The Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre announced Music Prizes Laureates

The Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre, headquartered in Montréal, has revealed the recipients of its 2028 Music Prizes, a distinguished recognition established to foster and elevate contemporary composition. Since its inception in 2014, the biennial awards have aimed to empower composers by providing significant financial support, performance opportunities, and recording projects, thereby encouraging the creation of music with lasting cultural impact.

For the 2028 cycle, three composers have been honored across distinct categories reflecting the diversity of musical expression: international, Canadian, and Jewish music. Spanish composer Luis Arias, currently residing in Madrid, was selected for the Azrieli Commission for International Music. Canadian composer Linda Bouchard received the award for Canadian Music, while Mathew Rosenblum secured the Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music. Each laureate is set to compose a new chamber work for an ensemble of up to fifteen musicians, with flexibility for soloists, tailored for performance by Le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne (Le NEM), the Prizes’ resident performance partner.

The award package for each composer includes a substantial cash prize of CAD 50,000, supplemented by a broader package valued at over CAD 250,000. Beyond the monetary component, the laureates benefit from the premiere of their commissioned piece at the AMP Gala Concert scheduled for autumn 2028. Their works will also receive two additional international performances, enhancing their global reach and visibility. A commercial studio recording featuring Le NEM is also guaranteed, further extending the audience and legacy of each composition.

Mathew Rosenblum’s commission, entitled Tamim (Simplicity), is envisioned as a 15-minute chamber composition. It uniquely incorporates a mezzo-soprano soloist alongside chamber instruments that are selectively re-tuned, together with pre-recorded audio layers. Notably, this pre-recorded material includes traditional Yiddish and Ukrainian folk songs performed by Rosenblum's grandmother, blending personal heritage with contemporary compositional techniques. This approach highlights a synthesis of cultural memory and modern sound exploration within Jewish musical traditions.

Linda Bouchard’s contribution, Le Saguenay, Saki-nip, is similarly a 15-minute continuous work for a 15-instrument ensemble. The piece draws inspiration from the Saguenay Fjords region, weaving narratives tied to the composer’s familial roots and the broader historical fabric of French Canada. This commission reflects an engagement with landscape and identity, exploring how geographic and personal histories intersect in musical form.

Luis Arias’s composition, Optimized for Loneliness, runs for approximately 12 minutes and is crafted for a mixed chamber ensemble with fixed media components. The work contemplates the influence of digital technology on cultural rituals, focusing specifically on Andalusia’s Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions. Arias investigates how virtual mediation reshapes collective memory and perception of this deeply traditional event, bridging past and present through sonic representation.

The Azrieli Music Prizes thus continue to affirm their role in championing innovative composition and cultural dialogue. By supporting a range of musical voices and heritages, the AMACC fosters a dynamic conversation between tradition and innovation. The 2028 laureates exemplify this mission, each bringing distinct perspectives and creative visions that resonate within and beyond their respective communities.

Details regarding the exact dates and venues for the premiere and subsequent performances remain forthcoming. However, the announcement confirms the Centre’s ongoing commitment to producing high-caliber contemporary music events and recordings that contribute significantly to the global musical landscape.

With these new commissions, the Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre not only rewards artistic excellence but also nurtures compositions poised to enrich the cultural canon. The 2028 prizes underscore the importance of sustained investment in contemporary composers whose works challenge, reflect, and expand the boundaries of modern music.