Newswire | Godwin Friesen is OSM Competition’s Grand Prize winner

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Montreal, November 12, 2022 ▪ The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is thrilled to announce the name of the 2022 OSM Competition’s Grand Prize winner: Godwin Friesen. He wins the Barbara Bronfman Prize ($20,000) named in memory of Barbara Bronfman – a lover of music and dear patron of the OSM. This 83rd edition dedicated to the piano was held from November 8 to 12, bringing together Canada’s most talented young artists, and representing tomorrow’s rising generation of professional musical performers.

After two virtual editions, the OSM Competition made a grand return to the concert hall! Also, for the first time, the orchestra was on stage alongside the candidates during the final round under the direction of Jacques Lacombe.

Photo: Antoine Saito

Contestants were informed of the results of the Competition during a ceremony hosted by ICI Musique radio personality Marie-Christine Trottier tonight at the Maison Symphonique. The 2nd Prize was awarded to Jaeden Izik-Dzurko, while Jonathan Mak received the 3rd Prize.

About Godwin Friesen

Godwin Friesen grew up making music with his family, touring Canada and recorded three albums. In 2015, he placed first in piano at the National Music Festival and in 2019 he won The Glenn Gould School (GGS) Concerto Competition. Last June, he won 2^nd prize at the PianoArts North American Competition in Milwaukee having also earned Best Performance of a Composition by Bach. He also participated in this year’s Dublin International Piano Competition, advancing as far as the quarterfinals.

Godwin has performed concertos with several orchestas including the Milwaukee, Regina and Saskatoon Symphony Orchestras, as well as an orchestra of his fellow students whom he directed from the piano. This fall, his piano trio, which recently won the GGS Chamber Competition, participated in the Trondheim International Chamber Music Academy in Norway. Godwin’s compositions have been performed by a youth orchestra, a children’s choir and other small ensembles. Godwin completed a bachelor’s degree and an Artist Diploma at the Glenn Gould School with John O’Conor and is now pursuing a master’s degree at the Université de Montréal with Henry Kramer.

Loyal to its mission to support the next generation of Canadian musicians, this year the OSM Competition awarded over $100,000 in cash prizes, training and performance opportunities. The complete list of the winners of the many prizes generously offered by valued partners is available here.

The OSM Competition is powered by Air Canada, in collaboration with ICI MUSIQUE.

THE OSM COMPETITION RECEIVED THE SUPPORT OF SEVERAL DONORS AND PARTNERS

Thanks to Barbara Bronfman legacy gift, generations of talented young musicians will be supported in the launch of their careers and provided with the opportunity to perform with the OSM for the first time.

Photo: Antoine Saito

We also wish to thank:

Mr. Réjean Breton and Ms. Louise-Marie Dion, Ariane Riou and Réal Plourde Foundation, la Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth, Michèle et Jean Paré, Ms. Juliana Pleines, Fonds Paul A. Fournier Foundation, Marjorie and Gerald Bronfman Foundation, Lambert-Gagnon-Fortier Estate, OSM Volunteer Association, Ms. Marina Gusti, OSM Musicians’ Association, Sibylla Hesse Foundation, Orchestra of the Americas Group, Fonds Ernst Pleines, Les Amis de l’Art, Air Canada, Stingray Music, Orford Musique, Domaine Forget, Schulich School of Music of McGill University, Yamaha and ICI Musique. Contributions from the Orchestra’s public partners are essential to its operations. The OSM wishes to thanks the Government of Quebec, as well as the Canada Council for the Arts and the and the Conseil des arts de Montréal.

This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)