A report Tuesday (10/20) on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation website states, “Composer, conductor and celebrated flutist Robert Aitken has won the Canada Council’s $50,000 Walter Carsen Prize. On Tuesday, the council named Toronto-based Aitken, who was born in Kentville, N.S., the 2009 recipient of the honour, which celebrates the artistic excellence and distinguished career achievement by a Canadian performing artist in the realm of theatre, dance or music. … Previously honoured with the Order of Canada and also as a Chevalier de l’Order des Arts et des Lettres in France, Aitken, now 70, has performed both solo as well as in a host of ensembles, from small groups to the Vancouver and Toronto symphony orchestras. A longtime music teacher, Aitken has made dozens of recordings and worked with noted composers like R. Murray Schafer, John Cage, John Weinzweig and Giles Tremblay. A former director of the Banff Centre’s winter program in Music, Aitken has also established and led a number of musical series, including New Music Concerts and the Music at Shawinigan festival.”
Posted October 21, 2009
