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Montreal, November 15, 2025. The Orchestre symphonique de Montréal is delighted to announce the Grand Prize winner of the 2025 OSM Competition. Gabrielle Turgeon wins the Barbara Bronfman Prize ($20,000) named in memory of Barbara Bronfman, a committed music lover and cherished donor of the OSM. In addition, this year’s laureate also receives the OSM Invitation Prize, which includes an invitation to perform as part of the OSM’s programming; the Chapelle Musicale Reine Élisabeth Prize, offering a residency at the Chapel in Belgium during the 2026–2027 season; and the Michèle-Paré Prize, which includes a residency at Orford Music to develop a community engagement project and receive mentorship to support and guide the laureate’s efforts. The OSM is also proud to highlight the Ann Birks Career Grant, which provides internships and training opportunities to support the career launch of all three laureates.
This 86th edition dedicated to Voice was held from November 10 through 15, bringing together some of Canada’s most accomplished young artists from the rising generation of musical performers. Following the great popularity of the last three final rounds, where the finalists performed with the OSM, the Competition returned in full force with this edition celebrating lyrical artistry. The finalists had the opportunity to perform before a prestigious international jury chaired by Evans Mirageas, Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Opera, and composed of soprano Véronique Gens, tenor Ben Heppner, soprano and Director of the Dutch National Opera Studio Rosemary Joshua, and conductor and Music Director of Vancouver Opera Jacques Lacombe.
The finalists eagerly awaited Competition results in an awards ceremony held at the Maison symphonique. The 2nd Prize was awarded to Bridget Esler while Korin Thomas-Smith received 3rd Prize. Lastly, Ian Sabourin was awarded with the Stingray Rising Stars – Audience Award.
24 years old Canadian soprano Gabrielle Turgeon has been praised as “naturally engaging” and “a talent to watch for” (Denise Lai, La Scena Musicale). In the 2025–2026 season, she makes her role debut as Micaëla in Carmen with BrottOpera and returns to the Los Angeles Opera for her second season as a Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist, performing the Daughter of Akhnaten in Philip Glass’ Akhnaten and First Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, conducted by James Conlon. Gabrielle Turgeon was a 2023 finalist in the Houston Grand Opera’s Eleanor McCollum Competition, receiving the Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award. She also won the 2023 Met Competition, Michigan District, and earned an Encouragement Award for the Great Lakes Region. She holds the master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where she sang the title role in Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen and Blanche de la Force in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites. She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Toronto and is an alumna of the Aspen Music Festival, Ravinia Steans Music Institute, and Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artist’s Vocal Academy.
Thanks to the Competition’s generous sponsors and partners, awards totaling over $120,000 were given at this edition in the form of prizes, bursaries, traineeships, and concert engagements. This substantial support will help the winners to launch their careers while maintaining a privileged connection with the Orchestra. The full list of winners of the many prizes generously offered by the OSM Competition’s valued partners is available here.
The OSM Competition is powered by Air Canada.
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