Developing Artist Grants for Performing Arts Students
In an effort to foster excellence in new talent, The Hnatyshyn Foundation assists the most promising young Canadian performing artists enrolled in post-secondary educational or training institutions.
Grants of $12,500 (formerly $10,000) are awarded annually in each of the following disciplines:
Classical music (orchestral instrument - strings)
Classical music (orchestral instrument - winds, brass, percussion)
Classical music (piano)
Classical vocal performance
Contemporary dance
Jazz performance (The Oscar Peterson Award for Jazz Performance)
Acting (English theatre)
Acting (French theatre)
In addition to the top prizes, the finalists whose scores are closest to the laureate in each discipline receive a $4,000 grant.
To receive future calls for nominations, please make sure that you and your nominee(s) have subscribed to our mailing list (see the website’s footer).
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The next call for nominations will be announced in early 2027. We encourage you to subscribe to our mailing list to receive updates on future calls (see the registration form in our website’s footer).
Students cannot apply for these awards. Instructors at Canadian universities and performing arts colleges (or instructors anywhere in the world, for Classical Vocal Performance) are invited to review the nomination guidelines below and submit a nomination.
Guidelines
Requirements and eligibility criteria vary depending on the artistic discipline. Please consult the discipline’s guidelines before nominating a student (please click on the discipline to view the PDF).
Classical Music - Orchestral Instrument - Strings
Note: classical guitar, while uncommon in orchestras, is eligible for this award.
Classical Music - Orchestral Instrument - Winds, Brass, Percussion
To give candidates ample time to prepare their submission materials, we recommend that schools submit nominations as early as possible.
Each institution may nominate up to two candidates, with the exception of Classical Vocal Performance (1 nominee). We ask that nominators consult with other professors and/or their department Chair to ensure the limit per institution is respected.
Process
To nominate a student:
Please fill out a nomination form and email it to director@rjhf.com with a letter of nomination, not exceeding one page in length.
Nomination form (Microsoft Word format)
Shortly after we receive a nomination, we give the candidate access to the online system to complete the application form. Please ask them to check their junk mail.
Candidate applications include audition materials. You may work with your candidate to complete the online forms and upload audition videos.
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2026
Classical Vocal Performance
Alexa Frankian (she/her)
Adler Fellow at the San Francisco Opera
Photo: Jiyang Chen, Feb. 2026
Alexa Frankian is a Canadian lyric soprano recognized for her expressive storytelling, musical sensitivity, and commitment to creating meaningful connections with audiences through opera.
Born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, Alexa first discovered opera as a teenager and was immediately drawn to its unique ability to communicate profound human experiences across languages, cultures, and generations. That early fascination evolved into a dedication to the craft, guided by a belief that great opera is not only heard, but deeply felt.
Alexa is currently an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera, one of the world's most prestigious professional training programs for emerging opera artists. Through the Adler Fellowship, she performs on the mainstage while continuing advanced studies in role preparation, language, music, and dramatic interpretation under the guidance of internationally renowned conductors, directors, and coaches. Recent and upcoming engagements include Mimì in La bohème (Bohème Out of the Box), and appearances in Elektra and Mary Queen of Scots. Her repertoire also includes leading roles such as Madame Lidoine in Dialogues des Carmélites, Contessa Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Suzel in L'amico Fritz, Despina in Così fan tutte, and scenes as Suor Angelica in Suor Angelica, Iolanta in Iolanta, Alice Ford in Falstaff, and Fidelia in Edgar.
Alexa's artistic development has been shaped by training at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, the Glenn Gould School at the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the University of Toronto. She has also been recognized through participation in highly competitive programs including the Merola Opera Program and the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Known for her thoughtful approach to character development, Alexa is particularly interested in opera's power to create empathy and shared emotional experiences. Whether performing in an intimate venue or on a major stage, she strives to bring authenticity, vulnerability, and immediacy to every role she undertakes.
