Liam Ritz (b. 1996) is a Canadian composer based in Toronto, Ontario. His music is characterized by its eclectic and diverse influences, drawing from popular music, jazz, visual arts, literature, dance, and theatre. In recent years, Ritz's compositions have delved into themes of memory and place, integrating references and quotations from various artistic forms to create multi-layered contextual meanings.

Ritz has collaborated with prominent ensembles, including the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Talea Ensemble, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. His work has also brought him into partnership with acclaimed performers such as Gemma New, Cameron Crozman, Etsuko Kimura, and Joseph Johnson, among others.

His compositions have been showcased at renowned festivals and workshops across North America, including the Bowdoin International Music Festival (Brunswick, Maine), Winnipeg New Music Festival (Winnipeg, MB), National Youth Orchestra of Canada's Emerging Composer Mentorship Program (Kingston, ON), Orford Music Academy (Orford, QC), Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra's What Next Festival (Hamilton, ON), University of Toronto's New Music Festival (Toronto, ON), Scotia Festival of Music (Halifax, NS), and the Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop (Toronto, ON). Ritz's works are frequently programmed in solo and chamber recitals, with past performances in Canada, the United States, Italy, Finland, Argentina, and Japan.

Recently named one of CBC’s “30 hot Canadian Classical Musicians under 30”, Ritz's work has been recognized with seven SOCAN Foundation Young Composers Awards, a Prix Artistique from Jeunesses Musicales Canada: Concours Do Mi Si La Do Ré, and a 2020 City of Hamilton Arts Award. His artistic endeavors have received support from the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, RBC Emerging Artists Project, and SOCAN Foundation. Notably, he was selected for the inaugural Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra Composer Fellowship Program (2018/2019) and has participated in prestigious programs such as the Winnipeg New Music Festival's Composers Institute (2022/23) and the Bowdoin International Music Festival's Composition Program (2024). 

Liam Ritz holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Toronto, where he studied composition under Abigail Richardson-Schulte. He has furthered his education through private composition studies and masterclasses with esteemed composers including Tania León, Dai Fujikura, Pēteris Vasks, Kalevi Aho, Robin de Raaff, Ana Sokolović, Jean Lesage, Derek Bermel, Haralabos (Harry) Stafylakis, and Kelly-Marie Murphy. Ritz currently serves as the RBC Affiliate Composer of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra for the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons. He is also an Affiliate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and member of the Canadian League of Composers.

[ENGLISH BELOW]

[FR]

Gabriel Trottier est un corniste soliste, chambriste et musicien d’orchestre interprétant la musique ancienne à la musique actuelle sur instruments historiques et modernes. De plus, il est porteur de projets de commandes d’œuvres et participe à des projets interdisciplinaires qui allient à la musique des éléments d’autres disciplines artistiques, tels que le théâtre et les arts visuels.

Présentement membre de l’Ensemble Tesse, Gabriel Trottier travaille aussi régulièrement avec la Société de Musique Contemporaine du Québec ainsi qu’avec plusieurs orchestres et ensembles québécois dont l’Orchestre symphonique de Québec. À l’international, il a collaboré entre autres avec des ensembles tels que l’Ensemble intercontemporain, le quintette à vent Le Concert Impromptu (Paris) et l’Oslo Sinfonietta. Diplômé de la Norwegian Academy of Music (M. Mus 2016) et de l’Université de Montréal (D. Mus 2021), il a étudié sous la tutelle de Frøydis Ree Wekre, Julius Pranevicius, Saar Berger et Louis-Philippe Marsolais. Spécialisé en musique contemporaine, il a été fellow de l’International Ensemble Modern Academy (M. Mus 2018), en Allemagne et il a participé à l’Académie du Festival de Lucerne. Son travail a été soutenu, entre autres, par le Conseil des Arts du Canada, le Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec (CALQ) et la Fondation Sylva- Gelber pour la musique.

Gabriel Trottier encourage et soutient l’innovation dans l’écriture d’œuvres pour le cor, en contribuant à la recherche et en diffusant le savoir sur l’histoire de la musique ainsi que sur les nouvelles pratiques artistiques. En ce sens, ses activités professionnelles incluent aussi l’enseignement, la musique mixte et l’improvisation.

|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

[EN]

Gabriel Trottier is a solo, chamber and orchestral horn player who performs baroque to new music on modern and historical instruments. In addition, he initiates the commissioning of new works and participates in interdisciplinary projects that bring together music with other art forms, including theater and visual arts.

Currently a member of Ensemble Tesse, Gabriel Trottier also frequently works with the Société de Musique Contemporaine du Québec as well as many orchestras and ensembles in the province such as the Orchestre symphonique de Québec. Internationally, he has worked with the Ensemble intercontemporain, the woodwind quintet Le Concert Impromptu (Paris) and the Oslo Sinfonietta, among others. A graduate of the Norwegian Academy of Music (M. Mus 2016) and the University of Montreal (D. Mus 2021), he studied under the tutelage of Frøydis Ree Wekre, Julius Pranevicius, Saar Berger and Louis-Philippe Marsolais. Specializing in contemporary music performance, he was a fellow at the International Ensemble Modern Academy (M. Mus 2018) in Germany and is an alumnus of the Lucerne Festival Academy. His work has been supported by The Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec (CALQ) and the Sylva- Gelber Music Foundation.

Gabriel Trottier encourages and supports innovation within the creation of new works for the horn and by contributing to research. Further, he aims to disseminate the knowledge of music history and new artistic practices. In that way, his professional activities also include teaching, live electronics, and improvisation.

Eliazer Kramer is following