CMW 2018 Student Composer Competition Winners

CATEGORY A CLASS 1: Max Merckx

Max Merckx

My name is Max Merckx, I’m nine years old and I live in Boissevain Manitoba.  I enjoy nature, going to our family cabin, tubing, playing hockey, and I also like to play video games.  I’ve participated in Boissevain’s Composers and Kids event 2 years in a row, and I really enjoy meeting Canadian Composers.  This past year I competed in the Boissevain Festival of the Arts in the piano category, and I also sang with the Boissevain School Grade 3 choir.

CATEGORY B CLASS 1: Elena Neufeld

Biography for Elena Neufeld

Hi, my name is Elena Neufeld and I live on a farm near Margaret, MB. I’m 15 years old, and in grade 9 at Boissevain School. In my free time I like riding my horse, sketching, photography, snowboarding, writing, and hanging out with my friends.

I like playing percussion in my high school band, and I study privately the violin, and piano.  I’m a member of the Brandon Youth Orchestra and Suzuki group through the Brandon University Conservatory.

CATEGORY B CLASS 2: Sheen Dube

Sheen’s Biography
Sheen Dube was born in Winnipeg. She began piano lessons when she was 4 years of age and started voice lessons 3 years ago. Sheen wrote her first song when she was 7 years old focusing on day to day issues in the world such as water scarcity. She has been doing it off and on ever since.
Sheen’s taste in music varies greatly, from pop to classical and jazz to ethnic. Sheen’s musical interest is part of a wider activity including going to concerts, playing the tuba in the school band, singing and composing music. She is currently in Grade 8 at St. John’s Ravenscourt School.
When Sheen is not making music or listening to her favourite singer, she likes to play badminton and watch movies.

CATEGORY "C": Evan Miles

Evan Miles is 17 years old and lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He has been studying classical piano with Gina Wedel since he was 4 years old and jazz piano and composition with Kevin Curtis since he was 12. Evan’s compositions reflect his jazz piano background as his knowledge of jazz theory and harmony allows him to create unique chord voicings and interesting resolutions. In addition to piano, Evan plays trombone, drums, guitar and is teaching himself upright bass. He is enrolled in grade 11 French Immersion and Kelvin High School, where he is a part of the senior jazz band, concert band and the president of the environmental action committee. In his free time, Evan enjoys rock climbing, Ultimate Frisbee, attending jam sessions and playing pool with his friends.