As she continues to build an international career, Alexa remains proud to represent Canada on the world stage. She is passionate about contributing to the future of opera by honouring its traditions while helping engage new audiences and ensuring the art form remains vibrant, relevant, and accessible for generations to come.
Photo: Cory Weaver, June 2026. San Francisco Opera’s production of Strauss’s Elektra. From left to right: Sofia Gotch (Klytemnestra’s Confidant), Michaela Schuster (Klytemnestra) and Alexa Frankian (Klytemnestra’s Trainbearer)
“Receiving a Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant is an extraordinary honour and one that I cherish with immense gratitude. As young artists, we never forget the people and organizations that believe in us before our careers are fully formed. This recognition comes at an important moment in my journey as an Adler Fellow with San Francisco Opera, as I continue the transition from advanced training into a professional career. Knowing that the Foundation and its jurors see potential in my work is both deeply humbling and incredibly encouraging.
What makes this award especially meaningful is the legacy behind it. The Right Honourable Ramon John Hnatyshyn believed that artists are essential to Canada's identity and international reputation. To be connected, even in a small way, to that vision, is profoundly inspiring. It reminds me that every performance carries an opportunity not only to share a story, but also to represent the richness of Canada's artistic community.
This support will allow me to continue investing in the training, coaching, language study, and preparation required at the highest level of the profession. More importantly, it provides the confidence that comes from knowing that others believe in what is possible for my future. I plan to carry that honour in my heart and stay connected to that confidence through my work, and by continuing to grow as a passionate artist, contagious storyteller, and a proud Canadian performing on stages around the world.”
Website: alexafrankian.com
Instagram: @alexafrankian
Classical Music - Piano
Jerry Hu (he/him)
Student at the Glenn Gould School of Music
Photo: Stuart Lowe
Jerry Hu, a pianist from Saskatoon, is pursuing a Bachelor of Music at the Glenn Gould School of Music. He currently studies with John O'Conor and Michael Berkovsky and he previously studied with Bonnie Nicholson. Jerry made his orchestral debut in 2021, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto in C minor with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Ellis, and in 2023, he performed with the Regina Symphony Orchestra. He performed Chopin's Piano Concerto in E minor with The Royal Conservatory Orchestra under Naomi Woo in 2025 and with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra under Tania Miller, also in 2025. In the summer of 2026, he was a solo piano fellow at the Music Academy of the West.
Jerry's distinctions include: Jury Discretionary Award, Canadian Chopin Competition (2025), finalist, The Glenn Gould School's Robert W. and G. Ann Corcoran Concerto Competition (2024), First Prize (17 & under category, piano), Canadian Music Centre Competition (2023).
Photo: Lisa Sakulensky
“I am deeply grateful to receive a Developing Artist Grant from the Hnatyshyn foundation. Having the opportunity to pursue music has been one of the greatest privileges in my life. At its best, music reveals the emotions that make up what it means to be human. This award encourages me to take greater risks in finding opportunities to perform and study, while easing the financial cost involved with auditioning as I enter the final year of my Bachelor's degree. Thank you to the Hnatyshyn foundation for providing this support as I pursue my passion!”
The Oscar Peterson Award for Jazz Performance
Thomas Andersen (he/him)
Student at McGill University's Schulich School of Music
Photo: Stephen Banez, April 2026
Montreal- and Victoria-based jazz pianist and composer Thomas Andersen is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at McGill University's Schulich School of Music, where he has studied with Jean-Michel Pilc, Marianne Trudel, and Remi Bolduc.
Grounded in the jazz tradition yet driven by curiosity, Thomas's playing emphasizes interaction, spontaneity, and expressive storytelling. He aims to capture the innovative spirit that jazz embodies, bringing a playful energy that invites the audience to feel like an active participant in the performance. He has appeared on stages across Quebec and British Columbia, including Upstairs Jazz Club, Hermann's Jazz Club, Dièse Onze Jazz Club, and the Victoria and Montreal Jazz fests, and he has performed with Remi Bolduc, Geoffrey Keezer, Kevin Dean, Bill Pierce, Darrell Green and John Lee.
