Western Canadian Music Awards

The Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMAs) is an annual awards ceremony for music in the western portion of Canada, that originated in its current form in 2003. The awards are provided by the Western Canada Music Alliance, which consists of five Member groups from Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, British Columbia and Yukon.

The 2011 Awards were held in Whitehorse, Yukon on September 23, 2011. The 2012 Awards will be presented on September 30, 2012 in Regina, Saskatchewan.

History

The earliest incarnation of the Awards was the "All Indie Weekend" festivals held in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba from 1995 through 1999. A new alliance called the Prairie Music Alliance (formed in May 1999) and hosted events such as the "Prairie Music Week". The current organization, the Western Canada Music Alliance, was formed by the addition of BC and Yukon chapters in 2003.[1] Prior to 2003, BC and the Yukon held their own music awards, known as the "West Coast Music Awards".

The Awards have been held in the following cities since 2003:

BreakOut West Festival

BreakOut West weekend is a place where the music industry gathers to celebrate, develop, and support the best of Western Canadian Music

Mission Statement: “To stage an event in Western Canada that unites, promotes, develops, and educates independent labels, artists, and managers. The Western Canadian Music Alliance will further stimulate the public’s interest in awareness of the live, original and independent music from Canada’s western provinces.”[2]

The BreakOut West Festival features some of the finest talent from all genres of music from B.C, Alberta, Manitoba, the Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.

Classical Music Showcase at BreakOut West

The annual classical music showcase at the Western Canadian Music Alliance, BreakOut West Festival was started in 2007 by the Canadian Music Centre, Prairie Region (John Reid, Regional Director) for the following purposes:

1. To encourage the nominees in the categories of Outstanding Classical Recording and Outstanding Classical Composition to travel to the BreakOut West and Western Canadian Music Awards weekend annually so as to have the eventual winners on hand to accept their awards in person.

2. To raise the profile of the classical music categories within the WCMAs.

3. To expose the music of the classical nominees (in both categories) to the local community where the BOW/WCMAs are being held in a particular year, as well as to music industry delegates attending the WCMAs.

4. To build awareness and fellowship among the classical music nominees, and between classical music nominees and nominees in other genres.

5. To work with local partners in order to maximize local audience participation at the event.

A brief history of the WCMA/BreakOut West Festival Classical Music Showcase to date:

2013 Calgary, AB

October 5 – Festival Hall

Standing Wave, Rubbing Stone Ensemble, Naomi Forman (voice), Mary Jo Carrabré (piano), Antonio Peruch (accordion), Vaughan String Quartet, Quarter Tones Flute Ensemble, John Oliver (guitar), Kensington Sinfonia

2012 Regina, SK

September 29 – Knox Metropolitan Church

University of Saskatchewan Wind Ensemble with Dean McNeill (trumpet), Central Park Strings. U of R Composers' New Music Ensemble, Kenneth Norman Johnson (piano), Dorianna Holowachuk (voice)

2011 Whitehorse, YT

October 22 – Whitehorse United Church

Diana McIntosh (piano), Ensemble Resonance, Erika Raum (violin) and David McIntyre (piano), Peter Hannan (recorder) with Siri Olesen (soprano), Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa (piano).

2010 Kelowna, BC

October 23 – Mary Irwin Theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts

Mark Takeshi McGregor (flute), Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa (piano), musica intima (choir), Ed Henderson (guitar), Colleen and Alicia Venables (violin and piano), Jeremy Brown (saxophone), Fringe Percussion.

2009 Brandon, MB

September 19 – Lorne Watson Recital Hall, Brandon University

Sara Hagen (piano), Richard Tyborowski Trio, Alexander Tselyakov (piano), Trio Accord.

2008 Edmonton, AB

October 18 – All Saints Anglican Cathedral

Renée Brad, Shannon Hiebert (piano), Mark Takeshi McGregor (flute), Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa (piano).

2007 Moose Jaw, SK

October 20 – Zion United Church

Michael Strutt (guitar), Dean McNeill (trumpet), Bonnie Nicholson (piano), Sylvia Shaddick-Taylor (piano).

PREVIOUS WESTERN CANADIAN MUSIC AWARD CLASSICAL WINNERS

Outstanding Classical Recording

2013: Jason Cullimore – Cinematic Symphony and Gamescores

2012: Jeffrey Ryan – Fugitive Colours

2011: Peter Hannan – Rethink Forever

2010: musica intima – Into the Light

2009: Wildrose Trio – Path of Contact

2008: Jasper Wood – A Child’s Cry from Izieu

2007: James Ehnes – Barber Korngold Walton

2006: Land’s End Chamber Ensemble – Rollin’ Down #1

2005: Land’s End Chamber Ensemble - Four Degrees of Freedom; Edmonton Symphony Orchestra – Frenergy, Music of John Estacio

2004: CBC Vancouver Radio Orchestra – Jacques Hétu: Concertos; Chor Leoni Men's Choir – Yuletide Fires

2003: Lafayette String Quartet – Death and the Maiden

2002: Sid Robinovitch and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (Bramwell Tovey) – Klezmer Suite (Prairie Music Award)

Outstanding Classical Composition

2013: John Oliver – Forging Utopia (Forging Utopia)

2012: Allan Gilliland – Kalla (O Music)

2011: Marcus Goddard - Allaqi (Sea to Sea)

2010: Stephen Chatman – Earth Songs (Earth Songs)

2009: Patrick Carrabré – A Hammer for Your Thoughts (Firebrand)

2008: Elizabeth Raum – Dark Thoughts (How Bodies Make Ecstatic Marks)

2007: Owen Underhill – Canzone di Petra (Canada-New Works for Flute and Harp)

2006: Stephen Chatman – Lawren S. Harris Suite for Piano Quintet (Vancouver Visions)

2005: Stephen Chatman – Proud Music of the Storm (Proud Music of the Storm)

2004: Robert Turner – Third Symphony (The Robert Turner Canadian Composer Portrait)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Western Canadian Music Alliance History". Retrieved 2009-05-13.
  2. ↑ http://breakoutwest.ca/about/alliance-info/mission-statement-goals/

External links