Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate my constituent Alexina Louie on receiving the Jules Leger prize for new chamber music for her award winning work, “Nightfall”, a piece for 14 solo strings.
Established in 1978, this prize is a national award designed to encourage Canadian composers to write for chamber music groups and to foster the performance of Canadian chamber music. This is the only governor general's award given for music, and Alexina is the first woman to receive it.
Alexina Louie's work has received both national and international acclaim and recognition. Ms. Louie has previously been named composer of the year and received a Juno award and a Chalmers award for her compositions. Ms. Louis has also received the Socan award for being the most frequently performed Canadian composer. As a composer in residence with the Canadian Opera Company she is currently working on a main stage opera which is to be performed in the fall of 2000.
I say congratulations to Alexina.