TORONTO, CANADA, April 22, 2024:
San Francisco-based composer Ningxin Zhang has won first prize for her composition Kagemusha: for Pipa and Electronics.
“I am deeply honoured to have received the first prize in the 2023 Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest,” said Zhang upon receiving the news. “This acknowledgment not only affirms my artistic choices but also inspires me to continue exploring the vast possibilities within electronic music.”
Zhang is an electroacoustic composer and pipa player who studied at Hong Kong Baptist University, Berklee College of Music, and is now pursuing graduate work at Stanford University. An interview with Zhang will appear in Musicworks 148, which is available via print or digital subscription and on select Canadian newsstands. Kagemusha: for Pipa and Electronics is included on the Musicworks 148 CD.
The winner of the 2023 Marcelle Deschênes Prize in Electronic Music is Manuella Blackburn (U.K.) for Home Truths. This prize is open to compositions submitted to the contest that are created by female or non-binary artists.
“I’m absolutely delighted to have been awarded the Marcelle Deschênes Prize in Electronic Music which recognizes self-identified female and non-binary composers,” Blackburn said, upon receiving the news. “I’m so happy my music has been recognized on this international platform for new music. I’ve taken some risks and changed up some of my compositional approaches in this work, so it’s gratifying to see this resonate with the jurors. Thanks to all at Musicworks for this opportunity.”
More information about the contest winners and their compositions will be posted on musicworks.ca and promoted on our social channels throughout Summer 2024.
2023 Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest winners
First prize ($500): Ningxin Zhang (China / U.S.A.) for Kagemusha: for Pipa and Electronics
Second prize ($200): Timothy Roy (Minnesota, U.S.A.) for dans les dents de la guivre
Third prize ($100): Luca Kasper (Switzerland / France) for Atelier Métal
Marcelle Deschênes Prize in Electronic Music / prix Marcelle Deschênes pour la musique électronique ($300): Manuella Blackburn (U.K.) for Home Truths
The thirteenth edition of the annual contest received 150 entries from 19 countries, including Canada, the U.S., and the U.K., as well as Belgium, Slovenia, Taiwan, Brazil, and others.
We are grateful to William Blakeney and Kevin Austin for their generous ongoing support of the cash prizes that are awarded as part of the Musicworks Electronic Music Composition Contest.
Musicworks would like to thank Toronto-based music artist, DJ, and educator Vanese “VJ” Smith and 2022 EMC Contest first-prize winner Leah Reid for their thoughtful listening as jurors of the 2023 EMC Contest.
