prize) in the Pierre Mercure Awards; Haralabos Stafylakis (second prize) and Zosha Di Castris (third prize) in the Godfrey Ridout Awards; and Émile Payeur (second prize) and Éliane Préfontaine (third prize) in the Hugh Le Caine Awards.

The John Weinzweig Grand Prize in the 2011 SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers was awarded jointly to Montreal-based composers Maxime McKinley and Beavan Flanagan. The prize, for the best overall work submitted in the competition, is valued at $3,000. The two composers were recognized, respectively, for their works Concerto “Fisher-Price” for recorder and 15 instruments, and L'essence perd son sens for string trio.


June 1st, 2011

The International Alliance for Women in Music (IAWM) Announces Winners of 2011 Search for New Music Competition - Pauline Oliveros Prize- for works for electro-acoustic media. Winner: Nina C. Young ( currently completing her Masters in composition at the Schulich School of Music ) Honorable Mention: Leah Reid ( BMus Composition 2007 from The Schulich School of Music )


May 6th, 2011

Doctoral Lecture-Recital: Amy Horvey, trumpet


May 2nd, 2011

Professor Sean Ferguson named Schulich School Dean -The Board of Governors has approved the appointment of Prof. Sean Ferguson as Dean of the Schulich School of Music for a five-year term from 1 May 2011 to 30 June 2016.

Prof. Ferguson has a long involvement with McGill, which began in 1990 with his graduate studies in composition with Professor John Rea. Sean joined the Faculty as Assistant Professor of Composition and Director of the Digital Composition Studios in 2003, and was named Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology in 2009. A composer who bridges the diverse areas of music performance and research, Sean's collaboration with colleagues in other McGill Faculties and at other Montreal universities directly advances McGill's strategic emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches and regional, national and international innovation. When asked about his new deanship, he noted that "becoming Dean of one of the world's leading schools of music is a humbling responsibility, and to work with the many talented and dedicated staff and students for whom I have immense respect is a joy."

December 4th, 2010

System Exclusive: MUCO 341 Class Concert-An intimate Music Concrete Experience and Diffusion Workshop By the McGill Digital Composition Studios (MUCO 341) Anthony Tan; instructor, Duncan Schouten; teaching assistant
Wirth Opera Studio
7:30pm- Free admission


December 3rd, 2010

CONCERT OF ELECTROACOUSTIC JAZZ-A special project of Masters student James Danderfer, with the collaboration of the DCS was presented in Tanna Hall at 8pm. Featuring James Danderfer /clarinet and EWI, Dan Reynolds /keyboard, Tristan Paxton /guitar, Ewan Stewart /electric and acoustic bass, Efa Etaroma /V-drums

September 10th, 2010

SOCAN FOUNDATION PRESENTS ANNUAL YOUNG COMPOSERS AWARDS; 13 young composers honoured in total,Seven of whom hold degrees from or are currently studying at McGill University's Schulich School of Music.

Toronto, Aug. 26, 2010-The SOCAN Foundation (the Foundation) announced today the recipients of the 19th Annual SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers. This year's competition attracted a record 232 entries, with 13 award recipients and two multiple prize winners, receiving a total $26,250 in prizes. Seven of the 13 prize winners hold degrees from or are currently studying at McGill University's Schulich School of Music. The annual SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Composers recognize Canadian composers under 30 years of age for specific musical works in five categories of concert music.

First prizes in the five categories were awarded to Matthew Ricketts (Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards), Alec Hall (Serge Garant Awards), Taylor Brook and Trevor Grahl (shared, Pierre Mercure Awards), Nicholas Piper (Godfrey Ridout Awards) and Guillaume Barrette (Hugh Le Caine Awards).

Additional Award recipients include: Marielle Groven (second prize) and Alec Hall (third prize) in the Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards; Taylor Brook (second prize) and Roger Feria Jr. (third prize) in the Serge Garant Awards; Alexandra Fol (third prize) in the Pierre Mercure Awards; Gabriel Dharmoo (second prize) and Aaron Gervais (third prize) in the Godfrey Ridout Awards; and Adam Basanta (second prize) and Charles Quevillon (third prize) in the Hugh Le Caine Awards.


