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Announcing HATCH 2024 Participants!
For our sixth consecutive season, we are excited to present HATCH, Continuum’s annual summer music mentorship project for performers, composers and conductors.
From this year’s pool of applications, our jury selected the following participants:
Composers: Shameran Khamo, Olivier St-Pierre, Tsz Long Fish Yu
Performers: Joelle Crigger (violin), Samantha Yang (cello), Jordana Kleiner (flute), Cheng Cheng (clarinet), Carina Shum (piano) and Britton-René Collins (percussion). We are also proud to continue our partnership with Tapestry Opera and other partner organizations across Canada for the Women in Musical Leadership program. We welcome conductor Kelly Lin, who will lead the HATCH ensemble in rehearsal and performance. Kelly’s conductor mentor is Jennifer Tung.
Mentors: rebecca bruton (composer), Fjóla Evans (composer), Carol Fujino (violin), Paul Widner (cello), Leslie Newman (flute), Anthony Thompson (clarinet), Gregory Oh (piano), Ryan Scott (percussion).
We are excited to once again partner with our friends at the Canadian Music Centre that will host our rehearsal process in Toronto in July, followed by performances at the Toronto Summer Music Festival (July 24), Biglake Arts (July 27), and Ottawa Chamberfest (August 5)! We look forward to sharing recordings of the works by our participating composers and mentors as part of our Press Play series next season.
Program Sponsors and Partners
HATCH 2024 Call for Applications!
Continuum is excited to announce a call for applications for the sixth edition of HATCH, our annual summer mentorship program for early-career performers and composers.
This program is designed for self-identified EARLY-CAREER PERFORMERS AND COMPOSERS. It is free to apply and the program does not have a tuition fee.
Applications are now closed
HATCH brings together early-career performers and composers for artistic and professional development with a focus on contemporary chamber music. This summer, performer participants will work with the Continuum core ensemble, and composers with mentors rebecca bruton and Fjóla Evans. Rehearsals at the Canadian Music Centre in Toronto will be followed by a tour of Toronto, Prince Edward County, and Ottawa.
rebecca bruton photo credit: Alexander Slobodian, courtesy of Dancers’ Studio West
The conductor position for the HATCH ensemble is filled by a participant of the Women In Musical Leadership program (WML).
Applicants should be based in the Toronto area or able to provide their own transportation to and accommodation in Toronto for the duration of the program.
Composers will be notified of acceptance by March 11, 2024.
Performers will be notified of acceptance by April 29, 2024.
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Participants must be available for all rehearsal and tour dates.
March 18: Composer mentorship begins
June 16: Deadline for completed works
June 16: Performer mentorship begins
July 17-23: Rehearsals and meetings at the Canadian Music Centre (Toronto, ON)
July 24: HATCH Tour, Toronto Summer Music performance
July 27: HATCH Tour, Biglake Arts performance (Prince Edward County, ON)
August 3-5: HATCH Tour, travel, rehearsal, and Ottawa Chamberfest performance (August 5)
NOTE the gap week between Biglake Arts and Ottawa Chamberfest dates (July 28-August 2). There are no HATCH activities during this week.
Transportation between Toronto and Prince Edward County on July 27th will be provided, plus per diem.
Transportation to and from Ottawa, ON will be provided along with overnight hotel accommodation on August 3-4 (shared, two per room), plus per diem.
Performers
The six selected performers will:
- Receive mentorship in their instrument from Continuum’s core ensemble throughout the process. Mentors: Leslie Newman (fl), Anthony Thompson (cl), Carol Fujino (vn), Paul Widner (vcl), Gregory Oh (pno), and Ryan Scott (perc);
- Prepare and rehearse (up to) 3 new ensemble works by the participating composers and a work by each composer mentor;
- Perform the works listed above on the HATCH Ontario tour;
- Receive a $750 honorarium.
Composers
Composers should plan to write their work between March 18-June 16 (composition and lessons), with interaction with performers from July 17-23.
The three selected composers will:
- Write a maximum 8-minute piece for Continuum’s HATCH ensemble of fl, cl, pno, perc, vn, vc, conductor (please note that electronics/amplification will not be available);
- Receive mentorship from rebecca bruton and Fjóla Evans;
- Participate in rehearsals and the HATCH Ontario tour;
- Receive a $750 honorarium.
Decisions will be arrived at by juries consisting of selected mentors and Continuum staff.
