Indigenous Creativity in Music
Composition Project
​(PDF version here)
Ensemble Urbain Musique is excited to extend an open invitation for Indigenous Canadian composers to collaborate on the Indigenous Creativity in Music Composition Project. This project encourages the creation of works for string orchestra or chamber ensemble by Canadian composers of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis origin. This project seeks to empower Indigenous composers by creating space for self-determined artistic expression, from a place of respect for Indigenous knowledge systems and sonic practices.
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Ensemble Urbain Musique invites Indigenous composers to propose new works to be created for the ensemble, welcoming concepts that reflect the full breadth of Indigenous musical traditions and innovations, and allowing artists to create work on their own terms, free from pre-defined institutional formats. Working with a leadership panel of Indigenous curators and artists, an applicant will be chosen to develop a work that will be premiered by Ensemble Urbain Musique in a concert in September-October 2025. In line with our commitment to Indigenous sovereignty, the curation of the program will prioritize the involvement of this panel, with full support provided to ensure that all aspects of the initiative — whether cultural, spiritual, or performative — are respected and aligned with the composer’s intentions.
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Composers are invited to propose concepts that reflect their own cultural frameworks and artistic languages, allowing the use of both Western instruments and Indigenous instruments, alternative scoring methods, or any hybrid approach that resonates with their vision. We seek to eliminate any limitations on artistic expression, instead creating space for sonic engagement and exploration.
The project emphasizes Indigenous leadership at every stage. Ensemble Urbain Musique will work closely with the Indigenous leadership panel mentioned above to guide the entire creative process. Our curatorial process will be guided by a collaborative, community-centered approach rather than the traditional top-down model of Western institutions.
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Rather than framing the project as a one-time commission, we intend to foster ongoing relationships between Ensemble Urbain Musique and the broader Indigenous arts community. The composer selected by the Indigenous leadership panel will be invited to engage with the ensemble and to share their own cultural practices, and we hope that the initiative will ensure the work has a life beyond the premiere, potentially influencing educational programs, residencies, and future commissions. We recognize the limitations of the cultural frameworks of Western classical music and intend for the 2025 Indigenous Creativity in Music Composition Project to evolve into an iterative activity which addresses these limitations from a perspective of willingness to learn and transform, using principles of intercultural respect.
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Ensemble Urbain Musique strives to enable a model that centers Indigenous autonomy, allowing composers to shape their work, its performance, and its cultural context without being constrained by settler-institutional models. Our initiative aims to foster collaborative relationships, and to be an example of decolonial programming that empowers Indigenous artists to define their own artistic legacies.
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The selected applicant will receive $5,000 CAD to compose a work to be premiered by Ensemble Urbain Musique, and will additionally be invited to co-curate a program around the work in tandem with the ensemble. The work will be premiered as part of Ensemble Urbain Musique’s program “Origines” in late September-early October 2025. This project is generously underwritten by the Museon Fund for Creativity and the Guilde des musiciens et des musiciennes du Québec (GMMQ), with assistance from Innovations en Concert.
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About Ensemble Urbain Musique
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Ensemble Urbain Musique is a conductorless string ensemble specializing in works by composers from identities that have historically been silenced within Western Classical music. As a Tio'Tia:ke/Montréal-based non-profit organization, we strive to make our concerts an integral part of our community by bringing our art to spaces beyond the traditional concert hall. We love these spaces because they encourage connections between us and our audience. We prioritize programming music by composers of all ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations, and we pride ourselves in performing music that invites our audience to experience something new.
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We acknowledge that the area that Ensemble Urbain Musique serves, Tio'Tia:ke/Montréal, is unceded Indigenous land, and recognize the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation as the custodians of the lands and waters around us. This area has long served as a site of meeting and exchange amongst the Kanien'kehá:ka and many other First Nations, including the Huron/Wendat, Abenaki, and Anishinaabeg, and continues to serve as such today for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Our ensemble endeavours to serve as a place of gathering and connection; this project aims to honor this tradition by providing creative exchange of mutual benefit to composer and ensemble.