September 3rd, 2010

Welcome back !- Another academic year has started, with MUCO 541 meeting this afternoon and MUCO 341 set to meet tomorrow. Students in MUCO 341 can look forward to a new 27" core i7 equipped iMac and mackie 820i mixer/interface. Students in MUCO 541 as well as grad students in general can look forward to follow-me home directories ( home directories stored on our server ) to improve work flow when using multiple studios.


June 18th, 2010

McGill Electronic Music Studio Archives- We are pleased to announce online access to many electro-acoustic studio recordings and concert performances from the McGill Electronic Music Studio Archives (MEMSA). A searchable web form http://music.library.mcgill.ca/memsa_form.html provides a way to search and listen to this valuable and rich archival depository. A cooperative venture between the Schulich School of Music and the Marvin Duchow Music Library, the MEMSA online project is the result of the considerable efforts of many people, including the musicians and sound specialists who have lent their expertise throughout the history of McGill EMS activities. Special thanks go to alcides lanza, Cynthia Leive, Ichiro Fujinaga, and Sean Ferguson, as well as David Curtis, Andrew Hankinson, Kyle Jutras, Gabrielle Kern, Ian Knopke, Catherine Lai, Richard McKenzie, Neil Middleton, Oles Protsidym, Andrew Senior, and Meg Sheppard.


May 14th, 2010

Nina Young Wins BMI Student Composer Award -New York, May 14, 2010 - Composition Masters Student Nina Young is an award-winner at the 58th Annual BMI Student Composer Competition. Her winning piece Kolokol for two pianos and electronics, was written in the Digital Composition Studios. Nina studies with Professor Sean Ferguson.


May 14th, 2010

Violinist Mira Benjamin's recital was held in Pollack Hall. The recital featured three pieces composed at the DCS ; Beavan Flanagan's Dans l'esprit; out in the air for Violin and Live Electronics (composed for MUCO 542 and also presented at the class concert March 28th), Marielle Groven's Beschwörung also for Violin and Live Electronics, and Taylor Brook's Faith in Numbers a Concerto for Violin and Percussion Quartet. (programme) (photos)


April 14th, 2010

McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble -Denys Bouliane, director- As part of the symposium 'Music Theory Workshop on Italian Serialism'. Works presented will include McGill Masters Student-Composer Taylor Brook's Mitya for solo clarinet, 18 player ensemble +electronics (Mark Bradley, solo clarinet - Nina Young, live electronics) (programme) (photos)


March 28th, 2010

MUCO 542 Class Concert - Final Projects of MUCO 542 - The class concert (held in Tanna Schulich hall) featured works by six composition students (2 from MUCO 342) (programme) (photos)


March 27th, 2010

MUCO 342 Class Concert - QXSM Part 2, Final Projects of MUCO 342- The concert (held in Tanna Schulich hall) was well attended . 7 composition students presented their works for Instrument and tape. (programme) (photos)


March 20th, 2010

Designs In Harmony - Contemporary Music concert benefitting the Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation. Featuring works by McGill student composers: Thomas Carr,Nicholas Esterer,Duncan Schouten, Haralabos[Harry] Stafylakis and Nina C. Young. With speacial guests "Le Quatuor Bozzini" and "The Independent Orchestra at McGill" will be presented at Christ Church Cathedral ( 635 St. Catherine West ) at 20h30.


