In 2025, In honour of the 45th anniversary of the CMC Prairie Region, we introduced new awards designed to celebrate the extraordinary contributions of composers, artists, and educators in our community!
These awards recognize individuals, collectives, and organizations whose creativity, dedication, and leadership have made a lasting impact on throughout the Prairie Region. Through these honours, CMC Prairie seeks to acknowledge excellence, inspire, continued artistic growth, and highlight the vital role these individuals, collectives, and organizations play in shaping the Canadian musical landscape.
Recipients were nominated by the community and peer reviewed.
Violet Archer Lifetime Achievement Award
- Open to individuals who have contributed over their career in a profound way to the Canadian music scene over decades of dedicated and legacy-building activity.
Violet Archer Award for Extraordinary Contribution to Canadian Music
- Celebrates exceptional patronage that advances Canadian composers and strengthens Canada’s musical legacy.
Canadian Music Centre Prairie Region Award of Excellence: Ensembles, Organizations, and Collectives
- Open to ensembles, organizations, and collectives that demonstrate an active and ongoing commitment to the promotion of Canadian music in the CMC Prairie Region and have a proven track record of creative output.
- Demonstrate extraordinary qualities and contributions to their musical community.
Future Sounds: Award for Music Educators/Student ensembles/Composers to Watch
- Nominations for extraordinary educators and/or educational/student ensembles that demonstrate an ongoing commitment to the performance of Canadian Music.
The Prairie Resonance Award for Individual Artists and Composers
- Recognizing extraordinary individual artists/composers/music creatives of any career stage thatare creating waves on the Canadian music scene.
Violet Archer Lifetime Achievement Award
Violet Archer Award: For Extraordinary Contribution to Canadian Music
Awards of Excellence: Ensembles, Organizations, and Collectives
Awarded for their dedication to Canadian contemporary music and education, dedication to gender parity and cross-cultural commissions.
In recognition of 40 years of contribution to an accessible, healthy, and vibrant artist ecosystem through support, presentation, and programming of local and Canadian artists.
Future Sounds: Music Educators / Student Ensembles
For his dedication to creating engaging educational and concert works for school programs, choirs, and concert stages.
Prairie Resonance Award: Individual Artists / Composers
CEO of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, Mark has played a vital role in advancing Canadian music by championing Canadian composers and artists while strengthening the orchestral music scene in Saskatchewan.
For her leadership in performing and promoting new Canadian works through interdisciplinary, inclusionary, and innovative collaboration.
Recognized for her work as a flutist, composer, and multi-faceted artist advancing Indigenous presence and decolonizing perspectives and repertoire within the Canadian contemporary music scene.
Conductor Emeritus of the Calgary Philharmonic, Rune is recognized for championing, commissioning, and performing new works by Canadian composers during his tenure.
Composers To Watch
Part of a new generation of Canadian composers actively shaping local new-music scenes—collaborating closely with performers, writing for musical communities, and contributing work that feels both current and durable.
Daniel’s music combines bold imagination with cultural and community impact, bringing a fresh perspective on contemporary Canadian composition.