Q & A: Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music Laureate Nicholas Denton Protsack on Creating Ecologically-Minded Music

(Credit: Hagen Hopkins) The 2026 Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music laureate is New Zealand-based Canadian composer and cellist Nicholas Denton Protsack. Described by the Canadian Music Centre as a “composer to keep a close eye on,” Protsack’s work explores the connections between sound, ecology, and improvisation, and has been performed across North America, Europe, and New Zealand. Recently, the composer {…}

Sep 14, 2026

Q & A: Composer Hana Ajiashvili on Her Azrieli Award-Winning ‘Riddle,’ Finding Inspiration in Color & Music’s Omnipresence in Her Life

(Photo Credit: Michael-Pavia) “Color is one of the strongest impulses in my creative process. I often think about orchestration and instrumental techniques almost visually — as layers, densities, contrasts, surfaces, and transformations of color,” says composer Hana Ajiashvili, 2026 Laureate of the Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music (give for an existing but undiscovered work of Jewish music), regarding what inspires {…}

Nov 14, 2025

Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre Announces 4 Winners of 2026 Music Prizes

The Azrieli Music, Arts and Culture Centre (AMACC) has announced the four laureates of the 2026 Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP). Georgian-Israeli composer Hana Ajiashvili earned the Azrieli Prize for Jewish Music for her 2022 work “Riddle,” a setting of Yehuda Halevi’s poetry exploring persecution and resilience. Meanwhile, American composer and thereminist Dalit Hadass Warshaw won the Azrieli Commission for Jewish {…}

Oct 6, 2024

Q & A: Composer Jordan Nobles on His Azrieli Prize-Winning ‘Kanata’

“I was drawn to composing because of an intrinsic fascination with sound and a strong curiosity in figuring out how music that moves me was created,” Composer John Nobles told OperaWire in a recent interview. Nobles is the recipient of the Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music for his piece “Kanata” for Large Choir. A JUNO Award-winner for “Classical Composition of {…}

Oct 1, 2024

Q & A: Composer Josef Bardanashvili on His Azrieli Prize-Winning ‘Light to My Path’

At an early point in his life, Georgian and Israeli composer Josef Bardanashvili was set to become a painter like his father and older brothers. But it all changed at age 13 when he started to learn how to play the trumpet. From there, his love for music was irresistible and he would eventually make his way to the Tbilisi {…}

Aug 21, 2023

The Azrieli Music Prizes Announces London Debut Concert

Credit: Danylo-Bobyk The Azrieli Music Prizes (AMP) has announced its London debut concert to be held at Cadogan Hall on Oct. 15, 2023. The Canada-based organization will present the works of three 2022 AMP Laureates, Iman Habibi (Laureate, 2022 Azrieli Commission for Canadian Music), Aharon Harlap (Laureate, 2022 Azrieli Commission for Jewish Music), and Rita Ueda (Laureate, 2022 Azrieli Commission {…}

Sep 20, 2019

Q & A: Sharon Azrieli On The Azrieli Foundation’s Arts Initiatives

The Azrieli Foundation, founded by late visionary David J. Azrieli in 1989, has sought to enrich the lives of future generations by investing in a wide variety of organizations across Canada and Israel. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the Foundation improves the lives of present and future generations through education, research, healthcare and the arts. In addition to offering generous {…}