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2020 Composers

Meet our 2020 Tuckamore Young Artist Composers!

Congratulations to the 2020 Tuckamore young composers! We received many high-quality applications from around the world.  In our pivot to the COVID19 reality, the Tuckamore Young Artist Composers Program (YAC) will move to an online model for 2020.

Between May and August, Composers will participate in group masterclasses and private lessons by distance, leading to the creation of new works that will be prepared and performed by professionals drawn from  Tuckamore faculty artists and alumni.  Their final performances will be recorded in high quality video and audio online dissemination.

Taylor MacGillivray (1996-) is a composer and performer based out of K’jipuktuk (Halifax), Nova Scotia. She has had her compositions performed by Symphony Nova Scotia, the Unassisted Fold, and the Maritime Brass Quintet. In 2020, she graduated from Dalhousie University with a BMus, concentrating in composition. As a performer, she plays the saxophone and focuses on improvising in its many forms. She has performed at the Open Waters Festival as well as many of Dalhousie University’s concerts.

Michael Spiroff is a Montréal based composer originally from Toronto. After completing his B.Mus in composition at the Mannes School of Music in New York City, he is now pursuing his M.Mus in composition at McGill University. Michael has had works performed by the Mannes Orchestra, Schulich Singers, Rovaco Dance Company, at the Lunenburg Academy of Music Performance and the Czech Center of New York, as well as many other works performed by various ensembles internationally. Recently, Michael completed the score to a one-woman musical about the life of Lucy Maud Montgomery to be performed at the Boston Conservatory. In the coming months, Michael will have pieces premiered by the Trio Émerillon and several soloists. In addition to composing, he actively works as a music director, teacher, and accompanist. This being his first season with the festival, Michael is delighted to be a part of Tuckamore!

Holly Winter is a composer, clarinetist, improviser, and educator. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of King’s College (Halifax, NS) and a Bachelor of Music at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador where she studied under Dr Christine Carter (clarinet), Dr Clark Ross and Dr Andrew Staniland (composition). She is heading to Vancouver in the Fall of 2020 to begin a Masters in Music in Composition at the University of British Columbia.
Holly’s work has been performed at the 21st Century Guitar Conference (2019), the Newfound New Music Festival (2020) and as part of the Nova Collective’s season (2019-20). She is particularly interested in graphic works and strives to create pieces that are both visually and aurally engaging. Holly is known for drawing from her diverse background in her compositions. Whether it be writing, drawing, philosophy, theatre or improvisation, Holly is most comfortable at the intersection of many different artistic practices.
Holly is thrilled to be a part of the Young Composers cohort for the 2020 Tuckamore Music Festival. Holly’s current physical distancing activities include walks with her dog Toby and learning to roller skate.