Applications: 2025 Teen Composer Award

The 9th 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: Friday, November 15, 2024

From Fall 2024 through Spring 2025, the selected composer will be mentored by professional Canadian composer Alison Yun-Fei Jiang 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 May 30, 2025 at our concert Forty on Friday, presented at Hugh’s Room Live in 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, November 15, 2024 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.)
Alison Yun-Fei Jiang, composer mentor

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), Marie-Pauline Chaffanjon (2024)