CMW 2025 Student Composer Competition Winners

OUR ADJUDICATOR: Wes Froese

Wes Froese (b.1963) was raised in Swift Current, Saskatchewan and studied piano at university in Regina and Saskatoon. He enjoys all aspects of music making: performing, writing, teaching, and recording. Wes’s keyboard compositions can be found in From Prairie to Pine, CNCM Northern Lights and Pianozzazz (Debra Wanless Music). Wes also works in long term care, as a recreation coordinator specializing in music. As far as he is concerned, there are few things better than playing musical instruments and singing, and believes everyone, including himself, benefits from live music.  His website is froesemusic.com

WINNER of Preparatory (8 and under) Class 1 instrumental category $50 prize for “Bouncy”

Amaru Rojas-Chan is a bright and curious almost-8-year-old who has been taking piano lessons since age 5. He loves creating his own music and enjoys experimenting with melodies and rhythms. Amaru draws musical inspiration from his favourite film soundtracks such as Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Jurassic Park, and ballet scores, including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Dracula. When not at the piano, he loves beating his dad at a game of Magic the Gathering or chess, building his own dinosaur park in the Jurassic World Evolution computer game, and reading about dragons and dinosaurs.

WINNER of Category A (11 and under) Class 1 instrumental “At the Carnival” $75 prize and Class 2 vocal “Dreamin’ in My Memories” 

Nathaniel Mercer is 11 years old and is studying voice with Shoshana Goldenberg.  Nathaniel is also skilled at playing piano, ukulele and guitar.  At the 2025 Winnipeg Music Festival, Nathaniel was presented a Rainbow Stage Youth Award for the most outstanding musical theatre performance by a 12 or 14 years and under performer.  This season, Nathaniel celebrated the centennial anniversary of the Winnipeg Boys' Choir as a continuing member.  Nathaniel also enjoyed being part of the April 2025 Manitoba Opera children's chorus of La bohème.

WINNER Category B (15 and under) Class 1 instrumental “A Snowy Stroll” and Category C (19 and under) “Valse Études” $150 prize

Gaoyuan (Thomas) Cheng is a piano student and composer. His original works have been premiered by his school band and Juilliard students, and published by the Canadian National Conservatory of Music. He has received many national and provincial awards in both composition and piano, including the RCM Level 8 National Gold Medal, three RCM Provincial Gold Medals (Levels 7–9), and top awards in composition competitions such as the CFMTA National Student Composer Competition, Oscar Bookbinder Composition Competition, and the International Youth Music Competition. He has been awarded scholarships from the RCM, the Alliance for Canadian New Music Projects, and the Canadian Music Centre. Gaoyuan is sincerely grateful to his teachers, Sarah Konecsni and Loren Hiebert, for their invaluable guidance in both piano and composition.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS in Category B 15 and under Class 1 were awarded to

Emiliya Vasyl’yeva for “The Victory March” and Joshua Han for “Five Stages of Difficulty”

WINNER Category D Open $250 prize “Easy as Cake”

Sarah Mercer is studying voice with Shoshana Goldenberg, and is a recent graduate of the Village Conservatory for Music Theatre in Winnipeg.  Sarah loves to compose vocal works for which she writes her own text.  As a 2024 Art Song Lab poet participant, Sarah gained collaborative experience by writing lyrics for a composer other than herself.