The Nationwide Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO Canada) has introduced the winners of the 2025 Canada Council for the Arts Michael Measures Prize. First place goes to violinist Justin Saulnier, and second place to cellist Sabina Sandvoss.
The Michael Measures Prize acknowledges gifted Canadian classical musicians between the ages of 16 and 24.
The prizes embody:
- First Place ($25,000): Justin Saulnier, Violin (Ontario)
- Second Place ($15,000): Sabina Sandvoss, Cello (Alberta)
Justin Saulnier, violin
“I used to be past thrilled once I acquired the decision from NYO,” Justin recollects in an announcement. “I had utilized for the prize for a few years and I used to be so honoured to be acknowledged this yr by the Canada Council for the Arts. I’m so grateful to NYO Canada and Canada Council for this beneficiant award and improbable alternative to carry out with the orchestra. I had an ideal summer season, my first time round with NYO and I’m very excited to be again!”
Justin Saulnier is oiginally from Orléans, Ontario, and made his orchestral debut on the age of 12. Since then, he’s carried out with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the Nationwide Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Orchestre Métropolitain, amongst others. Different competitors wins embody prime prizes on the Eckhardt-Gramatté, NACO Bursary, and OSM Competitions. Justin is at present learning at McGill College with OSM Concertmaster Andrew Wan.
Sabina Sandvoss, cello
“I’m very excited to satisfy all the different individuals and to play stunning music with everybody,” mentioned Sabina. “It’ll be a summer season crammed with studying, collaboration and enjoyable. On the GGS Maestro Naomi Woo got here to conduct one in all our Royal Conservatory Orchestra concert events (RCO) and I felt she was one of the crucial influential conductors we’ve had the chance to work with — and figuring out the fervour she has for music is fuelling my pleasure for NYO this summer season.”
A local of Alberta, Sabina Sandvoss is at present learning on the Glenn Gould College. She just lately received the 2025 Corcoran Concerto Competitors, and she or he is a three-time concerto competitors winner in Calgary. She performs on a cello handcrafted by her father, Christopher Sandvoss.
NYOC Summer season Tour
“Justin’s and Sabina’s distinctive musicianship are a transparent reflection of their dedication and the excessive normal of musical excellence we domesticate at NYO Canada,” says NYO Canada CEO Christie Grey. “We’re so excited to see their expertise and efforts acknowledged on a nationwide stage this summer season, and we stay up for following their promising careers.”
Together with the money award, Justin will probably be performing because the featured soloist on NYO Canada’s sixty fifth Anniversary Tour throughout the summer season of 2025.
Ottawa audiences will get an opportunity to see each when the tour kicks off on July 18 in Toronto. Together with an award presentation, there will probably be a efficiency of Sergei Prokofiev — Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 63 by Justin and the sixty fifth anniversary orchestra.
- Discover extra details about the tour, which units off in Toronto on July 18, and consists of dates in Ontario and British Columbia, culiminating in Victoria on August 3, [HERE].
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Anya Wassenberg is the Toronto Metropolis Editor at Ludwig Van. Beforehand, she was a contract author with a specialty in tradition and journey for 3 many years, and a artistic writing teacher for Ontariolearn.