Thomas has received numerous accolades, including the Jan Jarczyk Award for Outstanding Jazz Piano Performance, the Mike DeTurberville Scholarship for Jazz Performance, the Lou Williamson Jazz Award from the Victoria Jazz Society, and the Greater Victoria Music Festival Senior Composition Award. He also holds an ARCT Diploma in Piano Performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Whether performing original compositions or reimagining standards, Thomas aims to bring joy, sensitivity, and deep musical connection to every performance. He is continually seeking new ways to connect with listeners, collaborate with fellow musicians, and explore the limitless possibilities of jazz through performance and composition.
Photo: David Andersen, July 2026
“I am deeply grateful to receive the Hnatyshyn Foundation's 2026 Oscar Peterson Award for Jazz Performance. Thanks to this honour, I am able to continue developing my artistry without barriers. I am incredibly thankful to all my mentors for their tutelage and to the Hnatsyshyn Foundation for supporting young people pursuing the arts at a time when support is so crucial to their development. I have been enamoured with improvisation for as long as I can remember. The feeling of excitement I first experienced playing music created in the moment has remained unparalleled in my life. In following that feeling and pursuing jazz, I have found not only countless opportunities to grow as a musician, but also a deeper understanding of myself as an artist and as a person. Along this journey, I have had the great privilege of meeting so many wonderful friends, mentors, and fellow artists who share my belief in the incredible value of the arts. Their example and encouragement have continually reminded me of the importance of pursuing jazz with curiosity and discipline.”
Classical music - Orchestral Instrument - Strings
Anna Štube (she/her)
Student at the Glenn Gould School
Photo: Andre Harms
Canadian and Latvian violinist Anna Štube studies at the Glenn Gould School with Jonathan Crow. Classical Voice North America described her as a “sensation” and characterized her playing as a “brilliant display of poise and virtuosity.”
Devoted to sharing the compassion and humanity of music, Anna has made festival appearances as a featured guest artist at the Ban! International String Quartet Festival, Toronto Summer Music, and the Rockport Chamber Music Festival. Her accolades include the Sylva Gelber Award (2024, 2025), First Prize at the OSM Manulife Competition – for which she was the youngest-ever laureate – (2019), First Prizes in the Glenn Gould School's Corcoran Concerto and Chamber Music Competitions (2024), and the Grand Prize at the Canadian Music Competition (2018). She was featured on the Grammy-nominated and critically acclaimed album Music in Exile, Vol. 9: Chamber Works by Ernest Kanitz by ARC Ensemble (2025), for which she was invited to participate in the inaugural recording of Kanitz's Violin Sonata with pianist Kevin Ahfat. She has also collaborated with the Kronos Quartet, Calidore String Quartet, Emerson Quartet, and the New Orford String Quartet.
Anna has worked with celebrated musicians such as Midori, James Ehnes, and Pinchas Zukerman, among many others. She performed with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in their 2024/25 season as a MacLachlan Ridge Emerging Artist, regularly performs at Toronto's Koerner Hall, recently performed with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra and Earl Lee, and has played with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, the Oakville Symphony, the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra, the Calgary Civic Symphony, and the Kensington Sinfonia. She plays on a 1667 Andrea Guarneri violin and Fetique bow, generously loaned by CANIMEX Inc.
Anna was a recipient of a 2025 Developing Artist Grant Finalists' Prize, and the Hnatyshyn Foundation is thrilled to present her with this year's Top Prize.
“I was incredibly honoured to learn that I had been selected as a recipient of a Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant. Receiving this Grant is transformative for me as an artist. It provides financial safety and stability as I embrace new opportunities, explore the depths of my artistic vision and ambition, and continue to pursue and implement original ideas that have the potential to imbue the classical music industry with renewed interest, funding, and magnified societal impact. I am so excited and grateful for the year ahead, which has the potential to be life-changing with the assistance of the Hnatyshyn Foundation. This support allows me to focus fully on working towards an international performance career where I am able to utilize my passion for art as a tool to bring people together.”
