The Canada Music Week Festival is held each November to celebrate and promote Canadian music in our community during national Canada Music Week. Due to restrictions in 2020, the Vancouver/Burnaby Branch decided to hold an online Composers' Forum on Sunday November 22 instead of our CMW Festival.  In honour of our Centennial Anniversary, registration was opened to all teachers, students, and music enthusiasts to share in the experience without cost.

Three prominent Canadian composers were invited to the Forum, Christine Donkin from Victoria, Alexina Louie from Toronto, and David L. McIntyre from Regina. Each composer was featured in a 60 minute interview where they graciously shared their time, giving the audience a fascinating glimpse into their process of composition and their thoughts on music. Questions were submitted in advance, although participants could ask more through the chat. Among many captivating topics, we heard about Christine Donkin’s intriguing Composition Clubs for students, Alexina Louie’s virtual release of Take the Dog Sled for Inuit throat singers and ensemble, and David McIntyre’s composition-in-progress Towns, inspired by the places one drives through on the way to bigger cities (for more information click on any of the links noted below).

The entire afternoon was an absolute delight, thanks in large part to the truly engaging and generous personalities of our guests.

Hats off to Christine, Alexina, and David!!

Canadian Music Centre Library: https://collections.cmccanada.org/final/Portal/Music-Library.aspx?lang=en-CA

Christine Donkin with composition Club information: www.christinedonkin.com
Free Collaborative music software:
www.musescore.com
www.flat.io

Alexina Louie: www.alexinalouie.ca
Virtual release of “Take the Dog Sled”: https://cmccanada.org/take-the-dog-sled-virtual-centrediscs-album-launch/
Mini- opera “Toothpaste”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSAsn9u3e8U

David L McIntrye: www.davidlmcintyre.com