Keiko Devaux named Quebec Gala Prix Opus Composer of the Year

Montréal-based composer Keiko Devaux was named ‘Composer of the Year’ at this year’s Gala Prix Opus. The contemporary music composer was awarded $10,000 by The Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec (CALQ).

Organised by Le Conseil Québécois de la Musique (CQM), the prize aims to recognise and promote concert music in Quebec. The CQM is a non-profit organization which supports Quebec’s professional jazz, classical, contemporary and world music organizations and individuals.

Devaux accepted the award, saying: ‘I found myself inspired and touched by the solidarity of the artists which has been a great supporting force… it is a joy to be part of this community.’ (Translated)

Originally from British Columbia, Devaux creates her compositions by distorting acoustic sound with digital tools, then transcribing the sound back into musical notation. She also ‘blurs genres’ by layering and juxtaposing contrasting melodic elements of different sources.

Devaux was named Laureate of the Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music in 2020, the highest award of its kind in Canada, and was nominated for a Juno award for classical composition of the year for her composition Arras. She has also won prizes including the Jan V. Matejcek Prize for new classical music, the OUM Composition Competition prize.

From 2016 to 2018, she was composer in residence at the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne and is currently part of the Carrefour Residence with the NAC Orchestra in Ottawa.

The CQM supports Quebec-based concert music using a variety of methods including broadcasting concerts, promoting the arts in schools and supporting those employed in the music industry

You can find out more about Keiko Devaux here.

You can find out more about the CQM’s Gala Prix Opus here.