Canada is renowned for its talent across various fields, and Toronto boasts an impressive array of composers. These individuals inspire with their works, dedication, and originality. Let’s delve into the top composers and musicians from the city. Read more on itoronto.
1. Jean Coulthard
Jean Coulthard (1908–2000), one of the most influential composers from Canada’s west coast, was a remarkable educator known for her romantic, expressive style. Her commissioned works have been performed worldwide, from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s tour of East Asia.
2. Ian Cusson
Ian Cusson (1981–) is a Canadian composer exploring the intersection of Franco-Canadian and Métis cultural perspectives. His compositions examine these intersections on personal and historical levels, incorporating Indigenous viewpoints, traditional sounds, and the influences of the 21st-century Western environment. In 2021, Cusson completed his tenure as composer-in-residence with the Canadian Opera Company and received the Jan V. Matejcek Classical Music Award and the Johanna Metcalf Performing Arts Prize.
3. Robert Nathaniel Dett
Robert Nathaniel Dett (1882–1943) was a multitalented artist—teacher, pianist, choral conductor, poet, writer, and composer. Known for championing African American spiritual music, Dett blended European classical traditions with spirituals and other folk melodies. His book, The Emancipation of Negro Music, won Harvard University’s literary prize in 1920. Dett received honorary doctorates from Howard University and Oberlin College for his work in preserving and elevating musical traditions.
4. David Foster
David Foster (1949–), hailing from British Columbia, has an impressive repertoire as a composer, singer, pianist, arranger, producer, and music director. Foster has written several orchestral works, film scores, and even a song for the 1988 Winter Olympics.
5. Vivian Fung
JUNO Award-winning composer Vivian Fung (1975–) creates music deeply rooted in exploring natural sounds. Her works incorporate innovative elements, such as mobile phone sounds in Earworms and ice blocks in The Ice is Talking. Her compositions have been performed by leading contemporary music ensembles worldwide, including the Chicago Sinfonietta, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and Orchester de Paris.
6. Nicole Lizée
Nicole Lizée (1973–) is known for her unique semi-electronic, semi-acoustic style. Her experience as a director and DJ often inspires her compositions, which incorporate media elements like fragmented MTV footage, electrical glitches, and fully notated DJ techniques into orchestral and acoustic settings. Lizée’s impressive roster of collaborators includes Kronos Quartet, the San Francisco Symphony, and more.
7. Alexina Louie
Alexina Louie (1949–) is one of Canada’s most diverse composers of contemporary art music. She merges classical music with traditional Inuit throat singing in her suite Take the Dog Sled. Her opera The Scarlet Princess debuted to a sold-out audience in Toronto. Louie’s works have been performed by world-renowned musicians like Sir Andrew Davis and Leonard Slatkin. In 2021, she received accolades at the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards.
8. Galt MacDermot
Canadian-American composer Galt MacDermot (1928–2018) found immense success in musical theatre. He scored the groundbreaking musical Hair (1967) alongside librettists James Rado and Jerome Ragni, challenging societal norms with its bold language, nudity, and anti-war sentiments. Other works include Two Gentlemen of Verona and the widely used funk track Coffee Cold.
9. Oscar Peterson
Oscar Peterson (1925–2007) remains one of the most celebrated jazz pianists of all time. With over 200 recordings and countless awards, Peterson influenced generations of musicians. Beyond performance, he composed numerous jazz works, including Hymn to Freedom (1962), which became synonymous with the Civil Rights Movement.
10. R. Murray Schafer
R. Murray Schafer (1933–2021), a brilliant writer and composer, was fascinated by how sound waves interact with different spaces. His World Soundscape Project is an ongoing international collaboration examining environmentally sustainable soundscapes, assessing noise pollution’s effects on ecosystems. Schafer’s musical works often incorporate nature’s sounds and explore dissonance as a textural element.
11. Howard Shore
Howard Shore is one of today’s leading composers, renowned for his work in both concert halls and cinemas. Famous for scoring The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Shore has contributed to over 80 films and TV shows. His versatility extends to operas, such as The Fly, and television projects like Saturday Night Live. Shore has delivered lectures at prestigious institutions worldwide, from Oxford University to the Juilliard School.
12. Ana Sokolović
Ana Sokolović (1968–), a Serbian-Canadian composer, crafts contemporary instrumental and vocal works through a Balkan lens. Her influence on Canadian contemporary music was celebrated with over 200 events nationwide in 2012, marking her 20th anniversary of immigration to Canada.
13. Ann Southam
Ann Southam (1937–2010) embraced electronic sounds, vintage technology, and unique textures in her minimalist compositions. She frequently collaborated with dance companies, creating over 30 works for Toronto Dance Theatre alone. Southam was a pioneer in teaching electroacoustic music at the renowned Royal Conservatory of Music.
