CMW 2024 Student Composer Competition Winners

CATEGORY A Class 1: 11 and under instrumental composition winner - Octave Brault for "Le papillon de nuit"

BIO: Octave was born in 2013 in Québec and moved to Manitoba with his family when he was 6-month-old. He has two sisters: his older sister plays the clarinet and his younger sister the piano. He started playing the piano at age 4 and quickly developed a passion for it, with the help of her much appreciated piano teacher, Josée Vaillancourt. He also enjoys reading and soccer. His work, “Le papillon de nuit”, is his first written composition.
Teacher: Josée Vaillancourt
Octave has won $75 and advances to the national competition.

Category A Class 2: 11 and under vocal composition winner - Nathaniel Mercer for "Fun with the Cinnamon Bun"

Nathaniel Mercer is 10 years old and is studying voice with Shoshana Goldenberg. Nathaniel enjoys composing for voice with piano, and voice with ukulele. At the 2024 Winnipeg Music Festival, Nathaniel was awarded the Stewart M. Thomson trophy for the most outstanding performance by a vocalist with unchanged voice, 14 years or younger. Other performance highlights include being in the children's chorus for the April 2024 Manitoba Opera production of Carmen, being cast in the May 2024 Dry Cold Productions musical Merrily We Roll Along by Stephen Sondheim, and being a member of the Winnipeg Boys' Choir.

Teacher: Shoshana Goldenberg
Nathaniel has won $75 and advances to the national competition.

CATEGORY B Class: 1: 15 and under instrumental composition - Favour Adelani for "The Jolly Wayfarer Variations"

Hi! I’m Favour Adelani, a 9th -grade student at Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute. I love music, writing, reading, and baking. Currently, I play the piano and the trumpet. I thank God for inspiring me to compose “The Jolly Wayfarer Variations” and for helping me win my category. A great thank you to my family for their support; my piano teacher, Mrs. Jane Petroni and former piano teacher, Mrs. Lana Ribakovas for helping me on my musical journey; the MRMTA for selecting my composition; and the adjudicator, Mrs. Janet Gieck for her insightful feedback. I hope to compose more in the future!

Teacher: Jane Petroni

Favour has won $100 and advances to the national competition.

Category C: 19 and under composition - Heidi Reimer for piano solo "Under Our Stars"

Heidi Reimer is 17 years old, and currently completing grade 12 at Linden Christian School. She began playing piano at age 5, but also plays the clarinet in band, tenor saxophone in jazz band, and sings in choir and a vocal jazz group. Her compositions are inspired by emotions and the colours of music.
Heidi would like to thank her teacher Mrs. Tracey Sawatzky, and the MRMTA for this amazing opportunity to learn and grow in her skills as a composer. Heidi will be attending University of Manitoba next year to study composition.
Teacher: Tracey Regier-Sawatzky
Heidi has won $150 and advances to the national competition.

Category D: Open - Sarah Mercer for children's choir piece "Up to Me"
Sarah Mercer is studying voice with Shoshana Goldenberg. An experienced vocal soloist and chorister, Sarah has performed a range of vocal works, including jazz, musical theatre, gospel, folk and classical. Sarah is also a flutist and keyboardist. Sarah enjoys composing for children's choir, adult choir, solo voice, flute, and piano.

Teacher: Shoshana Goldenberg
Sarah has won $250 and advances to the national competition.

OUR ADJUDICATOR: Janet Gieck

Janet Gieck grew up surrounded by rural Saskatchewan culture and landscape, a fact which has profoundly affected her musical output. After completing music degrees from Prairie Bible College (Three Hills, AB) and the Royal Conservatory of Music, she has had her compositions performed at many concerts, New Music Festivals and on CBC radio. Her pedagogical compositions are now listed on many different syllabi across the country. Passionate about sharing music with those in her community and beyond, Janet is a member of the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects, the Saskatchewan Registered Music Teachers' Association, and the composer's collective Red Leaf Pianoworks. Currently, Janet works as a member of the fine arts department at Millar College of the Bible in Pambrun, SK where she lives with her husband and children. She is also in demand as a piano teacher, adjudicator and clinician.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Honourable Mention in Category A Class 1 is awarded to Margaret Custodio for "Retro"

Honourable Mention in Category B Class 1 is awarded to Serra Kroetsch for "Midnight"