Monica Pearce

Monica Pearce (born 1984) is a Canadian contemporary classical composer who is originally from Prince Edward Island.

Monica Pearce
Background information
Born1984
Prince Edward Island, Canada
GenresClassical
Occupation(s)Composer, arts administrator
Instrumentspiano
Websitewww.monicapearce.com

Education

Monica Pearce completed her Bachelor of Music degree at Mount Allison University with a focus in piano and composition, and went on to complete her Master of Music degree in composition at the University of Toronto.[1]

Professional career

Composition

In 2008, after completing her master's degree, Pearce co-founded the Toy Piano Composers along with Chris Thornborrow, a fellow graduate of the University of Toronto. A Toronto-based collective of composers, it was intended to serve as a means of continuing to have their music performed after graduation when they would no longer have the built-in support network of the academic institution. Since their formation, they have presented more than two dozen concerts, including the premiere performances of more than 120 new works of chamber music, opera, and orchestral music. Although the name of the collective had been chosen somewhat arbitrarily – Pearce is quoted as explaining that she "had just bought a toy piano"[2] – their first concert did include music for two toy pianos as well as two regular pianos. Many of their concerts are curated based on various themes, and are sometimes inspired by non-musical forms such as visual art, dance, film, etc. Other concerts are designed around a specific instrumentation, often drawing from their own ensemble that includes flutes, clarinets, pianos, toy pianos, percussion, violin, double bass, and harp.[2][3] Their self-titled album was released in 2017.[4]

Pearce's own body of compositions includes vocal works, instrumental solo works, chamber ensemble works, large ensemble works, operas, and electroacoustic works. These have been performed and commissioned by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, International Contemporary Ensemble, New Music Detroit, Chamber Cartel, Bicycle Opera Project, New Fangled Opera, eklektikos, TorQ Percussion Quartet, Talisker Players, Essential Opera, Sneak Peek Orchestra, Tonus Vivus Ensemble, Avant Guitars, and many more.[5]

In 2020, Pearce received the Harry Freedman Recording Award for her piece toile de jouy for two-manual harpsichord. The award is administered by the Canadian Music Centre and managed by the Ontario Arts Foundation.[6]

In addition to composing, Pearce is an active librettist, and has worked with Loose Tea Theatre, Bicycle Opera Project, Opera Nova Scotia, Vocalypse Productions, Caution Tape Sound Collective, and the Toy Piano Composers.[1]

Arts administration

Alongside her career as a composer, Pearce has also worked in the field of arts administration. She is a former executive director of The Music Gallery in Toronto, and since 2018 has been the Director of Grants Management and Special Projects at the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge in Louisiana, where she and her husband live.[7]

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References
  1. "Biography". Monica Pearce. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  2. Lee, Sharon (2013-01-30). "Toy Piano Composers". torontoguardian.com. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  3. "The Toy Piano Composers". Monica Pearce. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  4. Toy Piano Composers by Toy Piano Composers, retrieved 2020-04-23
  5. "List of Works". Monica Pearce. Retrieved 2020-02-29.
  6. Canadian Music Centre (2020-04-07). "Harry Freedman Award 2020 Winner - Monica Pearce". Canadian Music Centre. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  7. "Monica Pearce". Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. Retrieved 2020-02-29.

Further reading
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