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Project Timeline
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March 21, 2025: Application deadline
April-May 2025: Selected applicant notified; announcement made
May 2025: Program Curation consultation
May-August 2025: Selected applicant composes work for ensemble
August 8, 2025: Final score & parts due; composer receives payment
September-October 2025: Performance of selected composer’s work
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Application and Selection Process
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Applicants are asked to submit the following:
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Concept/inspiration for new work – Applicants are asked to submit a short description of and/or vision for the work to be composed for Ensemble Urbain Musique. Additionally, if they desire, applicants may also submit supporting materials related to the work to be created — we encourage applicants to submit whatever creative materials related to the work that they consider to be helpful for evaluation by the Indigenous leadership panel. The following is a list, by no means exhaustive, of potential supporting materials:
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Representation of inspiration for the work to be composed (for example, a picture of a work of art, or recording of nature) with an accompanying explanation.
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An in-progress excerpt of the work or compositional sketch (of any length) in score, audio, or video format.
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Scores or performance instructions for two (2) works previously composed by the applicant that they feel represents their compositional style, with supporting audio and/or video representation of at least one of the works.
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A short biography, résumé or CV.
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Applications will be evaluated by a committee consisting of Ensemble Urbain Musique musicians and invited Indigenous artists. The application materials must be received by March 21, 2025, and the selected applicant will be notified in April-May 2025. The selected applicant will receive $5,000 CAD, to be paid upon delivery of the completed parts and score to Ensemble Urbain Musique by August 8, 2025.
Performance
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One (1) selected applicant will compose a work of approximately 6-10 minutes duration written for multiple instrumentalists, with a maximum instrumentation of the following instruments:
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Up to 9 Violins
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Up to 3 Violas
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Up to 3 Cellos
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Up to 2 Double Basses
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Up to 1 Guitar (Classical, Acoustic, or Electric)
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Applicants are also encouraged to explore incorporating instruments or elements outside of those listed above (such as traditional Indigenous instruments, electronics, piano, percussion), provided they consult with Ensemble Urbain Musique to determine the logistical feasibility of incorporating these elements.
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The selected applicant’s work will be performed by Ensemble Urbain Musique as part of the ensemble’s Fall 2025 concert season.
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Program Curation
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Additionally, to facilitate a fully collaborative and curated experience, the selected composer is encouraged to pair their work on the program with another piece of their choosing, with a maximum of 10 minutes duration for the accompanying work.
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The accompanying work is subject to the same maximum instrumentation requirements as the applicant’s original composition, and will be chosen by the selected composer in consultation with Ensemble Urbain Musique and Music Director Joshua Morris in May 2025.
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Eligibility
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To be considered for this prize, applicants must:
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be of First Nations, Inuit or Métis origin; and
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be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident, as defined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (you do not need to be living in Canada when you apply).
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The selected applicant will be asked to present proof of Indigenous status in accordance with criteria defined by the Indigenous organization Indspire, which can be found at this link. (These criteria are defined within the “Indigenous” section of section 2.0 of the document, “Definitions”).
Requirements
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Please include the following in your application:
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Concept/inspiration for new work: Short description/vision of the work to be composed in PDF format. Any supporting materials should be in the following formats:
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Text/photo: JPEG, PDF, PNG
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Audio: MIDI, MP3, WAV
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Video: MOV, MP4, WMV
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Scores or performance instructions for two (2) works previously composed by the applicant that they feel are representative of their compositional output, with an audio or video representation of at least one of the works (either a live or computer-generated recording.) The scores/performance instructions should be PDF files, and the audio/video representation should be in one of the following formats:
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Audio: MIDI, MP3, WAV
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Video: MOV, MP4, WMV
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A short biography, résumé, or CV (in PDF format)
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Application Submission
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All applications must be submitted in electronic format in a single folder by March 21, 2025. Applicants should upload their materials via one of the following (or similar) file-sharing websites:
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Dropbox
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Google Drive
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WeTransfer
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Please make sure file/folder sharing settings are set to “public” or “everyone” so materials can be shared with the Indigenous leadership panel (please note that only the leadership panel and Ensemble Urbain Musique representatives will have access to these materials).
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Once all materials are uploaded, please send the link to the folder to ensembleurbain@gmail.com, with the following subject line:
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2025 Indigenous Creativity in Music Composition Project – [applicant’s name]
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If applicants have any questions about the project or the application process, please contact ensembleurbain@gmail.com for clarification.