Friends of Canadian Music Award

The Canadian League of Composers is committed to celebrating and promoting Canadian composers by administering annual activities such as the Friends of Canadian Music Award, special composition awards, and the Canadian Section of the International Society for Contemporary Music (ISCM). In addition, we participate in and show support for nominations of our composers for awards such as the Order of Canada and Provincial Orders. We encourage and support nominations of Canadian composers, as recognition of compositional excellence fosters an environment where Canadian art music is highly valued. The Canadian League of Composers also periodically hosts competitions that issue prizes to composers.

Every year, the Friends of Canadian Music Award honours those who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment, on a national scale, to Canadian composers and their music. The Canadian Music Centre (CMC) and the Canadian League of Composers (CLC) jointly administer and present this award. The Friends of Canadian Music Award is in the amount of $4000. This award will be divided as follows: $2000 for the recipient and $2000 for a composer of the recipient’s choice. This split is to help support an early-career composer, regardless of age, and to help build bridges between established and underrepresented or isolated communities.

To nominate someone for the 2024 edition, click here.

The Canadian League of Composers and the Canadian Music Centre are thrilled to announce Cris Derksen as the winner of the 2024 Friends of Canadian Music Award. Cris has selected Sonny-Ray Day Rider to receive support as an emerging artist. 

2023 Dylan Robinson (shared with Sherryl Sewepagaham)
2022 Marion Newman and Continuum Contemporary Music as co-winners (shared with Jessica McMann and Amy Brandon)
2021 Mark Takeshi McGregor (shared with Maria Eduarda Mendes Martins)
2020 Thin Edge New Music Collective (shared with Kimia Koochakzadeh-Yazdi)
2019 Quasar Saxophone Quartet (shared with Myriam Bleau)
2018 Janice Isabel Jackson (shared with Sophie Dupuis)
2017 Tania Miller (shared with Carmyn Slater)
2016 Tim Brady (shared with Gabriel Dharmoo)
2015 NYO Canada (shared with Christopher Goddard)
2014 Bozzini Quartet (shared with Kyle Brenders and James O’Callaghan)
2013 Bramwell Tovey, Conductor, Composer and Music Director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
2012 Lawrence Cherney, Artistic Director, SOUNDSTREAMS
2011 Julian Armour, music director, and Patricia Shand, academic (special lifetime achievement in Canadian music scholarship award)
2010 John Beckwith, composer, academic, music educator
2009 Véronique Lacroix, conductor, music educator, artistic director
2008 CBC Radio Orchestra, performers
2007 Christina Petrowska Quilico, performer
2006 Dr. Helmut Kallmann, music librarian/historian
2005 Joseph Petric, performer/commissioner
2004 Thomas & Isobel Rolston, music educators/artistic directors/administrators
2003 Mary Gardiner, music educator
2002 David Jaeger and Two New Hours with host Larry Lake, radio producer and broadcaster
2001 Ann Southam, composer
2000 Jon Washburn, artistic director
1999 James Dormeyer, television producer
1998 Don Wherry, artistic director
1997 Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects
1996 Jean-François Denis, promoter
1995 David Olds, broadcaster