Website: annastube.ca
Instagram: @annastube_violinist
Contemporary Dance
Quinn Isert (he/him)
Student at Arts Umbrella, Vancouver
Photo: Michael Slobodian
Quinn Isert is an emerging contemporary dance artist and choreographer enrolled in Arts Umbrella's Post-Secondary Dance Program. In both performance and creation, he seeks opportunities to collaborate with artists from diverse backgrounds and to explore the expressive possibilities of contemporary dance.
Quinn embraces opportunities that challenge him artistically and technically. He has participated in the Orsolina28 Summer Intensive, Ballet BC's 44 Summer Intensive, the Nederlands Dans Theater Summer Intensive, Arts Umbrella's International Summer Dance Intensive, and the Sharon Eyal Dance Company Summer Intensive; has performed works by acclaimed choreographers including Medhi Walerski, Crystal Pite, Marcos Morau, Fernando Magadan, Anne Jung, Cyril Baldy, and Ethan Colangelo; and performed in Shahar Binyamini's BOLERO X. In addition to his artistic practice, Quinn finds great fulfillment in teaching younger dancers, thereby nurturing creativity, confidence, and curiosity in the next generation of artists.
Committed to an evolving artistic practice rooted in collaboration, curiosity, and generosity, Quinn hopes to contribute meaningful work to Canada's contemporary dance community.
Photo: Reid Cumming
“Receiving a Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant is an incredible honour and a meaningful milestone in my journey as an emerging dance artist. I am incredibly grateful for this recognition and for the encouragement it brings as I continue to develop my artistic practice.
This support will allow me to pursue training and performance opportunities that have a lasting impact on my artistic development while easing some of the financial barriers that often come with a career in dance. It will also give me the flexibility to travel for auditions and pursue professional opportunities as I begin the next stage of my career. Every opportunity to work with new artists, experience different creative processes, and immerse myself in new environments helps shape the kind of performer and collaborator I hope to become.
I am deeply grateful to The Hnatyshyn Foundation and its donors for believing in emerging artists and making opportunities like this possible. Their generosity allows artists like me to continue pursuing this path with greater freedom and confidence. I hope to keep seeking out experiences that challenge me, inspire new ways of thinking, and deepen my understanding of dance as both an art form and a means of connection. I'm excited to continue growing as an artist and to see what this next chapter brings.”
Classical Music - Orchestral Instrument - Winds, Brass, PercussionsFlavie Lacoste (she/her)
Student at The Conservatoire de Musique de Montréal
Photo: Stuart Lowe
A passionate musician, oboist Flavie Lacoste is studying for a bachelor’s degree in Mélissa Tremblay’s class at the Montreal Conservatory of Music.
Flavie has performed as a soloist on several occasions, notably with the Orchestre Métropolitain conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin and with the Montreal Conservatory of Music Orchestra. She took part in the 2025 edition of the prestigious Verbier Festival in Switzerland as a member of the Verbier Festival Junior Orchestra. Her honours include the Simple Plan and Monique Barry Excellence Scholarships from the Quebec Conservatoire Foundation, the Lise Beauchamp Tribute Excellence Scholarship from Domaine Forget in 2024, as well as project grants from the CALQ and the Jeunesses Musicales AIDA Foundation. In multi-instrumental competitions, she won first prize at the Pentaèdre-Youkali competition in 2023, the Stingray Star Prize at the OMNI competition in 2024, and a place as a soloist at the Montreal Conservatory of Music’s Concerto Competition. Most recently, she took part in the 2026 National Youth Orchestra of Canada training programme, for which she received an award for excellence.
