Calling all composers! Submissions are now being accepted for Evolution, a CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique competition in partnership with The Banff Centre. The search for the brightest emerging composers begins online and culminates with a challenging musical collaboration at the esteemed Banff Centre, where five finalists work feverishly with an ensemble to perform their compositions live, on air and online. With a total of $55,000 worth of prizes on the line, submissions will be accepted from composers 19-35 years of age.

”The purpose of Evolution is to bring together the breadth of talented composers in this country and to de-mystify the compositional process,” said Mark Steinmetz, director of music programming, CBC Radio. “We hope to uncover and expose this great talent of these largely unknown composers to listeners and reveal an intimate look at their personal journeys through the creative process,” added Christiane Leblanc, director, Espace musique.

• Open to all Canadians (citizens or permanent residents) who are 19-35 years old as of December 15, 2008.
• Submissions will be accepted until midnight December 15, 2008, at www.cbc.ca/evolution and by mail to CBC/Radio-Canada, to the attention of Chantal Bélisle, 888 Saint-Jean St., Quebec City, QC G1R 5H6.
• The top five composers will be announced on February 2, 2009, and each awarded a $5,000 grant from CBC/Radio-Canada.
• The five finalists fly to Banff on March 2 for a month-long creative and rehearsal process to be documented in blogs and video online.
• On March 26, the finalists’ compositions are put to the test at a concert at The Banff Centre for the Evolution finale. The performance is broadcast live on CBC Radio 2 and Espace musique, with live online audio and video streaming.
• The winner of the $20,000 National Composition Grand Prize, funded and awarded by the Canada Council for the Arts and CBC/Radio-Canada, is announced following the show on March 26.
• A $5,000 People’s Choice Award will be presented by Jeunesses Musicales of Canada Foundation.
• A prize of $5,000 in the form of a commission from the Orchestre de la francophonie canadienne will be awarded to one of the five finalists.

Complete contest rules and additional information can be found at www.cbc.ca/evolution.

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For more information, please contact:
Renée Mellow, Media Profile
renee@mediaprofile.com, (416) 504-8464