Eligibility
The 4th edition of the Graham Sommer Competition for Young Composers (GSC) is open to Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada who are under the age of 35 on the application deadline (October 3, 2025). For the 2026 competition that means born after October 4, 1990.
All submitted works must be 100% original.
Competition dates
- Application deadline: October 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM (noon) EST
- Finalists announced: January 2026
- Pre-composition consultation with all finalists and musicians (virtual): TBA
- Finalists submit commissioned work (full score and individual parts): July 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM (noon) EST
- Finalists arrive in Montreal: Saturday, September 19, 2026
- Final concert round: Sunday, September 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST
Prizes
The commissioned works of all finalists will be premiered at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University. The concert will be webcast.
- 1st Prize: $18,000 CA
- 2nd Prize: $12,000 CA
- Three Honourable Mention Awards of $6,000 CA
- People's Choice Award of $6,000 CA
Application procedure
All official competition communications will be by email.
You must fill out the online application form and include:
- Proof of age and Canadian citizenship or permanent residency status. The following are acceptable documents: birth certificate, passport, citizenship certificate, or permanent resident card.
- An up-to-date curriculum vitae and a biography of 250-300 words.
- Scores for three (3) original works (in PDF format), each from 3-15 minutes long, with accompanying program notes (in PDF format).
- An audio OR video media file link for a minimum of one of your submitted works. Aim for the most professional standard possible. Before you send it, check that the link is working and can be read with any standard player. Links for Soundcloud (audio) and YouTube (video) are recommended.
The GSC reserves the right to dismiss submissions that do not meet these requirements prior to jury review.
Travel to Montreal
If you are selected as a finalist, you will be required to be in Montreal during the week preceding and at the final concert gala, to rehearse with the ensemble and to attend the final concert.
If required, your travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the Competition. All finalists will receive a per diem. The Competition will not cover any costs for persons accompanying you to Montreal for the Competition.
Commissioned composition for final concert round
- Finalists must compose an original work for the competition. The work must be 8 to 12 minutes long. The ensemble configuration will be announced soon.
- Preparation of any of the instruments as well as the use of electronics, amplification, or soundtracks is not permitted. Woodwind doubling, the retuning of string instruments (scordatura) and the use of non-standard drumsticks or mallets are not permitted. The concert piano will be tuned to 442 Hz and cannot be retuned.
- The GSC will provide a professional ensemble to perform all of the works at the final concert, which will be webcast.
- The ensemble will have fifteen (15) total hours of rehearsal on each finalist's work prior to the final performance, including six (6) hours each to work with the selected finalists.
- The commissioned work may not be performed in public by another ensemble in advance of the GSC. It must be premiered at the final concert gala.