Photo: Tam Lan Truong
“This recognition means a great deal to me: it is a major source of motivation that encourages me to continue practising with discipline and gives me the confidence to take my musical development even further. It spurs me on to explore new ways of pushing myself by seizing opportunities that will enable me to grow as a musician. I am now considering the possibility of studying abroad and hope to gain more stimulating musical experiences that could contribute to my artistic development.”
Instagram: @flavie.lacoste
Acting (English Theatre)Gabrielle Blake (she/her)
Student at The University of Victoria
Photo: SHADES Portrait Studio, June 2026
Gabrielle Blake is a Jamaican immigrant actor pursuing her love of story-telling, performance and theatre at the University of Victoria.
Her work is deeply rooted in commitment, as she uses aspects of her intersectionality and imagination to determine how a character breathes, speaks and moves through space. She is also greatly influenced by the movement and voice theories, frameworks and practices of Rudolph Laban and Michael Chekhov.
As a child, competitive dance and church choirs served as a catalyst for Gabrielle's keen ear, physical expression, and the desire to be part of something larger than herself. It was not until she moved to Canada that she found herself in a theatrical setting: during secondary school, inspired by her eldest sibling's presence on stage and her mother's background in drama, she auditioned for and was cast in roles that ignited her love of theatre.
In 2026, Gabrielle performed at the Victoria One Act Play Festival and the University of Victoria's Phoenix Theatre, as well as with the University of Victoria's Student Alternative Theatre Company. In the Phoenix Theatre's 2026/2027 season, she is set to play Ranyevskaya in Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard and Johnny Harmon in Rupert Holmes' Curtains the musical. This last season, she played One/Lily in Sami Ibrahim's A Sudden Violent Burst of Rain, where she had the privilege of sharing an immigrant's tale. Stories like this one, as well as other musical, movement-based, and nonsense-ridden theatre, are surely scattered throughout her future theatre collaborations and creations.
Photo: Savannah O’Heany, March 2023
“As an actor and storyteller, I welcome characters to use my body and voice to share their stories. In doing this work, I am able to explore a variety of characters with complex desires and emotions. I may not align with their beliefs or would ever want what they crave most, but coming to deeply understand them and commit to helping them get what they want is the most gratifying feeling in the world to me. Receiving this grant not only aids me in continuing this passion, but helps me better understand others in the world around me, as well as myself.”
Acting (French Theatre)
Inès Vieux Francoeur (she/her)
Student at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal
Photo: Jean-Sébastien Jacques
Inès Vieux Francoeur is completing a degree in acting at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal, where she was awarded the Fondation du Conservatoire’s scholarship for excellence, commitment and creativity (2026).
Also a sociology graduate, Inès could not resist the pull of words, synchronicity and sharing that are so characteristic of the performing arts. Her artistic journey has thus taken shape through a series of encounters, blending writing, performance and movement in a multidisciplinary practice. Approaching creation in a playful manner, and always with openness and curiosity, she has enriched her practice by conceiving acting as a tool for connection and physical exploration.
Inspired by the women around her – artists and non-artists alike – and committed to a process of constant (un)learning, Inès aims to establish a collaborative artistic practice and a transformative, feminist, queer and Black theatre. After completing her studies, she hopes to continue building an interdisciplinary practice that blends theatre, performance and community engagement with the diaspora and women from all walks of life. She hopes to collaborate with creators driven by the same aspirations, in a practice that prioritises experimentation and discovery. She had the opportunity to bring this vision to life through the Black Theatre Workshop (BTW) mentoring programme, during which she wrote and presented a public reading of her second play, pigpen. She also co-wrote and performed in All’s Well That Ends at the Montreal Fringe Festival, for which she and her collaborator, Summer Mahmud, were awarded the CDAP grant.
Aware of the direct power that art holds over our communities, it is with passion, dedication and discipline that Inès explores each artistic work as a space in its own right, where truth and transformation can shine through self-expression.