March 19th, 2010

Piano Ensemble Concert -Masters composition student Nina C. Young will have the premiere of her piece " Kolokol" for 2 pianos and electronics. (programme) (photos)


March 1st-6th, 2010

MusiMars 6th edition, Gestural Music-Musical Gesture (website)


December 7th, 2009

Jimmie LeBlanc Wins the Canada Council for the Arts 2009 Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music -Ottawa, December 7, 2009 - The Canada Council for the Arts announced today that composer Jimmie LeBlanc is the winner of the 2009 Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music for the work L'Espace intérieur du monde. The work was created for 15 musicians and electronics, and premiered in March 2008 in Lyon (France) by the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne under the baton of Lorraine Vaillancourt. This annual award is a partnership between the Canada Council, Canadian Music Centre and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation/Société Radio-Canada. The prize is designed to encourage the creation of new Canadian chamber music and to foster its performance by Canadian chamber groups. The $7,500 prize was established in 1978 by the Right Honourable Jules Léger, then Governor General of Canada. The competition for the prize is administered by the Canadian Music Centre. The Canada Council funds the award, selects the peer assessment committee and organizes the prize presentation ceremony. Every year, the winning work is broadcast nationally by CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique, Radio-Canada's music network. L'Espace intérieur du monde will be broadcast at a later date. The members of the peer assessment committee for the 2009 Jules Léger Prize were violinist Parmela Attariwala (Toronto), composer Michael Oesterle (Deux-Montagnes, QC) and composer David Eagle (Calgary). The committee was a "blind jury" which evaluated the works without knowing the names of the composers. Of L'Espace intérieur du monde, the committee said, "This is a raw and emotionally compelling work, effectively weaving electroacoustic elements and instrumental passages into musical gestures of extraordinary breadth."


December 5th, 2009

QXSM - more intelligent, less accessible-Hexaphonic fixed media compositions from the Class of MUC0 341 - Digital Studio Composition I were diffused in the Wirth Opera Studio . (poster 1) (poster 2) (poster 3)

November 15th, 2009

DCS Special Concert:In the context of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1st Electronic Music Concert in Canada( Moyse Hall, McGill University, November 30th, 1959) We are paying Hommage to the EMS Directors (1964-2002) (programme) (photos)


November 8th, 2009

McGill Open House/DCS Open House As part of the larger McGill Open House, our studios will be open for tours at 11am ,12noon,2pm and 3pm


August 16th-21st, 2009

2009 International Computer Music Conference:ICMC 2009 featured; paper sessions , demos , installations and 5 concerts in Pollack Hall as well as 4 concerts off site at Lion D'or (ICMC2009 website) (photos)


August 6th, 2009

McGill Students Winners of 2009 SOCAN Foundation Young Composers Awards:A number of current and former McGill students were prize winners. These include:

Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards Second Prize: ($1,500)-Roger Feria Jr.- Song of the Divine Strings, for chamber ensemble Third Prize: ($750)-Nicolas Gilbert- L'entreprise de seduction, for solo cello and chamber ensemble
Serge Garant Awards Second Prize: ($1,500)-Charles-Antoine Fréchette- Aspirations, for chamber ensemble and electronics Third Prize: ($750)- Nicolas Gilbert- Le temps des impossibles, for violin, clarinet, cello and piano
Pierre Mercure Awards Second Prize: ($1,500)- Félix Frédéric Baril- L'indocile, for bass clarinet and violin Third Prize: ($750)-Taylor Brook- It's Not Dark Yet, But It's Getting There, for piano solo
Godfrey Ridout Awards Second Prize: ($1,500)- Trevor Grahl- Sacred Emily, an opera for soprano, baritone, ensemble and live electronics (text by Gertrude Stein)


May 25th, 2009

Master's Recital: Amie Watson, percussion (programme) (photos)


May 19th, 2009

Doctoral Lecture/Recital: Chloé Dominguez, cello-Featuring David Adamcyk's 'Filon d'Or' as well as pieces by Brian Cherney and Ana Sokolovic, the lecture/recital was focused on pieces featuring the cello written by Quebec composers (programme) (photos)


April 8th, 2009

CME Concert - The concert featured premiere pieces by undergraduate composition students Matthew Ricketts and Darren Russo as well as D. Andrew Stewart's doctoral thesis work "Catching Air and the Superman" (for chamber orchestra, keyboard synthesiser and 2 t-sticks)(programme) (photos)


