Alexander Peter Pauk CM (born October 4, 1945) is a Canadian conductor and composer, most noted as the founder of the Esprit Orchestra.[1]

Alex Pauk
Born (1945-10-04) October 4, 1945 (age 78)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresContemporary classical
Occupation(s)Composer, conductor
Years active1971–present

Awards and nominations edit

At the Juno Awards of 1996, both Alexina Louie and Harry Freedman received Juno nominations for Classical Composition of the Year, for works they had composed for the Esprit Orchestra album Music for Heaven and Earth,[2] and Harry Somers was nominated at the Juno Awards of 2001 for "The Third Piano Concerto", from the Esprit Orchestra album Celebration.[3] Pauk and the Esprit Orchestra were themselves nominees for Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment) at the Juno Awards of 1998, for Tabuh-Tabuhan, Music of Colin McPhee.[4]

In 1999, Pauk and Louie received a Genie Award nomination for Best Original Score at the 19th Genie Awards, for their work on the film Last Night.[5]

In 2007, he was a recipient of the Canada Council's Molson Prize for distinguished achievement in the arts.[6]

In 2014, he was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian orchestral music and longstanding support and fostering of new music and early career composers.[7]

Compositions edit

  • Fragmentations, 1971
  • Fibro for viola solo, 1973
  • Magaru for flute, viola and percussion, 1973
  • The Scroll, 1974
  • Solari, 1977
  • Echo Spirit Isle, 1983
  • Mirage, 1984
  • Split Seconds, 1988
  • Cosmos, 1988
  • Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra, 2001
  • Touch Piece, 2003
  • Concerto for Harp and Orchestra, 2005

Film scores edit

References edit

  1. ^ lifford Ford, Evan Ware and Robin Elliott, "Alex Pauk". The Canadian Encyclopedia, January 25, 2011.
  2. ^ Arthur Kaptainis, "Esprit release yields two Juno nominees". Montreal Gazette, February 24, 1996.
  3. ^ Peter Goddard, "Juno who these guys are? ; Composition sector is where really new stuff can be found". Toronto Star, March 1, 2001.
  4. ^ Andrew Flynn, "Our Lady Peace, Sarah McLachlan top nominees for 27th Juno awards". Canadian Press, February 11, 1998.
  5. ^ John McKay, "Two films lead Genie pack with 12 nominations each: Last Night and Such a Long Journey". Canadian Press, December 7, 1998.
  6. ^ Geoff Nixon, "Composer wins arts Molson Prize". The Globe and Mail, June 7, 2007.
  7. ^ Canada, Service (June 30, 2014). "Order of Canada Appointments". www.canada.ca. Retrieved October 29, 2022.