The key objectives of the Azrieli Music Prizes are to:

• encourage excellence in music composition, recognizing and rewarding composers who create innovative and high-quality musical works;
• promote contemporary concert music, supporting the development and performance of new works on an international scale;
• advance Jewish music, celebrating and expanding the global repertoire through the Azrieli
• Prize for Jewish Music and the Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music;
• support Canadian music, uplifting the contributions of composers in Canada through the Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music;
• broaden the global concert music repertoire, supporting works that exhibit excellence, creativity and cultural significance through the Azrieli Commission for International Music; and
• enhance public engagement with music resulting from AMP, ensuring the winning works are performed, recorded and distributed widely to diverse audiences.

The Azrieli Music Prizes Performance Fund supports the performance of AMP-winning works. For a full list of eligible works, please see the “AMP-Winning Works” tab.

Ensembles may request support in amounts between $5,000 CAD and $25,000 CAD to help cover the costs of:

• score and parts rental;
• soloist fees;
• additional rehearsal time to prepare the AMP-winning works;
• augmented concert promotions; and
• attendance of AMP Laureates at the rehearsals and the concert of their winning work.

AMP-PF Funds are allocated on an annual basis to deserving music ensembles through a competitive selection process. Funding requests must not exceed 50% of the total concert budget.

The Azrieli Music Prizes Performance Fund (AMP-PF) supports professional Canadian music ensembles and organizations in preparing and presenting excellent public performances of AMP-winning works in Canada and abroad. Ensembles/organizations may request related support up to $35,000 CAD to help cover the costs of:

• artist fees;
• augmented promotion;
• attendance of AMP Laureate(s) at the rehearsals and the concert(s) of their winning work;
• score and parts rental;
• instrument rental;
• touring nationally and internationally;
• additional rehearsal time required to prepare AMP-winning work(s) (restricted to artist fees,score and parts rental, instrument rental and venue costs related to the extra rehearsals only). General venue rental costs are not

AMP-PF Funds are allocated on an annual basis to deserving music ensembles and organizations through a competitive selection process. Funding requests must not exceed 50% of the total project budget.

To be eligible for AMP-PF support, an ensemble/organization must:

• be a Canadian registered charity in good standing;
• retain professional artistic and administrative leadership and hire professional musicians;
• have completed at least two years of operations as a live concert music producer, concert presenter and/or touring organization;
• demonstrate regular, ongoing live concert programming that is delivered to professional performance standards before a paying audience;
• propose to program at least one AMP-winning work in their 2026-2027, 2027-2028 or 2028-2029 concert season; and
• exhibit good governance, a strong administrative structure and sound financial management.

Past recipients of AMP-PF support are welcome to submit proposals for future projects featuring AMP-winning works. However, the Fund will give preference to new applicants over returning applicants. 

The completed Proposal Form and supporting documents must be submitted electronically via the AMP-PF online form between May 25, 2026 and July 3, 2026 Proposals received after 11:59 PM ET on July 3, 2026 will be disqualified.

All packages must include:

• a completed Proposal Form;

Organizational Support Materials

• Brief biographies of your ensemble’s/organization’s most senior artistic and executive leadership (e.g. Executive Director and Artistic Director);
• Financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year;
• Complete organizational budget (revenues and expenses) for the year/season in which the AMP-winning work(s) will be performed;
• Detailed project budget (revenues and expenses) showing the amount requested from the AMP-PF (Maximum request $35,000 CAD). The total request must not exceed 50% of the total project budget.

Artistic Materials

• PDF copies of print materials (season brochure, concert programs, posters, etc.) from both your 2024/25 and 2025/26 concert seasons;
• Links to online promotional materials (website listing, season brochure, concert programs, posters, etc.) from both your 2024/25 and 2025/26 concert seasons;
• Recent recordings of your ensemble (or guest ensemble) performing two contrasting contemporary works. Submissions may be audio or video files (MP3, WAV, MP4, or MOV), or links to freely accessible online recordings (e.g. YouTube).

Please note:

1. AMP will only accept one proposal per ensemble/organization per year. Multiple proposals from the same ensemble/organization in the same year will not be considered.
2. Optional: Submissions may be accompanied by a maximum of two letters of reference. All letters should clearly indicate the applicant’s name as follows: “(Ensemble’s/Organization’s Name) Letter of Reference, Azrieli Music Prizes Performance Fund”

Applicants may submit a proposal to perform one or more of the following works:

Brian Current

The Seven Heavenly Halls for tenor solo, mixed choir and orchestra

(2016 Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 27 min.
• Instrumentation: 2(pic.).2(eh).2(bcl).2(cb)/2.2.2.0/3 perc/hp.pf/solo tenor/chorus (SATB, SSSAAATTTBBB and SSAATTBB)/str