Photo: Alexandre Lirette
“For me, theatre will always be an invitation to prick up one’s ears and listen: to oneself, to others, and to that fire within us that is meant to be shared.
I am deeply honoured by this vote of confidence, which comes at a crucial moment in my early career. Thanks to the support of the Hnatyshyn Foundation, I will be able to devote myself entirely to creative work without financial constraints, sharing with my community and with the public in a sincere and honest way. This grant will also enable me, after graduating, to continue my artistic education through dialogue with artists from here and elsewhere, and to take part in residencies in Quebec, Canada and internationally.
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the members of the jury and to the Hnatyshyn Foundation. Thank you for believing in my future and my vision. Thank you for believing in the potential of the next generation of theatre artists. Thank you for believing in art as a radical and liberating act. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for listening.”
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2026
Classical Vocal Performance
Patricia Wrigglesworth (she/her)
Student at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music
Photo: Stephanie Sedlbauer
Praised for her “crystal-clear tones and excellent diction,” Soprano Patricia Wrigglesworth is a “delight to watch” (Opera Canada). Originally from Markham, Ontario and raised by music educators, Wrigglesworth grew up immersed in a rich musical environment. Her love of music emerged very early on through her involvement in children's choir, musical theatre, and private studies in voice and piano.
Wrigglesworth's recent operatic roles highlight her dramatic versatility. She has performed Alcina in Alcina, Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia, Countess Stasi in The Czardas Princess, Dido in Dido and Aeneas, Rosmene in Imeneo, Countess Lisa in Countess Maritza, Romilda in Xerse, and Miss Wordsworth in Albert Herring. This summer, she played Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica as a part of the Opera 5 Portfolio Artist Internship Program in Toronto and Giulia in La scala di seta with Bel Canto in Tuscany. This fall, she takes on Miss Lightfoot in the Canadian premiere of Fellow Travellers in Opera McGill's 2026-2027 season.
Equally at home on the concert stage, Wrigglesworth brings a refined interpretive approach to oratorio and chamber works. She has appeared as the soprano soloist in Orff's Carmina Burana, Chatman's Magnificat, and Mozart's Coronation Mass. She has collaborated with numerous Canadian ensembles and her ever growing concert portfolio reflects a wide-ranging command of both traditional and contemporary repertoire. Having recently completed her Master's degree in Opera and Voice at McGill University's Schulich School of Music, she returns this fall to complete a one-year Post-Graduate Artist Diploma with Dr. Tracy Smith Bessette.
Photo: Stephanie Sedlbauer. Patricia Wrigglesworth as Rosmene (Imeneo, Handel)
“It is extremely encouraging to have the support not only of my teachers and coaches, but also of the jury and the Hnatyshyn Foundation, as confirmation that I'm on the right path and as a source of motivation in the early stages of my career. The Hnatyshyn Foundation has been aiding emerging artists for over 20 years; joining the ranks of past winners, all of whom are highly respected and successful individuals, is truly an honour. With this grant, I will be able to take my first steps out of academia and into the greater music scene through auditions and applications in Canada and abroad. I cannot thank the Hnatyshyn Foundation enough for their help in furthering my passions for performance and lifelong learning.”
Instagram: @patriciawriggs_
Classical Music - Piano
Rowan Sawarna-Small (he/him)
Student at the Glenn Gould School of Music
Photo: Avril Sequeira
Rowan Sawarna-Small is a pianist pursuing a Bachelor of Music at The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music. He previously attended the Phil and Eli Taylor Academy for Young Artists. His current principal teachers are John O'Conor and Li Wang, and he previously studied with Dianne Werner.
Rowan performs widely as a soloist and chamber musician. As a soloist, he performed with the Greater Toronto Philharmonic Orchestra and the Brampton Rose Orchestra, and in 2025, he performed Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 2 at Roy Thomson Hall and The Rose Brampton Theatre. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated extensively with strings, winds, and voice. His wind trio recently won first prize at The Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition (2026), was quarterfinalist at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition (2026), was featured in the Canadian Opera Company's Free Concert Series (2026), and performed a recital in Koerner Hall (2026).
