Toronto Mendelssohn Choir has announced the winner of its 2021 Choral Composition Competition.

Congratulations to Benjamin Sigerson for his winning composition Of Rest — a setting of text by Vancouver poet j. h. Lee.

“Benjamin’s piece demonstrates a clear understanding of the voice and its expressive possibilities,” said Artistic Director Jean-Sébastien Vallée. “Benjamin shows great potential as an artist and I look forward to hearing choirs from all across the country, and beyond, perform his music!”

For this year’s competition, composers were directed to write a cappella or piano-accompanied pieces for SATB and/or SSAATTBB. The TMC also encouraged composers to set a poem by a poet from an underrepresented community.

The award includes the Debbie Fleming Prize in Choral Composition of $1,000 and a premiere of the winning piece by the TMC at its Conductors’ Symposium concert on June 28, 2022.

More about the winner

• Benjamin Sigerson is a composer and jazz pianist from Vancouver, B.C.
• Currently studying composition at McGill University.
• Has won awards for his compositions, including 3rd prize in the choral category in the 2021 edition of SOCAN Awards.

BTW

If It feels like you’re getting an endless stream of good news from the TMC lately, it’s because you are. Despite the new Omicron closures, the TMC is doing better than ever.

This past year included a new artistic director, a fresh season, a new collaborative pianist, and Choral Conductors’ Symposium. This latest 2021 Choral Competition Laureate announcement feels like a “but, wait there’s more” moment.  In this case, it’s the real deal, folks — step right up.

#LUDWIGVAN

Get the daily arts news straight to your inbox.

Sign up for the Ludwig van Daily — classical music and opera in five minutes or less HERE.

• Author
• Recent Posts

Follow me

Michael Vincent

Michael Vincent is the Editor-in-chief Ludwig Van and CEO of Museland Media. He publishes regularly and writes occasionally. A specialist in digital media for over 15 years, he has worked as a senior editor and is a former freelance classical music critic for the Toronto Star. Michael holds a Doctorate in Music from the University of Toronto.

Follow me

Latest posts by Michael Vincent (see all)

• IN MEMORIAM | St. Lawrence String Quartet Violinist Geoff Nuttall Has Died - October 20, 2022
• PREVIEW | The Elora Singers Open Season With Concert Honouring Matthew Shepard - October 5, 2022
• PREVIEW | The Women’s Musical Club Of Toronto Outlasts Them All - September 16, 2022