Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation
Award for 2012 -$12,000
Choral Conducting – Selection of Finalists
The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation is pleased to announce three finalists for its $12,000 Award in Choral Conducting, as chosen by a jury of 5 prominent choral conductors from across Canada. The finals will take place during the Association of Canadian Choral Communities’ (ACCC) National Choral Conference, PODIUM, on the afternoon of Saturday May 19, 2012, at Knox Church (120 Lisgar St.), Ottawa.
As finalists, the jury has selected Elaine Choi (Toronto), Melanie J. Marlin (Toronto), and Joel Tranquilla (Fredericton, currently studying at Michigan State University) who will each rehearse the Elmer Iseler Singers for 30 – 40 minutes in front of the jury and live audience.
The jury is chaired by Jon Washburn (Vancouver), with jury members Lydia Adams (Toronto), Douglas Dunsmore (St. John’s), Iwan Edwards (Montreal), Leonard Ratzlaff (Edmonton), and former MacMillan Award winner Janet Brenneman (Winnipeg).
The Foundation is extremely pleased to partner with the Elmer Iseler Singers in this unique event, representing as it does two iconic figures in Canada’s music history. Both MacMillan and Iseler recognized the importance of encouraging young Canadian musicians, and indeed Sir Ernest was an early mentor of Iseler. This year’s MacMillan Foundation Award with the EIS, a national competition committed to excellence, reflects these fundamental values and carries on a strong tradition of furthering the musical arts in Canada. The MacMillan Foundation is very grateful for the opportunity to participate in PODIUM and for the logistical support provided by the Association of Canadian Choral Communities.
The Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Award provides significant career development opportunities to young Canadian musicians at the graduate level. The recipient is chosen through a national competitive process; 23 awards have been given since 1985.
This year’s Award in Choral Conducting is in recognition of Sir Ernest’s celebrated career as a conductor, in particular his many years with the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (1942-1957) and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra (1931-56).
Sir Ernest MacMillan, Companion of the Order of Canada and the only Canadian knighted for his significant and extraordinarily wide-ranging contributions to music, was the country’s pre-eminent musician from the 1920s through the 1950s.
Sir Ernest’s extraordinary contributions to the development of music in Canada, as conductor, performer, composer, administrator, lecturer, adjudicator, writer, humourist, and statesman, are unparalleled.
More information on the Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation and its awards can be found at: www.macmillanfoundation.com
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