Rowan has worked in master classes with many of today's leading pianists, including Daniil Trifonov, Marc-André Hamelin, Richard Goode, Robert McDonald, Matti Raekallio, Jeremy Denk, and Anton Nel, among others. He has pursued additional training at programs including the Music Academy of the West, Orford Musique, the Honeywell Academy Soundboard Institute, and the Canadian Opera Company's Aria Intensive, which he attended as a collaborative pianist.
Rowan gratefully acknowledges the support of his teachers and family in his artistic development.
“I'm incredibly grateful to The Hnatyshyn Foundation for its generous support of young artists such as myself and my colleagues. This grant gives me greater freedom to pursue my passion while easing some of the financial challenges that come with studying and building a career in music. Beyond the financial support, receiving this recognition is deeply meaningful and encourages me to continue along my artistic journey. It is wonderful to be recognized by the Hnatyshyn Foundation, and I thank everyone whose generosity and commitment to supporting emerging artists has made this opportunity possible for me.”
Instagram: @rowan.sawarnasmall_piano
Jazz Performance
Sarah Boutin (she/her)
Student at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music
Photo: Brad Hurley
Sarah Boutin is a jazz vocalist and educator pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance at McGill University's Schulich School of Music. She also holds a degree in jazz performance from Cégep de Saint-Laurent. Originally from Abitibi, Sarah has had the opportunity to study and play with many of Montréal's greatest jazz musicians such as Ranee Lee, Camille Thurman, Darrell Green, Rémi Bolduc, Marianne Trudel and many more.
Citing Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Wayne Shorter, and John Coltrane as her idols, Sarah's musicality is firmly grounded in the jazz tradition, incorporating tunes from the Great American Songbook as well as contemporary and exploratory works. She has been taking up gig opportunities in Montreal for the past two years, which has allowed her to develop skills in other genres like funk, R&B, and pop.
Photo: Julianne Bergeron
“I am incredibly honoured to receive this grant. Not only has this recognition strengthened my confidence as a performer, but the grant will allow me to support my studies as well as obtain quality equipment for professional gigs and projects.
I receive this grant at an important time of my personhood and my musical journey, during which my relationship to music is more important than ever. I am eternally grateful for the Hnatyshyn Foundation's generosity and for the support from my educators and community.”
Instagram: @sarah_b0ut
Classical music - Orchestral Instrument - Strings
Mira Kardan (she/her)
Student at the Glenn Gould School
Photo: Karmen Grubišić
Mira Kardan is a cellist studying at the Glenn Gould School with Hans Jorgen Jensen and Andres Diaz. She previously trained at the Colburn Music Academy, where she studied with Clive Greensmith and served as principal cellist of the Colburn Academy Virtuosi chamber orchestra.
An avid chamber musician, Mira has performed in the Olive Piano Trio (Gold Medal, 2022 Fischoff Chamber Music Competition; First Grand Prize, 2022 Chicago International Music Competition; exchange program, Sibelius Academy, Finland, 2023) and in a string trio (first place in the 2025 Glenn Gould School Chamber Competition). She is currently an Artist-in-Residence at the Off Centre Music Salon, a Toronto-based chamber music series. She was recently a finalist in the Glenn Gould School's Corcoran Concerto Competition and will perform with the Royal Conservatory Orchestra in 2027.
Mira's accolades include the Renette and David Berman Scholarship (the Glenn Gould School), first place in the 2025 Shean Strings Competition, second place in the 2025 International Young Artist Concerto Competition, and first prize in the 2022 Bellflower Symphony Competition. She has been featured on the NPR nationally syndicated radio program, From the Top, on two occasions. She recently gave a solo recital at the Rockport Chamber Music Festival and has performed in master classes for Richard Aaron, Gautier Capuçon, Steven Isserlis, the Calidore Quartet, and the Takács Quartet. Mira has attended the Heifetz International Music Institute, Meadowmount School of Music, and the Young Artists Program at YellowBarn. She performs on a Montagnana model Grubaugh & Seifert cello made in 2019, and a Sylvain Bigot bow.