Continuum shares responsibility in fostering an equitable, diverse and inclusive contemporary music community. We encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity. Please be in touch if you wish to discuss possible program adaptations that would remove barriers to participation.
All participants must agree to a Code of Conduct that requires all participants and mentors to work respectfully and constructively.
Should you have questions related to the program, please email Operations Manager Christina Volpini at christina@continuummusic.ca
This project is funded with the support of The Azrieli Foundation.
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Project Partners: The Canadian Music Centre, Tapestry Opera (Women in Musical Leadership Program)
Festival Partners:
Jonathan Crow, Artistic Director
Vanessa J Goymour, Executive Director
Johannes Debus, Artistic Director
Elissa Lee, Executive Director
Carissa Klopoushak, Artistic Director
Mhiran Faraday, Executive Director
Jenna Richards, Director, Artistic Planning & Community Engagement
Announcing PIVOT 2024 Participating Composers!
In partnership with the Canadian League of Composers and the Canadian Music Centre, we’re excited to announce the composer participants of PIVOT 2024: Alexander Bridger (NL), Ricardo Ferro (ON), Liberté-Anne Lymberiou (QC), Anju Singh (BC), and Janet Sit (ON).
Each composer will write a new chamber work for Continuum while receiving guidance from a mentor of their choosing over a six-month period. Following a workshop at the Canadian Music Centre in February 2024, the Continuum core ensemble will premiere these five works on April 7, 2024.
With nearly 70 applications received from across Canada, we congratulate the selected composers and we look forward to sharing their work with you later this season!
Program Partners
Applications: 2024 Teen Composer Award (Now Closed)
The 8th Annual Teen Composer Award
The Teen Composer Award (TCA) provides an invaluable and practical composition experience for one high-school aged composer through one-on-one composition mentorship, professional development and an introduction to the Canadian contemporary music community. The program includes participation in the workshop and rehearsal process and culminates in a live performance by the Continuum Ensemble on our main stage concert series.
Application deadline: October 27, 2023
From Fall 2023 through Spring 2024, the selected composer will be mentored by professional Canadian composer Lieke van der Voort, who will serve as a guide for the composition process. Lessons may be in person or via Zoom.
The recipient of the award will compose a 5-8 minute work for the Continuum ensemble (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion with conductor), or a subset of this instrumentation agreed upon with Continuum’s Artistic Director.
The selected composer’s work will receive a live performance on April 7, 2024 at our concert PIVOT co-presented with the Canadian League of Composers, Canadian Music Centre, and the The Music Gallery at 918 Bathurst, Toronto.
The recipient will receive high quality video and audio of the performance; this documentation will also be shared via Continuum’s online platforms.
To Apply
Please send an email to christina@continuummusic.ca with the subject “Teen Composer Award” by Friday, October 27, 2023 which includes:
- Your full name and where you currently study
- A paragraph in the body of the email about your interest in the program
- If available, a PDF of one score
- If not available, please address in your written statement and describe your past music making/composing experience
- If available, one or two links to audio or video of your music (Soundcloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Bandcamp etc.)
Teen composers residing in Canada are invited to apply. Continuum does not cover travel or accommodation expenses to attend the premiere performance.
Previous Recipients
Cindy Chen (2017), Erik Kreem (2018), Sarah Lu (2019), Zack Payne (2020), Sointu Aalto (2021), Britney Dawn Do (2022), Jacob Eaton (2023)
Welcome to Continuum’s 39th season!!
After launching the current season with our annual HATCH summer music festival tour, we are excited to announce plans for the rest of our season!
Our 39th season celebrates the fruition of our many mentorship programs. In addition to Continuum’s fourth edition of PIVOT and a concert curated by the participants of our Mentorship in Artistic Production, we feature the performers, composers and artists we have worked with through past mentorship programs on each concert.
MAINSTAGE CONCERTS
In November, we present two premieres by PIVOT 2019 composers in a concert co-curated by Amy Brandon: the premiere of Amy’s new work for augmented reality percussion and a new acoustic work for the Continuum core ensemble by Émilie Girard-Charest co-commissioned by Continuum with Ensemble Paramirabo in Montréal. These works come together with a selection of innovative Canadian premieres.
In April, Continuum is excited to present PIVOT in collaboration with the Canadian League of Composers and the Canadian Music Centre. Selected through a juried process, five PIVOT participants mentor with professional composers of their choice for six months, and then gather in Toronto for professional development sessions and rehearsals. The program culminates in a concert of premieres by the Continuum core ensemble. We also present the 8th annual Teen Composer Award in a pre-concert presentation.
