Canadian Repertoire
For the final round of the Vancouver International Music Competition (VIMC), competitors may perform a work by a Canadian composer as one of their selections. The Canadian Music Centre (CMC) has a large collection of sheet music by Canadian composers available for preview, purchase, and download. Performers are allowed to choose an alternative composition by a Canadian composer. However, the work must be a published work by a Canadian composer. Original works composed by the performer are not permitted. The CMC website has an advanced search option for finding works, but you must create a free account to listen to recordings on the website.
Showcasing many Canadian compositions alongside classical repertoire, The Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) has a graded music book series for all of the instruments featured in the VIMC. The RCM has a syllabus for each instrument free to download with repertoire and etudes for each difficulty level. Music found in their book series is indicated in each syllabus with an arrow bullet symbol (►). Music books for each instrument can be purchased at the RCM online bookstore. Canadian composers featured in the Celebration series for piano include:
- Joanne Bender
- Boris Berlin
- John Burge
- Stephen Chatman
- Diane Chouinard
- Jean Coulthard
- Robert (R.) Nathaniel Dett
- Christine Donkin
- Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté
- Pierre Gallant
- Anne Crosby Gaudet
- Janet Gieck
- Chilly Gonzales
- Susan Griesdale
- Ruth Watson Henderson
- Alexina Louie
- Andrew Markow
- Rebekah Maxner
- David McIntyre
- Linda Niamath
- Lorna Paterson
- Oscar Peterson
- Clifford Poole
- Teresa Richert
- Frederick Silvester
- Ann Southam
- Court Stone
- Nancy Telfer
This is not a full list of Canadian composers featured in the RCM book series as there are other Canadian composers featured in RCM books for other instruments.
The Canadian Music Centre has provided repertoire suggestions below. The recommended age categories and approximate lengths of some single-movement work are detailed. Click the title of each work to visit the CMC website, listen to a recording (free account needed), download a non-printable score preview, and see score purchasing options.
The age categories:
- Junior Talent: ages 8 and under
- Young Talent: ages 9–12
- Young Artists: ages 13–17
- Artists: ages 18–35
Selected Repertoire
Piano
- Fastforward by Alexina Louie (4 minutes) — Artists
- Phobos and Deimos, Circling by Jocelyn Morlock (4.5 minutes) — Artists
- Nocturne by Maria Molinari (1.5 minutes) — Young Artists
- Refuge by Michael Parker (1.5 minutes) — Young Artists
- Wascana Park by Elizabeth Raum (2.75 minutes) — Young Artists
- Chaotic Dreams by Saman Shahi (1 minute) — Young Artists
- Sea Flea by Ann Southam (1 minute) — Junior/Young Talent
- Sonatina by Samuel Dolin (1.5 minutes) — Junior/Young Talent
- Two Two-Part Inventions by Rhené Jacque (1 minute) — Junior/Young Talent
Violin
- Prayer and Dance of Praise by Elizabeth Raum (10 minutes) (violin and piano) — Artists
- Adieu Babylon by Sid Robinovitch (10 minutes) (violin and piano) — Artists
- Sonatine Baroque by Murray Adaskin — Young Artists
- Danse Villageoise by Claude Champagne (violin and piano) — Young Artists
- Fantasy on a Theme of Schubert by Robert Rival (violin and piano) — Young Artists
- Vista by Barbara Pentland (9 minutes) (violin and piano) — Young Artists
- Two Sonatinas by Jean Coulthard (violin and piano) — Junior/Young Talent
Cello
- Prayer and Dance of Praise by Elizabeth Raum (8 minutes) — Artists
- Adieu Babylon by Sid Robinovitch (10 minutes) — Artists
- Halcyon by Jocelyn Morlock (7 minutes) (cello and piano) — Young Artists
- Cantilena for violoncello and piano by Owen Underhill (10.5 minutes) (cello and piano) — Young Artists
- Ecce tu pulchra es for solo cello by John Burge (9 minutes) — Young Artists
- Three Short Pieces by Lorne Betts (5.5 minutes) (cello and piano) — Young Artists
- Ballade for cello and piano by Michael Conway Baker (3 minutes) (cello and piano) — Junior/Young Talent
- Black in the Colour by Elizabeth Knudson (7 minutes) — Junior/Young Talent
Harp
- From the Eastern Gate by Alexina Louie — Artists
- Castles in the Sand by Kevin Lau — Young Artists
- Elegy for Solo Harp by Frederick Schipizky — Young Artists
- 15 Pieces for Harp by John Weinzweig — Junior/Young Talent