Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop and the Composers' Orchestra

History

The Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop is a vital cultural conduit for emerging Canadian art music. It was formed in the spring of 1983 by a group of composers and musicians, including Samuel Dolin. It is presently run by a collective of three of Canada’s most promising young composers – Craig Galbraith, Abigail Richardson and Andrew Staniland.  Previous pieces workshopped by the CCMW have gone on to win prestigious national and international prizes including the SOCAN Young Composers awards and the International Rostrum of Composers. The Composers' Orchestra is the performing arm of the CCMW and has several recordings available on CBC Records.

Our statement of purpose reads "The CCMW promotes the creation and performance of works by Canadian composers, the interaction of composers and performers, and the wider appreciation of our own creative community." The CCMW provides a unique opportunity for emerging Canadian composers to have their new works reviewed, evaluated and performed by professional musicians. This is accomplished through concerts and workshops, which allow composers to interact closely with professional musicians, gaining valuable feedback from them. Over one hundred composers have received their first professional performance by the Composers' Orchestra, and many have gone on to have international composing careers. No other organization has integrated itself into the musical fabric of our community so tightly. Our role bridges the formidable gap between education institutions and the professional world.

From 1987 to 2003, Gary Kulesha was the Artistic Director of the Composers' Orchestra.

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Renewal

In December of 2003, Kulesha passed the torch to three young composers, Craig Galbraith, Abigail Richardson, and Andrew Staniland to act as the Managing Artistic Advisory Board. [see the list of current board members] We are dedicated to promoting and programming emerging composers within the context of the rich history of Canadian music. Each workshop and concert is based around an established Canadian composer.  This combined focus on emerging and well-established composers anchors the new music to the tradition of Canadian music, and creates a valuable encounter between emerging talents and legends in Canadian music.

The CCMW is very proud of its unique role in identifying, promoting, and nurturing emerging Canadian artists, and is committed to the sustained success of its mandate.

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Listen

Listen to a recent concert by the Composers' Orchestra on the CBC website.

Or visit are "Listen" webpage with samples from our most recent concerts.

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Contact

CCMW 412 Sammon Ave, Toronto, ON M5J 2B1

Acknowledgments

The CCMW would like to thank our funding partners for making our mission possible:

supporting toronto arts council

Composers Featured

Over the years, the Composers' Orchestra and the CCMW have performed and premiered new works by an impressive number of Canadian composers.  Some of Canada's most established talents have participated in CCMW events.  The following list is a just a sample of some of the composers the CCMW has featured.

Robert Aitken
Allan Bell
Jack Behrens
Roger Bergs
Gavin Bernais
Tim Brady
Rose Bolton
Linda Bouchard
Glenn Buhr
Patrick Cardy
Pat Carrabré
Chan Ka Nin
Saul Chapman
Daniel Clarkson
Jean Coulthard
Graham Crane
Richard Desilet
Omar Daniel
Boris Despot
Denis Dion
Samuel Dolin
Colin Eatok
John Fodi
Daniel Foley
Clifford Ford
Craig Galbraith
Mary Gardiner
Murray Geddes
Gerhard Ginader
Arsenio Giron
Ben Haines
Helen Hall
Helen Hardy
James Harley
Chris Harman
David Harman
Peter Hatch
John Herberman
Jacques Hétu
Mary Hildebrand
Martha Hill
James Hiscott
Alice Ho
Patricia Holt
Michael Horwood
Lorraine Muter Humber
Michael Hynes
Lorraine Johnson
David Kaye
Talivaldis Kenins
Michael Kerwin
Lothar Klein
Henry Kucharzyk
Gary Kulesha
Larysa Kuzmenko
Deborah Ling
Ruth Lomon
Alexina Louie
Victoria Maidanik
Michael Matthews
Robert May
Kevin McKinney
Elma Miller
Oscar Morawetz
Lynne Muzzerall
Kelly Marie Murphy
Wendy Prezament
William Pura
Alexander Rapoport
Abigail Richardson
Eric Robertson
Sid Robinovitch
James Rolfe
Micheline Roi
Clarke Ross
Eric Ross
Jeff Ryan
Denis Saidon
Michelene Coulombe St Marcoux
Frederick Schipitzky
Claude Schryer
Thomas Schudel
David Scott
Rodney Sharman
Bruce Shavers
Norman Sherman
Jana Skarecky
Linda C. Smith
Ronald Smith
Andrew Staniland
Philip Stern
Robert Stevenson
Timothy Sullivan
Morris Surdin
Peeter Tammearu
Brian Tate
Steven Tittle
Alan Torok
Corry Vidotto
John Weinzweig
Gerhard Weunsch
Wes Wraggett
Joseph Zapotochny

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