The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (TMC) has awarded the 2019 Debbie Fleming Prize for Choral Composition to countertenor, composer and organist Zachary Windus, from Ancaster, Ontario.
The award comes with a $1,000 cash prize, as well as a performance of the winning work, “In Bethlehem upon that morn”, by the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir in concert on December 3–4.
Now in its sixth year, the award is named after TMC alumni Debbie Fleming, who sang in the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir for 40 years and who retired in June 2015.
The award is open to emerging composers to submit a sacred or secular a cappella work for the Christmas season.
This year’s winner was selected by a jury, including TMC interim conductor David Fallis, Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra conductor Simon Rivard, and TMC associate conductor Ezra Burke.
Former prize winners include Stuart Beatch (2015), Elizabeth Ekholm (2016), Joannie Ing (2017), Russell Wilkinson (2018).
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