Canadian composer Emilie Cecilia LeBel specializes in concert music composition, the creation of mixed works that employ digital technologies, and intermedia concert works.
Described as having a “deft compositional hand, unwilling to hurry ideas”, and “impressively subtle and sensuous”, her work inhabits sonic worlds that are primarily concerned with textural landscapes, resonance, and variances in colour. Emilie is currently Affiliate Composer with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and Assistant Professor at MacEwan University.
Emilie’s compositions have been performed/recorded across North and South America, Europe, and the UK, by Mark Takeshi McGregor, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Cecilia String Quartet, Plumes Ensemble, Quatuor Bozzini, Arditti Quartet, Land’s End Ensemble, Awea Duo, Luciane Cardassi, Mira Benjamin, Black House Collective, Stephanie Chua, Terri Hron, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, Thin Edge New Music Collective, Onyx Trio, 21C Festival, Winnipeg New Music Festival and junctQín keyboard collective, among others. Emilie’s artistic practice has been recognized through several significant awards, including the Land’s End Ensemble Composer Competition (2016), Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Artist Award (2015), Canadian Music Centre Toronto Emerging Composer Award (2012), and the Canadian Federation of University Women Elizabeth Massey Award (2012). Her work has received support from grants through the Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, The Banff Centre, Canadian Music Centre, University of Toronto, University of Montana, and the SOCAN Foundation.
Emilie completed her Doctorate in composition at the University of Toronto in 2013, under the guidance of Gary Kulesha and Robin Elliott. In 2014, she undertook private composition studies with Juliet Palmer, Christopher Butterfield and Michael Finnissy. Emilie completed a BFA and MA in composition and ethnomusicology at York University, and an Honours Diploma in audio engineering and music production at Harris Institute for the Arts.