TORONTO, ONTARIO – March 30, 2026 – The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO
Canada) is thrilled to announce the winners of the prestigious 2026 Canada Council for the Arts
Michael Measures Prizes. Awarded to only two recipients each year, these prizes recognize and support the finest young classical musicians in Canada aged 16 to 24, celebrating their
extraordinary artistry and dedication.
Together, their awards mark two historic firsts: Sabina Sandvoss is the first female cellist to win First Prize, and Davin Mar the first violist to receive the honour.
2026 Canada Council for the Arts Michael Measures Prize Winners:
• First Prize ($25,000): Sabina Sandvoss, Cello (Alberta)
• Second Prize ($15,000): Davin Mar, Viola (British Columbia)
Sabina Sandvoss is a Canadian cellist known for her passionate and expressive performances. In 2025, she won First Prize at the Zara Nelsova Competition at the International Cello Festival of Canada and received Second Prize in last year’s Michael Measures Prize, before claiming the top honour in 2026 — making her the first female cellist to win First Prize in the competition’s history. A winner of the Corcoran Concerto Competition at the Glenn Gould School, she will perform Bloch’s Schelomo with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra at Koerner Hall during the 2025–26 season under conductor Earl Lee. Sabina studies with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Andrés Díaz and performs on a cello handcrafted by her father, luthier Christopher Tilman Sandvoss.
Davin Mar began playing the viola at the age of four in Vancouver, Canada, and makes history
as the first violist to receive the Michael Measures Prize. He is currently an undergraduate
student at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studies with Hsin-Yun Huang and Ed
Gazouleas. An active chamber musician, Davin has served as principal violist of the Curtis
Symphony Orchestra.
As the Michael Measures Prize winners, Sabina and Davin will receive significant financial
awards and performance opportunities. Sabina will be awarded $25,000 as the First Prize
winner and the opportunity to perform a concerto during NYO Canada’s 2026 Canadiana Tour.
Davin, the Second Prize winner, will receive $15,000 and additional performance and recital
opportunities throughout the season.
A special concert will be held at Koerner Hall in Toronto on July 18th to celebrate Sabina and
Davin’s achievements. The evening will feature the award presentation and a performance of
Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, featuring Sabina as soloist with the NYO
Canada orchestra.
Sabina Sandvoss — First Prize ($25,000)
Sabina Sandvoss, cello, First Prize winner of the 2026 Michael Measures Prize.
TORONTO, ONTARIO – March 30, 2026 – The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO Canada) and the Canada Council for the Arts are proud to announce that Sabina Sandvoss has been awarded the 2026 Michael Measures First Prize, becoming the first female cellist to claim the top prize in the competition’s history. The Alberta-based cellist will receive $25,000 and perform Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 as soloist with NYO Canada on the 2026 Canadiana Tour.
Sandvoss is no stranger to the Michael Measures Prize; she was awarded Second Prize in 2025 before returning this year to claim the top honour. Her momentum has been remarkable: in the intervening year, she won First Prize at the Zara Nelsova Competition at the International Cello Festival of Canada, and completed her first professional recording with Riddle Films, capturing Brahms’s Sonata in F Major and Ligeti’s Solo Cello Sonata. She is also a winner of the Corcoran Concerto Competition at the Glenn Gould School and will perform Bloch’s Schelomo with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra at Koerner Hall during the 2025–26 season
under conductor Earl Lee.
Sandvoss studies with Hans Jørgen Jensen and Andrés Díaz, and performs on a cello
handcrafted by her father, luthier Christopher Tilman Sandvoss.
On the concerto she has chosen to perform:
“I wanted to take full advantage of this opportunity and play a concerto I’ve never played with orchestra before. The Elgar is so dear to my heart — it has everything spread out through all the movements. After hearing Wolfgang Emmanuel Schmidt’s recording, I was sold. The process was very collaborative, and I had the opportunity to discuss the program with Conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser. We both agreed the Elgar would be a wonderful addition.”
On what the Canada Council’s support means:
“I think the Canada Council’s continued investment in young musicians signals a real
commitment to the future of classical music in Canada. It shows a belief not only in
preserving the tradition, but in allowing it to evolve through the voices of the next generation. It means the world knowing that my country supports my career and wants to see young artists thrive. I am so proud to be uplifted by the Canada Council.”
“We are incredibly proud of Sabina,” says Christie Gray, CEO of NYO Canada. “Her artistry,
resilience, and dedication embody exactly what the Michael Measures Prize was created to
celebrate. Audiences across the country are in for something truly special this summer.”
Davin Mar — Second Prize ($15,000)
Davin Mar, viola, Second Prize winner of the 2026 Michael Measures Prize.
TORONTO, ONTARIO – March 30, 2026 –The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO Canada) and the Canada Council for the Arts are proud to announce that Davin Mar has been awarded the 2026 Michael Measures Second Prize, making history as the first violist to receive the honour in the competition’s 16-year history. Mar will receive $15,000 and additional performance and recital opportunities as part of NYO Canada’s 2026 season.
Mar began playing the viola at the age of four in Vancouver and is currently an undergraduate student at the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studies with Hsin-Yun Huang and Ed Gazouleas. An active chamber musician, he performs regularly in the student recital series and has served as principal violist of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. Growing up in Vancouver, he studied with Manti Poon and Marina Thibeault.
This summer marks his first time participating in NYO Canada, inspired in part by his
younger brother Toby Mar (trumpet), who attended the program the previous summer:
“I’ve known about NYO Canada since I was quite little. My younger brother had an amazing
time and told me all about it, which inspired me to apply this year. I can’t wait to make music
alongside amazing musicians from across Canada.”
On his instrument and his distinctive sound:
“I think the viola is a naturally introverted instrument, and that listening to viola playing is like
listening to someone thoughtful. When I play, I want to imitate that warmth and depth. I
strive to play with the most warm and full sound I can imagine.”
On what the prize will mean for his career:
“The Michael Measures $15,000 prize is very meaningful for a young musician like me. I
plan to put it toward finding the right instrument for a professional career — a viola I play will
impact my voice as an artist, and I want to find the best one for me.”
“Davin brings something truly distinctive to everything he plays.” says Christie Gray, CEO of
NYO Canada. “We are so proud to celebrate him as a Michael Measures Prize winner, and we
can’t wait for Canadian audiences to hear him this summer.”
Davin Mar joins NYO Canada for the 2026 Canadiana Tour, performing across Canada this
summer.
Find more about NYO Canada at www.nyoc.org
