Graham Sommer Competition Postponed to 2021
MONTREAL, QUEBEC, July 31, 2020 -听In light of听the COVID-19 pandemic and with the health and well-being of the composers, musicians, jury, and audience in mind, the 2020 edition of the Graham Sommer Competition for Young Composers (GSC) has been postponed until听September 2021.听听听
Dr. Graham Sommer鈥檚 intention for this competition was to create works with the potential to connect with the concert-going public, and we are confident that this decision听supports his听vision.听听
Our aim in postponing is to听give听finalists additional composition time;听allow听activities to resume听to a 鈥渘ew鈥� normal; permit in-person听rehearsals for the musical ensemble; enable travel to and from Montreal for our finalists and jury听members; and to welcome a live audience at the Final Concert and Prize Gala.听听
Considering听the听current听state of the听arts community,听the donor鈥檚 family, the Schulich School of Music, and the GSC Advisory听Committee听wanted to acknowledge the听work听done by听finalists听Alec Hall, Laurence听Jobidon, Michael Kim-Sheng, Jared Miller, and Matthew Ricketts听and听the GSC鈥檚 commitment to them.听In听this听spirit,听following听the new submission deadline and upon delivery of the final composition, the GSC will听award $3,000 CA听to each finalist. This is a portion of the monetary prize offered to each of the finalists for participation in the GSC,听normally听presented at the Concert and Prize Gala.听
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The main source of income for many artists rely on performances and commissioned听works, and听some (if not all) of these contracts may have been cancelled and postponed due to COVID. Though听Amy Hillis (violin), Chlo茅 Dominguez (cello), and Meagan听Milatz听(piano)听will join us for the GSC in 2021, they will also appear in the 2020-2021 concert season at the Schulich School of Music. We are grateful to the musicians and the School for keeping the spirit of the听competition听alive until听we meet again for the听finals听in 2021.听听
Please stay connected to the competition via our website and Facebook Page, where you can join us on听the听journey to Pollack Hall in Montreal听on听September听26, 2021听at 2:00 PM听for the Concert and Prize Gala.听
