The Jules Léger Prize for New Chamber Music is a Canadian contemporary classical music award given to composers in recognition of quality new works of chamber music. Granted annually since 1978 (with the exception of 1984 and 1990 when no prize was given), the prize is won through a competition administered by the Canadian Music Centre. Prior to 1991, the competition had been administered by the Canadian Music Council.[1]
The Jules Léger Prize was founded by Canadian diplomat and statesman Jules Léger in 1978 with the purpose "to encourage Canadian composers to write for chamber music ensembles and to foster the performance of Canadian music by these groups." Works which are eligible for competition must be written for no more than twelve performers and no less than two. Any Canadian citizen and anyone who has lived on Canadian soil for over a year is eligible to compete in the competition. Composers who are awarded the prize receive a trophy designed by the Canadian sculptor Louis Archambault, a cash award (currently $7,500), and a concert performance of the winning work by leading Canadian musicians (most of these concerts have also been broadcast on CBC Radio).[1]
| Year | Composer | Work | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | R. Murray Schafer | String Quartet No. 2 'Waves | |
| 1979 | Bruce Mather | Musique pour Champigny | |
| 1980 | Serge Garant | Quintette | |
| 1981 | John Rea | Com-possession | |
| 1982 | Walter Boudreau | L'Odyssée du Soleil | |
| 1983 | John Hawkins | Breaking Through | |
| 1985 | Brian Cherney | River of Fire | |
| 1986 | Michel Longtin | Pohjatuuli | |
| 1987 | Denys Bouliane | À propos... et le baron perché | |
| 1988 | Michael Colgrass | Strangers: Irreconcilable Variations | |
| 1989 | Peter Paul Koprowski | Sonnet for Laura | |
| 1991 | Donald Steven | In the Land of Pure Delight | |
| 1992 | John Rea | Objets perdus | |
| 1993 | Bruce Mather | YQUEM | |
| 1994 | Peter Paul Koprowski | Woodwind Quintet | |
| 1995 | John Burke | String Quartet | |
| 1996 | Christos Hatzis | Erotikos Logos | |
| 1997 | Omar Daniel | Zwei Lieder nach Rilke | |
| 1998 | Michael Oesterle | Reprise | |
| 1999 | Alexina Louie | Nightfall | |
| 2000 | André Ristic | Catalogue 1 [bombes occidentales] | |
| 2001 | Chris Harman | Amerika | |
| 2002 | Yannick Plamondon | Autoportrait sur Times Square | |
| 2003 | Éric Morin | D'un Château l'autre | |
| 2004 | Patrick Saint-Denis | Les dits de Victoire | |
| 2005 | Linda Catlin Smith | Garland | |
| 2006 | James Rolfe[2] | raW | |
| 2007 | Chris Harman | Postludio a rovescio | |
| 2008 | Analia Llugdar | Que sommes-nous | |
| 2009 | Jimmie LeBlanc | L’Espace intérieur du monde | |
| 2010 | Justin Christensen | The Failures of Marsyas | |
| 2011 | Cassandra Miller | Bel Canto | |
| 2012 | Zosha Di Castri | Cortège | |
| 2013 | Nicole Lizée | White Label Experiment | |
| 2014 | Thierry Tidrow[3] | Au fond du cloître humide | |
| 2015 | Pierre Alexandre Tremblay | Les pâleurs de la lune | |
| 2016 | Cassandra Miller | About Bach | |
| 2017 | Gabriel Dharmoo | Wanmansho | |
| 2018 | Brian Current | Shout, Sisyphus, Flock | |
| 2019 | Alec Hall | Vertigo | |
| 2020 | Kelly-Marie Murphy | Coffee Will be Served in the Living Room | |
| 2021 | Anthony Tan | Ways of Returning | |
| 2022 | Rita Ueda | as the first spring blossoms awaken through the snow | |
| 2023 | Vahram Sargsyan | Quiet Songs |