Composer Andrew Staniland has firmly established himself as one of Canada’s most important and innovative musical voices. The New Yorker magazine has described his work as “an alternately beautiful and terrifying instrumental meditation”. His music is regularly heard on CBC Radio 2 and has been broadcast internationally in over 35 countries. His work has received numerous accolades, including the 2009 National Grand Prize in EVOLUTION, a contemporary music competition presented by CBC Radio 2/Espace Musique and The Banff Centre, top prizes in the SOCAN young composers competition, and the 2004 Karen Keiser Prize in Canadian Music. His music has represented Canada at both the UNESCO International Rostrum (Paris, 2007) of Composers and the ISCM World Music Days (Hong Kong, 2006).
From 2006 – 2009 Andrew Staniland served as Affiliate Composer to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has also been in residence at the Centre du Creation Musicale Iannis Xenakis (Paris, 2005) and Affiliate Composer to the Canadian National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa, 2002-2004). Andrew’s roster of commissioning bodies continues to expand, with new projects involving Les Percussions De Strasbourg, Duo Concertante, and New Music Concerts.
In addition to his work as a composer, Andrew has developed and implemented a variety of innovative educational initiatives, including a “Composer in the Classroom” project bringing classical composers into Canadian public schools. Andrew also performs himself, both as a guitarist and working with new media (computers and electronics). Andrew is currently on faculty at Memorial University in St John’s Newfoundland.
Awards
National Grand Prize ($20,000), CBC Evolution Composers Competition : Devolution. 2009
Prix de l'Orchestre de la Francophonie Canadienne: Devolution. 2009
1st Prize, Prairie Emerging Composer Award. 2008
2nd Prize, Pierre Mercure Award, SOCAN Young Composers Competition: Full Circle. 2007
Gaia Chosen by the Canadian Broadcasting Corperation to represent Canada in the Under 30 catagory at the International Rostrum of Composers in Paris, France. 2007
1st Prize, Hugh LeCain Award, SOCAN Young Composeres Competition: Despite Bright Ideas. 2006
2nd Prize, Pierre Mercure Award, SOCAN Young Composers Competition: Air. 2006
After the Crash selected by the ISCM Canadian Section for its submission to the 2007 ISCM World Music Days in Hong Kong. 2006
1st Prize, Pierre Mercure Award, SOCAN Young Composers Competition: After the Crash. 2005
Finalist, Toronto Symphony Orchestra New Creations Competition. 2004
Toronto Emerging Composer Award. 2004
Karen Keiser Prize in Canadian Music: Tapestry. 2004
3rd Prize, Sir Earnest MacMillan Award, SOCAN Young Composers Competition: Variations on a Theme by D.H. Lawrence. 2002
3rd Prize, Hugh LeCain Award, SOCAN Young Composers Competition: for Violin #3. 2002