2027 Emerging Composer Competition
Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region
Date: Applications close on May 31, 2026
The Canadian Music Centre: Prairie Region is pleased to announce that applications for the 24th edition of the Emerging Composer Competition (ECC) are now open!
Emerging composers with a connection to Canada’s Prairie Region, Northwest Territories and Nunavut are invited to submit original orchestral works for consideration. The selected composer will receive a cash prize and a professional premiere by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as part of the 2027 Winnipeg New Music Festival.
The ECC has a strong track record of supporting early-career composers at a pivotal stage in their development. Past winners have gone on to storied careers and national recognition, with the opportunity to work closely with a professional orchestra often serving as a major stepping stone in their careers. For many, the ECC represents a first orchestral premiere at this level—providing invaluable experience, visibility and artistic validation.
This competition plays an important role in strengthening the contemporary music ecosystem by creating access to high-level performance opportunities and long-term relationships between composers and performers. It is a rare and impactful platform for emerging voices to be heard on a national stage. Founded in 2004, past winners include Jocelyn Morlock, Andrew Staniland, Vincent Ho, Karen Sunabacka and Luis Ramirez, among other prominent Canadian compositional voices.
Applications will close on May 31, 2026.
Guidelines:
- Applicants must either be current residents of, have been born in, or have completed a substantial portion of their musical education in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, The Northwest Territories or Nunavut.
- There are no age restrictions; however, applicants should be composers at the early stages of their professional careers.
- Only works that have not been officially premiered prior to the WSO world premiere date are eligible. Works that have been read in an academic or workshop context are eligible, provided they have had no more than one reading by a professional orchestra.
- Only works completed after January 1, 2024, will be considered.
- MAXIMUM duration for the work is six (6) minutes.
For additional guidelines and the application form, please visit: pr.cmccanada.org/ecc.
The ECC is a joint project of the Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (WSO), and the Winnipeg New Music Festival (WNMF).