And in June we present the culminating concert of our Mentorship in Artistic Production (MAP). Drawing on their shared interest in improvisation and collective creation, Artistic Producers Émilie Fortin and Hillary Jean Young curate a programme that highlights the creation process as much as the performance.
MENTORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
In fall we will accept applications for PIVOT and the 8th Teen Composer Award with mentorship by composer Lieke van der Voort. Stay tuned for details!
ONLINE ENGAGEMENT
Throughout the season, we continue our Press Play web series with 12 new episodes. Each episode presents works from our most recent concerts including Show Room, Spore Wind, and HATCH 2023 at Ottawa Chamberfest.
Join us for another exciting season of new chamber music masterfully performed and shared in mentorship with the next generation. And if you like what we’re doing, please consider joining our Continuum family by making a donation now!
Announcing HATCH 2023 Participants!
For our fifth consecutive season, we are excited to present HATCH, Continuum’s annual summer music mentorship project for performers, composers and conductors made possible with the generous support of The Azrieli Foundation.
From this year’s pool of applications, our jury selected the following participants:
Composers: Gabo Champagne, Nathan Friedman and Ethan Wray Hill
Performers: Roan Ma (violin), Audréanne Filion (cello), Sara Constant (flute), Juliette Moreno (clarinet), Megaria Halim (piano) and Alex Fraga (percussion)We are also proud to continue our partnership with Tapestry Opera and other partner organizations across Canada for the Women in Musical Leadership program. We welcome conductor Monica Chen, who will lead the HATCH ensemble in rehearsal and performance. Monica’s conductor mentor is Rosemary Thomson, Music Director and conductor of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra.
Mentors: Carolyn Chen (composer), Jason Doell (composer), Carol Fujino (violin), Paul Widner (cello), Leslie Newman (flute), Anthony Thompson (clarinet), Gregory Oh (piano), Ryan Scott (percussion).
We are excited to once again partner with our friends at the Canadian Music Centre that will host our rehearsal process in Toronto in July, followed by performances at the Toronto Summer Music Festival (July 18), BIGLAKE Festival (July 20), and Ottawa Chamberfest (July 22)! Stay tuned for dates and ticket availability. We look forward to sharing recordings of the works by our participating composers and mentors as part of our Press Play series next season.
Lessons are underway – we look forward to sharing more information on our upcoming performances and these phenomenal next generation of contemporary music artists!
Program Sponsors and Partners
HATCH 2023 Call for Applications!
ATTN: EARLY-CAREER PERFORMERS and COMPOSERS
Continuum is excited to announce a call for applications for the fifth edition of HATCH, our annual summer mentorship program for early-career performers and composers supported by the Azrieli Foundation.
This program is designed for self-identified EARLY-CAREER PERFORMERS AND COMPOSERS
Free to apply. The program does not have a tuition fee.
DEADLINE: February 20, 2023 at 5pm EST
APPLICATION FORM BELOW
HATCH returns in-person, bringing together early-career performers and composers for artistic and professional development with a focus on contemporary chamber music. This summer, performer participants will work with the Continuum core ensemble, and composers with mentors Carolyn Chen and Jason Doell. Rehearsals at the Canadian Music Centre in Toronto will be followed by a tour of Toronto, Prince Edward County, and Ottawa.
The conductor position for the HATCH ensemble will be filled by a participant of the Women In Musical Leadership program (WML).
Please note: The piano position will be filled by last year’s accepted candidate who was unable to participate in the program at the last minute due to force majeure.
Applicants should be based in the Toronto area or able to provide their own transportation to and accommodation in Toronto for the duration of the program.
TIMELINE
Participants must be available for all rehearsal and tour dates.
March 1: Notification of acceptance
March 6: Composer mentorship begins
June 16: Deadline for completed works
June 16: Performer mentorship begins
July 12-17: Rehearsals and meetings at the Canadian Music Centre
July 18: HATCH Tour – Toronto Summer Music performance
July 20: HATCH Tour – BIGLAKE Festival performance
July 22: HATCH Tour – Ottawa Chamberfest performance
Transportation to and from Wellington, ON in Prince Edward County will be provided, plus per diem.
Transportation to and from Ottawa, ON will be provided along with overnight hotel accommodation (shared, two per room), plus per diem.