March 15th, 2009

MUCO 542 Class Concert - A Concert of Live Electronics - The class concert (held in Tanna Schulich hall) was perhaps the most daring ever. Mix together six composition students, a 4-core Mac Pro, Max/MSP, six performance students and a live audience . Talk about a pressure cooker!(programme) (photos)


March 14th, 2009

MUCO 342 Class Concert - Sensitive Feelings - with special guest ~spin~ - The concert (held in Tanna Schulich hall) was well attended . In the first half the students were able to diffuse their works using a 7 speaker surround setup. After intermission ~spin~ a new project of James Harley (electroacoustics, processing and sound diffusion) and Ellen Waterman (flutes/voice) was presented.(programme) (photos)


March 10th, 2009

Stephen Davidson's Master's recital was held in Pollack hall at 8pm. Stephen (bass clarinet, student of Lori Freedman) performed among other works , a piece by Kaija Saariaho "Oi kuu" featuring Chloé Dominguez on cello and "Phonessence" by Master's student in Composition Nina Young.(programme)


March 2nd-7th 2009

MusiMars 2009 "Distorted Time" BRUCKNER - WEBERN: Time Signatures. MusiMarch 2009 was a roaring success, presenting and linking together many different ways of manipulating time, in all their stretches and compressions... The 6 "Large-Scale-Events" (each evening had the length of two traditional concerts) provided exploratory paths fluctuating through contrasting musical periods, instrumental genres, forms, geographies, cultures and aesthetics.


February 2nd, 2009

EVOLUTION - CBC RADIO 2 AND ESPACE MUSIQUE ANNOUNCE FINALISTS OF COMPOSITION COMPETITION

Five of Canada's emerging composers are heading to the Banff Centre to create new works in the public spotlight. Two of the five David Adamcyk ( currently completing his DMus in Composition here at the Schulich School of Music) and Geof Holbrook ( MMus,BMus Schulich school of Music ) are no strangers to the DCS . They make Banff their home starting March 2, for a month-long, creative process documented on radio and online.  A total of $55,000 in prizes will be awarded overall.


   -Evolution's finalists are:

..more...

December 3rd, 2008

Jean Piché, Faculté de Musique, Université de Montréal: "Ears and eyes: Audiovisual compositions for high definition media" Four multichannel videomusic works were presented tracing the evolution of this new hybrid genre from early manifestations in the mid 1990's to the mind-bending possibilities of contemporary audiovisual technologies. The presentation in the MMR included the preview of a major new work for six percussionists and three High-Definition video channels. Part of live@CIRMMT


October 21st-24th, 2008

Duo pour un violoncelle et un danser ( a co-production of CIRMMT and Van Grimde Corps Secrets with technical support by the DCS) featuring music by Sean Ferguson, Doctoral candidate Chloé Dominguez on cello and control of spatilization using the T-Stick was performed in the MMR to rave reviews !


October 17th, 2008

Mantra (1970), for two pianists and live electronics by the late German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen (1928-2007) was performed by Xenia Pestova and guest pianist Pascal Meyer (Luxembourg), with graduate composition student Marielle Groven doing sound projection in Pollack Hall.


October 2nd, 2008

McGill Students Winners of 2008 SOCAN Foundation Young Composers Awards:

Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards Third Prize: $750-Marielle Groven-Topographie d'un lieu imaginaire,for orchestra
Serge Garant Awards First Prize: $3,000-Nicolas Gilbert-L'instant d'avant*, for piano trio
Pierre Mercure Awards Third Prize: $750-Trevor Grahl-Piece, for solo trumpet
Godfrey Ridout Awards First Prize: $3,000-Nicolas Gilbert-Ladomir, for soprano, clarinet, viola, percussion and piano
*Nicolas Gilbert was awarded the John Weinzweig Award for L'instant d'avant; the $3,000 grand prize is awarded by the Foundation to honour one composer's work judged best overall in the competition.


May 16th, 2008

Xenia Pestova's Doctoral Lecture-Recital was held in Tanna Schulich Hall at 8pm. It was followed by the DCS end-of-the-year party on the 8th floor of the new music building ! (Lecture/Recital photos)


April 30th, 2008

Erika Donald's Master's Recital was held in Tanna Schulich hall at 8pm


April 18th-20th 2008

The Incubator Conference presented six musical interludes, three of which featured pieces by McGill student composers.


