TORONTO, July 16, 2013 /CNW/ - The SOCAN Foundation today announced nine recipients of the third annual SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Audio-visual Composers.
This year's competition attracted 52 entries, awarding $21,000 to nine prizewinners. "This is a unique competition, the only one of its kind in Canada," said Rick MacMillan, Manager, SOCAN Foundation. "It offers us an excellent opportunity to spotlight the many talented composers working in Canada's film and television industries, including this year's top multiple prize-winners, Merlin Bertrand-Hamel and Chris Thornborrow."
The SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Audio-visual Composers recognize Canadian composers 30 years of age and under for specific musical works in four categories of music created exclusively for audio-visual support (film, TV, Internet). The competition was judged by a jury of three prominent, award-winning media composers: Ari Posner of Toronto, Richard Grégoire of Montreal and Graeme Coleman of Vancouver.
In a joint statement, the jury members praised the theme for the film Féminines, by Merlin Bertrand-Hamel of Prévost, QC, which won the $3,000 first prize in the Musical Theme category, noting its "strong theme and magical, neat writing for a small string and woodwind ensemble." Likewise, the jury members lauded Toronto composer Chris Thornborrow's "understated but tension-laden score" for We Ate the Children Last, which won the $3,000 first prize in the Fiction category: "We were totally immersed in the film's people-vs-pigs theme."
Bertrand-Hamel also shared first prize in the Animated category for his score to Amiko, winning $2,625. His co-winner, Vincent L. Pratte of Montreal, earned his $2,625 share for his work on SubLIME. Thornborrow won the $1,500 second prize in the same category, for Lucian.
Also capturing two prizes in the competition are Rachel C. Léger of Toronto, who won the $1,500 second prize in the Musical Theme category for Récit d'hyperinflation - Ouverture and shared third prize (winning $750) in the Fiction category for Récit d'hyperinflation - Myseria, and Spencer Creaghan of London, ON, winning two $1,500 second prizes: in the Fiction category for Accursed and in the Non-Fiction category for The Dirigible Journey.
Additional Award recipients include Dmitri Belichenko (third prize) in the Musical Theme category; Alexander Purcell (shared third prize) in Fiction category; Timon Wientzek (third prize) in the Animated category; and Benjamin Goron (third prize) in the Non-Fiction category.
(Recipients' bios and awards categories attached.)
About the SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Audio-visual Composers
The SOCAN Foundation Awards for Young Audio-visual Composers is open to Canadian citizens 30 years of age and under.
About SOCAN Foundation
Founded in 1992, SOCAN Foundation is dedicated to fostering musical creativity and promoting a better understanding of the role of music creators in today's society. The Foundation is an independent organization guided by its own board of directors. The board, which consists of composers, songwriters and music publishers, reflects concert music and popular music genres as well as the geographic and linguistic regions of Canada. It is closely aligned to the interests of the members of SOCAN - the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada.
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SOURCE: SOCAN Foundation
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