• Publisher: Canadian Music Centre
• Soloists who have performed this work: Andrew Haji, Richard Troxell, Frédéric Antoun and Ivan Defabiani

Wlad Marhulets

Concerto for Klezmer Clarinet for solo clarinet and orchestra

(2016 Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 17 min.
• Instrumentation: 2(pic).2.0.2/4.2.0.0/timp.2perc.dmkit/cel.pf/ebgtr/solo cl/str
• Publisher: G. Schirmer
• Soloists who have performed this work: David Krakauer and André Moisan

Kelly-Marie Murphy

En el escuro es todo uno (In the Darkness, All is One) for solo cello, solo harp and orchestra

(2018 Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 22 min.
• Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2/4.2.2.1/timp.2perc/solo vcl, solo hp/str
• Publisher: Canadian Music Centre
• Soloists who have performed this work: Rachel Mercer (cello), Erica Goodman (harp), Couloir (Ariel Barnes,

cello and Heidi Krutzen, harp), Stéphane Tétrault (cello) and Angela Schwarzkopf (harp)

Avner Dorman

Nigunim (Violin Concerto No. 2) for solo violin and orchestra

(2018 Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 20 min.
• Instrumentation:
• Orchestral version: 2(pic).2.2.2/2.0.0.0/timp.2perc/solo vln/str
• Sextet version: solo vln /pno/str qt
• Publisher: G. Schirmer
• Soloists who have performed this work: Lara St. John, Kerson Leong, Itamar Zorman and Guy Braunstein

Keiko Devaux

Arras for 14 musicians

(2020 Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music)

• Duration: ca. 24 min.
• Instrumentation: fl(picc).ob.cl.bn/hn.tpt.tbn/perc.pf/2vn.va.vc.bd
• Publisher: Self-published

Yotam Haber

Estro Poetico-armonico III for mezzo-soprano, 15 instruments and audio playback

(2020 Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 24 min.
• Instrumentation: fl(picc).ob.cl.bn/hn.tpt.tbn/perc.cel.pf.epf/mezzo solo/2vn.va.vc.db
• Publisher: Yotam Haber Music Edition / ASCAP
• Soloists who have performed this work: Krisztina Szabó, Eliza Bagg, Noa Frenkel and Rena Maduro

Yitzhak Yedid

Kadosh Kadosh and Cursed for 14 musicians

(2020 Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 17 min.
• Instrumentation: fl.ob.cl.bn/hn.tpt.tbn/timp.pf/2vn.va.vc.db
• Publisher: Israel Music Institute

Rita Ueda

Birds Calling… from the Canada in You for sho, suona/sheng and orchestra

(2022 Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music)

• Duration: ca. 30 min.
• Instrumentation: Solo sho. Solo suona (doubling on sheng)/3(picc).2(+eh). 2(+bcl).2(+cbn) /4.3.2(+btb).1/timp.

3perc.hp/str

• Publisher: Self-published
• Soloists who have performed this work: Naomi Sato (sho) and Zhongxi Wu (suona and sheng)

Iman Habibi

Shahin-nameh for voice and orchestra

(2022 Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 25 min.
• Instrumentation: 2(+pic).2(+eh).2+(bcl).2(cbn)/4.3.2(+btbn).1/timp.3perc.hp.pno/solo voice(+setar optional)/str
• Publisher: Self-published
• Soloists who have performed this work: Sepideh Raissadat (voice and setar), Jessika Kenney (voice) and

Pouyan Biglar (setar)

Aharon Harlap

Out of the depths I have cried unto Thee, O Lord for soprano and orchestra

(2022 Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 25 min.
• Instrumentation: 2.2.2.2/ 2.2.0.0/timp+1perc/solo soprano/str
• Publisher: Israel Music Institute
• Soloists who have performed this work: Sharon Azrieli, Pilar Paredes and Sharon Rostorf

Jordan Nobles

kanata for SATB voices a cappella

(2024 Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music)

• Duration: ca. 16 min.
• Instrumentation: SSAATTBB chorus
• Publisher: Self-published

Juan Trigos

Simetrías Prehispánicas (Prehispanic Symmetries), cantata-oratorio for mixed chorus and ensemble

(2024 Azrieli Commission for International Music)

• Duration: ca. 20 min.
• Instrumentation: SSAATTBB chorus + fl(picc, afl), tbn, timp+perc (1), pno/kbd
• Publisher: ProMusica International Ed

Yair Klartag

The Parable of the Palace for choir and four double basses

(2024 Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 15 min.
• Instrumentation: SATB chorus + 4cb
• Publisher: Self-published

Josef Bardanashvili

Light to My Path, choral fantasy for mixed choir, saxophone, vibraphone and piano

(2024 Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 20 min.
• Instrumentation: SATB chorus + sop. sax, vib, pno
• Publisher: Israel Music Institute

An ensemble/organization that receives AMP-PF support agrees to:

• program the AMP-winning work(s) in a manner that features it/them in the best way imaginable and in accordance with world class professional standards;
• rehearse and perform the work(s) to world class professional standards;
• acknowledge the Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre (AMACC) with text and/or logo placement in concert programme(s) and in all other print and digital materials related to the AMP-PF supported project;
• include a special statement in concert house programme(s) recognizing the Azrieli Music Prizes Performance Fund;
• maintain open, timely and professional communication with AMACC concerning the execution of the supported project; and
• provide a final report to AMACC following completion of the project, including:
• a letter recognizing the Azrieli Foundation’s support through AMP-PF;
• a brief financial report indicating how the AMP-PF contribution was spent and what impact it had on the project;
• documentation, including but not limited to house programme(s), photos and media reviews; and
• a one-page reflective statement on how the project helped meet AMP objectives.

In addition to the guidelines and requirements stated above, The Azrieli Music Prizes Advisory Council has provided the following considerations to help shape a more successful submission.

• Don’t worry about how ‘Jewish’, ‘Canadian’ or ‘International’ your programming is or is not. Ensembles/organizations from all nationalities, faiths, backgrounds and communities are equally welcome to apply. In fact, one of AMACC’s hopes for AMP is to generate productive intercultural understandings through a rich consideration of what Jewish, Canadian or International music is and can be.
• A successful proposal must be conceptually and musically balanced. Strong, musical examples accompanied by an insubstantial and/or ill-conceived proposal will not succeed within the competition. The inverse is also true: a strong proposal will not compensate for weak musical examples. The two must go hand-in-hand.
• It is preferred that AMP-winning works be programmed alongside other works from the 20^th and 21^st Century concert repertoire. That said, compelling proposals for programming alongside earlier works will be considered.
• Please note that the quality of the support documents greatly affects the ability to evaluate a proposal. Please ensure that submitted recordings are as clear and undistorted as possible and that print materials are clean and legible. If the reproduction quality is so low that it is difficult to ascertain the product, then this will impact the Council’s evaluation.
• Please be certain that submitted written materials and musical examples demonstrate your ensemble’s/organization’s ability to undertake the preparation and performance of one or more of the AMP-winning works to world class industry standards. AMP seeks to support ensembles/organizations that will showcase these works at the same level of excellence we expect of our Laureates.

Once received, proposals are registered and screened by AMACC staff for eligibility and completeness. The proposals that pass this screening are delivered to the AMP Advisory Council as qualified submissions. The Council will evaluate qualified submissions for their fit and relevancy to the objectives of AMP and the purpose of the Performance Fund. The Council will review and grade the submissions using the following three main criteria: Artistic Merit, Thematic Fit and Capacity. These criteria are separately weighted based on their level of importance to arrive at a score out of 100 for each evaluated submission.

Artistic Merit (50 points)

This is the most important criterion the Council applies in evaluating each submission. It is directly tied to the ensemble’s/organization’s proven ability to program and perform new concert music at the highest artistic standards. The Council will determine:

• the level of creativity and distinctiveness displayed in the ensemble’s/organization’s programming;
• the ensemble’s/organization’s capacity to generate high-quality professional performances and/or successful touring activity; and
• the ability of the submitted musical examples to sustain a listener’s attention over their entire length.

Thematic Fit (30 points)

The Council will evaluate whether the qualified submission:

• proposes a relevant thematic fit to the objectives of the Azrieli Music Prizes;
• presents one or more of the AMP-winning works in the best way imaginable, in accordance with world class professional standards;
• offers an authentic expression of the ensemble’s/organization’s current and past programming; and
• produces productive intercultural understandings through a rich consideration of what Jewish, Canadian and/or International music is and can be.

Capacity (20 points)

The Council will evaluate the qualified submissions based on the ensemble’s/organization’s ability to execute its project as proposed.

Can the proposed concert or tour be realistically and successfully achieved? Does the ensemble/organization demonstrate enough previous experience to assure the Council that it will deliver on its proposal on time and on budget? Has the ensemble’s/organization’s leadership allocated adequate resources to meet the expected standard of achievement?

Those proposals for which the Council can answer these questions in the affirmative will advance in the competition.

All decisions made by the AMP Advisory Council are final and non-negotiable. There is no appeal process.

The AMP Advisory Council anticipates making decisions concerning which ensembles/organizations will receive AMP-PF support approximately two months after the submission deadline (i.e. by September 3, 2026). Successful applicants will be notified by AMACC staff via email with an AMP-PF funding agreement (in writing) to follow 3-4 weeks later. All other applicants will receive a notification letter at the same time. Successful applicants must agree to comply with all requirements outlined in the AMP-PF Guidelines.

The Council eagerly welcomes feedback on how to improve the AMP-PF proposal, evaluation, notification and implementation processes. Feedback may be sent by email to [email protected] with the subject line “AMP-PF Feedback”.