April 11th, 2008

The class concert for MUCO 542


April 10th, 2008

The class concert for MUCO 342 (programme)


April 9th, 2008

The McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble concert in Pollack Hall featured the works of several McGill Composition students.


April 1st, 2008

"McGill Staff and Guest Series" presented TOCA LOCA with Aiyun Huang - percussion , Gregory Oh and Simon Docking - piano


March 3rd-7th, 2008

MusiMars 2008


February 8th, 2008

Fernando Rocha's Doctoral Lecture-Recital was held in Tanna Schulich Hall at 5pm.

"Works for percussion and computer-based live electronics- Aspects of performance with technology"

-Wooden Stars (2006-rev. 2008)_________________________Geof Holbrook

-Anamorfoses(2008 , world premiere)_____________________Sergio Freire

-Traces IV (2006-rev. 2008, North-American Premiere) _______Martin Matalon

-Improvisation for hyper-kalimba


July 25th, 2007

McGill Students Winners of 2007 SOCAN Foundation Young Composers Awards:A number of current and former McGill students were prize winners. These include:

Sir Ernest MacMillan Awards
First Prize: $1,750-Trevor Grahl-Urquitakluq (Sheltered, but with Gusts of Wind)*, for wind symphony. Second Prize: $1,000-Trevor Grahl-Mechanical Miniatures, for 15 instruments. Third Prize: $750-Nicolas Gilbert-Topographie d'un lieu imaginaire,for orchestra.
Serge Garant Awards First Prize: $2,500-David Adamcyk-Les pampres de la tonnelle, for flute, clarinet, trumpet, bassoon and string quartet. Second Prize (shared): $1,000-Brian Harman-Sink, for nine instruments. Second Prize (shared): $1,000 -Étienne Archambault-Mécaniques égarées, for flute, accordion and marimba. Third Prize: $750-Félix Frédéric Baril-Dérèglement passager de corps hétérogènes, for seven instruments.
Pierre Mercure Awards First Prize: $3,000-Geof Holbrook-Trans/Fusion, for piano and percussion. Second Prize: $1,500- Félix Frédéric Baril- Third Prize: $750-Nicolas Gilbert-Le mécanique, l'organique, le hasard, for violin and piano.
Godfrey Ridout Awards First Prize: $3,000-David Adamcyk-Avant la larme, for soprano, tenor saxophone and guitar.
Hugh Le Caine Awards First Prize: $3,000-Geof Holbrook-Wooden Stars, for solo percussion and electronics. Third Prize: $750-Trevor Grahl-Oranges and Lemons, for melodica, percussion and tape.

*Trevor Grahl was awarded the first-ever John Weinzweig Award for Urquitakluq; the $3,000 grand prize was introduced by the Foundation this year to honour one composer's work judged best overall in the competition.


January, 2007

Geof Holbrook Wins Prix Opus - Geof Holbrook, who recently graduated with a Master's in composition from McGill, is the winner of the 2005-06 Prix Opus for best new composition of the year, given by the Conseil Québécois de la Musique. Geof won for his piece Trans/Fusion for piano and percussion, which was performed by pianist Brigitte Poulin and percussionist D'Arcy Philip Gray in a concert by the SMCQ, November 15 2005.


January, 2007

Paul Frehner Wins OSM Prize - Paul Frehner (D.Mus. 2004) is the winner of the Claude Vivier National Prize of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal's International Composition Prize. He received a prize of $10,000 and his winning work, Lila for stereophonic orchestra, will be performed by the OSM, led by Kent Nagano, at a Gala Concert to be held during the 2007-08 season. It will also be recorded on compact disc by CBC Records. Paul Frehner received all of his university composition training at McGill, including degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. He was recently hired as professor of composition at the Don Wright Faculty of Music of the University of Western Ontario. Bravo, Paul!