The Canadian League of Composers, in partnership with Continuum Contemporary Music and the Canadian Music Centre, is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2026-27 PIVOT x HATCH Mentorship Program.
Deadline: Friday July 3 2026 @ 11:59PM EDT
PIVOT x HATCH is a new mentorship program that offers participants a unique opportunity to work as peers in the development of new work with mentorship from the Continuum core ensemble and composer mentors. The program incubates experimental and collaborative practice, offering workshops, mentorship, panels, rehearsals, and performance opportunities over the course of the 26-27 Season. The program culminates in May 2027 with five world premieres, highlighting the next generation of Canadian musical talent.
Five composers and six performers will be selected for this program. Participating composers will be guided by mentors of their choosing as they compose, workshop, and complete a new piece for an ensemble consisting of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion. Participating performers will then premiere these five works at a public concert on Saturday, May 8 2027, at St. George’s Grange Park in downtown Toronto. The performers will also present a concert of Canadian solo works on Sunday, January 10, 2027 at the Canadian Music Centre. Throughout the process, performers will receive one-on-one mentorship from members of Continuum’s core ensemble through individual lessons
Eligibility Requirements
- Self-identified early-career composers and performers (please feel free to contact organisers if you have questions about your eligibility status);
- Training and/or experience in their artistic practice. Post-secondary training is not a requirement.
- Anyone residing in Canada or Canadian citizens living abroad;
- There is no age restriction;
- Administrative Staff and Board / Council members of the CLC, the CMC, and Continuum Contemporary Music are not eligible.
Submissions are encouraged in a wide variety of styles, reflecting the plurality of composition today. Diversity in all its forms (race, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, language, physical ability, and age) will be a guiding factor. We particularly welcome applications from artists who are women, non-binary, trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour, as well as artists from traditionally under-represented populations.
Instrumentation & Technical Considerations for Composers
Works of 10-12 minutes in duration may be proposed for an ensemble of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, percussion, and conductor. Composers will be provided with a list of available percussion once their participation is confirmed – additions to that list will need to be negotiated with Continuum. Works containing electronic and/or electroacoustic elements will not be considered.
Project Timeline (subject to change)
- Application Deadline: July 3 2026 @ 11:59 EDT
- Participants notified, mentorships start: September 2026
- Delivery of sketch materials by composers: December 14 2026
- Concert of Canadian solo works: January 10 2027 (Canadian Music Centre, Toronto)
- Workshop of works-in-progress: February 3 2027 (Canadian Music Centre, Toronto)
- Delivery of final score and parts: March 22 2027
- Rehearsals: May 2-7 2027 (Canadian Music Centre, Toronto)
- Premiere: May 8 2027 (St. George’s Grange Park, Toronto)
Performer applicants must be able to attend the concerts and rehearsals in-person. Composer applicants must be able to attend the rehearsals and final concert in-person.
Applicants must submit the following through an online form:
- Basic information (full name, address, phone, email, etc.);
- Current CV including a highlighted list of works, ideally with embedded links to streaming audio/video where available (maximum 3 pages, PDF document);
- A 250-word bio;
- Links to streaming audio/video recordings of 2 recent works (composers: do not submit scores);
- Answers to two questions about you and your practice and, for composers, an additional question about the piece you are proposing to write (total word count should not exceed 1000)
Applications must be submitted through the ONLINE FORM by Friday, July 3 2026 @ 11:59 EDT
Performers and composers will be provided with a $1500 honoraria for their work. The CLC and Continuum will also provide written support for grant applications associated with the proposed works, and to support travel to and from Toronto.
Performer participants will be selected by members of Continuum’s core ensemble; composer participants will be selected by a jury composed of a CLC board member, a representative from Continuum, and two external jurors.
For further clarity on the assessment criteria used, please see the jury guidelines.
Contacts:
August Murphy-King
General Manager, Canadian League of Composers
20 St. Joseph Street, Toronto, ON, M4Y 1J9,
416.964.1364
info@composition.org
Christina Volpini
Operations Manager, Continuum Contemporary Music
christina@continuummusic.ca
This program is generously funded by the Metcalf Foundation Booster Fund
