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 classical music, supporting the development and performance of new works on an international scale;
• advance Jewish music, celebrating and expanding the global repertoire of Jewish music through the Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music and the Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music;
• support Canadian music, uplifting the contributions of Canadian composers through the Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music;
• broaden the global classical 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.

To be eligible for AMP-PF support, a music ensemble must:

• be a registered not-for-profit corporation or charitable institution in their home country;
• retain professional artistic and administrative leadership and hire professional musicians;
• have completed at least two years of operations as a live concert music producer and presenting 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 2025-2026, 2026-2027 or 2027-2028 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 concerts 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 26 and July 4, 2025. Proposals received after 11:59 PM ET (GMT+5) on July 4, 2025 will be disqualified.

All packages must include:

• a completed Proposal Form;

Organizational Documents

• brief biographies of the organization’s administrative and artistic leadership personnel;
• financial statements for the most recently completed fiscal year;
• a budget for the year/season in which the AMP work(s) will be performed;
• a detailed concert budget showing the amount requested from the AMP Performance Fund (to a maximum of $25,000 CAD). The total request must not exceed 50% of the total concert budget.

Artistic Materials

• PDF copies of print materials (season brochure, concert program, posters, etc.) from both the last completed and current concert seasons;
• recent recordings of two contrasting examples of your ensemble performing contemporary musical works (recordings may be submitted as audio and/or video files in MP3, WAV, MP4 or MOV—links to freely accessible audiovisual recordings posted online will also be accepted (e.g. YouTube videos, etc.);

Please note:

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

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 and Frédéric Antoun

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

Iman Habibi
Shāhin-nāmeh 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

Rita Ueda
Birds Calling… from the Canada in You for shō, suona/sheng and orchestra
(2022 Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music)

• Duration: ca. 30 min.
• Instrumentation: Solo shō. 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 (shō) and Zhongxi Wu (suona and sheng)

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

Yair Klartag
The Parable of the Palace for choir and four double basses
(2024 Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music)

• Duration: ca. 15 min.
• Instrumentation: SATB chorus + 4cb
• 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

Jordan Nobles  
kanata for SATB voices a cappella
(2024 Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music)

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

An ensemble 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) and the Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP), with text and/or logo placement in the concert programme and in all other print and digital materials related to the AMP-PF supported concert;
• include a special statement in the concert house programme recognizing the Azrieli Music Prizes Performance Fund;
• maintain open, timely and professional communication with AMACC concerning the execution of the supported rehearsals and the concert; and
• provide a final report to AMACC following completion of the concert, 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 Concert;
  • concert documentation, including but not limited to the house programme, photos and media reviews; and
  • a one-page reflective statement on how the concert 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 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 concert proposal will not succeed within the competition. The inverse is also true: a strong concert 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 20th and 21st 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 ability to undertake the rehearsals and concert for one or more of the AMP-winning works to world class industry standards. AMP seeks to support ensembles that will showcase these works at the same level of excellence we expect of our Laureates.

Once received, proposals are registered and screened by AMP 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 criteria the Council applies in evaluating each submission. It is directly tied to the ensemble’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 programming;
• the ensemble’s capacity to generate high-quality professional performances; 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 current and past programming; and
• produces productive intercultural understandings through a rich consideration of what Jewish, Canadian or International music is and can be.

Capacity (20 points)

The Council will evaluate the qualified submissions for the ensembles’ ability to execute their concert projects as proposed.

Can the proposal be realistically and successfully achieved? Does the ensemble demonstrate enough previous experience to assure the Council that it will deliver on its proposal on time and on budget? Has the ensemble’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/proposals will receive AMP-PF support approximately two months after the submission deadline (i.e. by September 4, 2025). Successful applicants will be notified by AMP 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.

The Council eagerly welcomes feedback on how to improve the AMP-PF application, evaluation, notification and implementation processes. Feedback may be sent by email to music@azrielifoundation.org with the subject line “AMP-PF Feedback” or by post to:

Attn: Azrieli Music Prizes Performance Fund
2 St. Clair Avenue West, 9th Floor
Toronto ON M4V 1L5
CANADA