Performers
The six selected performers will:
- Receive mentorship in their instrument from Continuum’s core ensemble throughout the process. Mentors: Leslie Newman (fl), Anthony Thompson (cl), Carol Fujino (vn), Paul Widner (vcl), Gregory Oh (pno), and Ryan Scott (perc);
- Prepare and rehearse (up to) 3 new ensemble works by the participating composers and a work by each composer mentor (Note: the work by composer mentor Jason Doell will be a premiere written for the HATCH ensemble);
- Perform the works listed above on the HATCH Ontario tour;
- Receive a $750 honorarium.
Composers
Composers should plan the majority of activity to happen between March 10 – June 16 (composition), with interaction with performers from July 12-23.
The three selected composers will:
- Write a maximum 8-minute piece for Continuum’s HATCH ensemble (fl, cl, pno, perc, vn, vc, conductor)
- Receive mentorship from Carolyn Chen and Jason Doell;
- Participate in rehearsals and the HATCH Ontario tour;
- Receive a $750 honorarium.
Decisions will be arrived at by juries consisting of selected mentors and Continuum staff.
COVID Protocols
Continuum staff continue to monitor public health conditions and will adapt the program as necessary. Participating artists agree to abide by the policies and procedures set forth by Continuum and the rehearsal/performance venues throughout the program. This may include wearing a mask and participating in regular COVID testing. In this event, KF94 masks and rapid tests would be provided by Continuum..
Continuum shares responsibility in fostering an equitable, diverse and inclusive contemporary music community. We encourage applications from members of groups with historical and/or current barriers to equity. Please be in touch if you wish to discuss possible program adaptations that would remove barriers to participation.
All participants must agree to a Code of Conduct that requires all participants and mentors to work respectfully and constructively.
Should you have questions related to the program, please email Operations Manager Christina Volpini at christina@continuummusic.ca
This project is funded with the support of The Azrieli Foundation
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Project Partners: The Canadian Music Centre, Tapestry Opera (WML)
Festival Partners:
Toronto Summer Music
Jonathan Crow, Artistic Director
Vanessa J Goymour, Executive Director
BIGLAKE Festival
Johannes Debus, Artistic Director
Elissa Lee, Executive Director
Ottawa Chamberfest
Carissa Klopoushak, Artistic Director
Mhiran Faraday, Executive Director
Jenna Richards, Director, Artistic Planning & Community Engagement
Marion Newman & Continuum co-winners of Friends of Canadian Music Award 2022!
We are thrilled to have been selected as a co-recipient of the Friends of Canadian Music Award 2022! We are honoured to share this award with mezzo-soprano Marion Newman, who has been a close collaborator through the years. The award is given by the Canadian League of Composers in partnership with the Canadian Music Centre to recognize exceptional commitment to elevating Canadian composers and/or sound artists.
We have chosen to share this award with composer Amy Brandon, and Marion shares the award with composer Jessica McMann.
The announcement from the Canadian League of Composers reads: “In addition to recognizing artistic and career accomplishments, the jury – comprised of Mark Takeshi McGregor, Keiko Devaux, Saman Shahi, and Matthew-John Knights – believed it was important for this year’s award to acknowledge the extraordinary events and the important conversations that have taken place in all parts of our community throughout these past difficult few years. They were adamant that, in addition to their successful track records as performers, both Newman and Continuum deserved recognition for stepping up during these difficult times.”
The full announcement can be read on the CLC website:
Announcing 2023 Teen Composer Award recipient Jacob Eaton
We are absolutely delighted to announce this year’s recipient, Jacob Eaton, based near Wateron National Park, Alberta!
Jacob’s private lessons are in progress with composer mentor Lieke van der Voort. With Lieke’s guidance, Jacob will compose a string quartet to be premiered by Aaron Schwebel and Carol Fujino, violin, Carolyn Blackwell, viola and Paul Widner, cello in a pre-concert presentation at our concert Spore Wind on June 9, 2023.
Jacob writes: “There are 6 kids in my family and we all play musical instruments. My sisters play cello, violin and harp and my brothers and I play piano and organ. I am currently learning Mozart’s Fantasie in d minor. Outside of music my interests include playing chess, football, hiking, trading stocks and reading.
I like the way composition allows you to collaborate with other musicians on projects. I have been part of a few composition projects now and they have taught me about composing music as a group. I really enjoyed that way of composing.
I have observed the way my music teachers share ideas with others and contribute to concerts and musical events through composition. This has inspired me to want to learn more about composing so that I can contribute to my community in that way.”