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    • Orford Music Award

      An Opportunity to Stand Out!

      The Orford Music Award has changed its formula and now focuses on rewarding classical music artists through the creativity of artistic proposals and quality of stage presence.

      Prix Orford Musique 2024
    • The Future is Bright

      The Orford Music Award, whose objective is to showcase up-and-coming classical music artists with the goal of jump-starting their careers, will be celebrating its seventh edition in 2024!

      In recent years, the Orford Music Award has crowned several notable winners: violinist Mai Tategami in 2016, pianist Dong-Wan Ha in 2017, cellist Gabriel Martins in 2018, pianist Saeyoon Chon in 2019, pianist Poom Prommachart in 2020 (virtual edition), violinist Isabella D’Éloize Perron in 2021 and pianist Henry From in 2022. Over the years, semi-finalists and finalists have showcased outstanding talent.

      It’s now your time to stand out and bring home great prizes!

      The 2024 Orford Music Award is presented by Canimex.

      Canimex

    • Are you a member of the public? If so, click here to view the Orford Music Award's public page.

    Prizes awarded in 2022

    • 1st PRIZE

      • $10,000 cash prize – Presented by the Municipality of Orford
      • Invitation to participate in the prestigious Orford Music Festival 2023
      • Full scholarship for a two-week stay at the Orford Music Academy or for an artistic residency in 2023
      • Concert opportunities
      • Professional audio-video recording session
    • 2nd PRIZE

      • $5,000 cash prize – Presented by Serge Martin and Claude Omann
      • Full scholarship for a two-week stay at the Orford Music Academy or for an artistic residency in 2023
    • 3rd PRIZE

      • $4,000 cash prize – Presented by Claude Omann
      • Full scholarship for a two-week stay at the Orford Music Academy or for an artistic residency in 2023
    • PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD

      • $5,000 cash prize – Presented by Canimex
      • Invitation to participate in the prestigious Orford Music Festival 2023
      • Full scholarship for a two-week stay at the Orford Music Academy or for an artistic residency in 2023
    • Eligibility Requirements

      • The competition is open to all instrumentalists between the ages of 18 and 35 enrolled in the 2023 Academy. It is possible to submit a solo or ensemble project. However, a minimum of one ensemble member must be enrolled in the 2023 Academy.
      • To be eligible, projects submitted must be related to classical or acoustic music. Original compositions are accepted. Other art forms are allowed. However, music must represent 75% of the artistic performance time and must be the central element of the project.
      • Technological elements may be integrated in the project. Orford Music will provide a technical estimate with the available equipment. However, artists must provide any additional equipment required for the project and be autonomous in their use.
      • The competition is not open to previous first-prize winners of the Orford Music Award.
    • Competition Process

      • In May 2023, a jury will analyze applications and select the qualifying projects. Applicants whose projects have be selected will be contacted by Orford Music.
      • Selected projects will be presented, by one or multiple applicants, to Wonny Song (Orford Music’s executive and artistic director) and other judges while the applicant (or applicants) are at the 2023 Academy. Presentations must include 5 minutes of project description, 20 minutes of music and a question period.
      • The six finalists will be announced August 5, 2023, at the Orford Music Festival closing concert.
      • Finalists will move on to the development phase. During this phase (from September 2023 to April 2024), Orford Music will support finalists through conferences and virtual meetings with several experts, with the intention of helping finalists reach their projects full potential.
      • Finalists will be required to be at Orford Music from July 28 to August 10, 2024 (dates subject to change). The week prior to finals will be devoted to perfecting stage presence and ability to communicate with the public. Accommodations and meals will be provided during this two-week stay.
      • Finals will take place over three days: August 8, 9 and 10, 2024 (dates subject to change). Each presentation, taking place in front of an audience, should last 50 minutes (10 minutes of speaking or exchanging with the audience and 40 minutes of performance).
      • The awards ceremony will be held on the last night of the competition.
    • Candidates’ Commitments

      • Candidates must be available from July 28 to August 10, 2024, and travel to Orford Music. Orford Music will not reimburse transportation costs.
      • First-place prize winner(s) must mention the prize in their promotional tools for a period of five years following the competition.
    • General Conditions

      • The Orford Music Award reserves the right to change the text of the rules at any time and without prior notice.
      • By entering, candidates agree to abide by all the conditions of the competition and the decisions of the Orford Music Award committee and jury, which are final and without appeal.
      • Candidates who fail to comply with any of the rules of the Orford Music Award may be disqualified without appeal.
    • Transfer of Rights

      • Candidates are required to release, in favour of Orford Music, all filming, broadcasting, recording and follow-up rights to their performances for the Orford Music Award, for a period of fifty years from the date of the performances.
      • By finalizing their applications, candidates consent to use the video recordings submitted to the Orford Music Award.
    • Promotion

      • Candidates authorize Orford Music to use their biographies, in whole or in part, photos and any other material necessary to promote the Orford Music Award and Orford Music.
      • Candidates agree to remain available to meet with partners and sponsors during the Orford Music Award.
      • Candidates agree to remain available for promotional purposes with the media before and during the Orford Music Award.
    • Authority of the Orford Music Award

      • The Orford Music Award jury reserves the right not to award a prize.