Photo: Karen E. Reeves
“I am honored to have been chosen as a finalist of the Hnatyshyn Foundation's Developing Artist Grant program. This support will allow me to continue to perform worldwide for varied audiences. There's nothing I love more than bringing joy to audiences through my solo and chamber music playing. This grant will help support my studies as I learn how to become a well-rounded and learned musician. It will also allow me to attend international competitions and master classes that will open doors for my future professional career. I am deeply grateful for this recognition and am motivated to keep growing as a cellist.”
Instagram: @cello.mira
Contemporary Dance
Sarah Froese (she/her)
Student at Arts Umbrella, Vancouver
Photo: Albert Normandin
Sarah Froese is a passionate and driven contemporary dance artist studying at Arts Umbrella in Vancouver, BC. A proud member of Norway House Cree Nation, Sarah grew up in Winnipeg and is a graduate of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School.
As a student, Sarah has had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers Crystal Pite, Medhi Walerski, Fernando Magadan, Cyril Baldy, Aszure Barton, Kenta Kojiri, Ethan Colangelo, Anne Jung, Lukas Timulak and Michael Garcia. She was a member of the 2025 Jacob's Pillow Contemporary Performance Ensemble and has attended intensives across North America and Europe. In 2025, she performed Shahar Binyamini's BOLERO X with Ballet BC.
Looking to the future, Sarah hopes to become a valued voice within the professional dance space.
Photo: Michael Slobodian
“I am motivated by an intrinsic belief in the power and importance of dance as I firmly believe in the vitality of sharing this art form. I am sincerely grateful for the support of The Hnatyshyn Foundation which will allow me to continue developing my personal voice and working towards my goal of contributing to a company aligned with my belief that the truest expression of the human experience is through brilliant dance.”
Instagram: @sarah.froese_
Classical Music - Orchestral Instrument - Winds, Brass, Percussions
Constance Prost (she/her)
Student at the Glenn Gould School
Photo: Magenta Photo
Born and raised in Ottawa, tenor trombonist Constance Prost is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Trombone Performance at the Glenn Gould School, where she studies with the renowned teacher and trombonist Gordon Wolfe. As an orchestral musician, she has performed with The National Arts Center Orchestra, The Toronto Symphony Orchestra, The Royal Conservatory Orchestra, and The Mississauga Symphony Orchestra. In April 2026, she appeared in the band in Bartók's Bluebeard's Castle (Canadian Opera Company). Constance also maintains an active presence in small ensemble playing as a member of the Cackaphony Brass Quintet.
Constance's numerous awards and distinctions include First Prize in the Gilberto Gagliardi Competition at the International Trombone Festival (2025), the Don Renshaw Bursary at the National Arts Center Orchestra Bursary Competition (2024), The Ihnatowycz Emerging Artist Scholarships, received throughout her studies at The Glenn Gould School, and participation in the Shires Rising Artist program (2025).
Constance continues to broaden her musical experience through master classes with a wide range of artists, including Megumi Kanda, Christopher Bassett, Cristina Cutts, Gene Pokorny, Zachary Bond, Brian Hecht, Jacques Mauger, and Brandt Attema. In the summer of 2025, she attended Domaine Forget de Charlevoix, and in the summer of 2026, she attended The National Youth Orchestra of Canada.
In addition to performing, Constance contributes to music education and outreach. She maintains a private teaching practice and serves as a mentor with The Oscar Peterson Program at The Royal Conservatory of Music, supporting young musicians in developing their skills and confidence
“I am incredibly grateful to the Hnatyshyn Foundation and its donors for their generous support. Receiving this recognition is both an honour and an encouragement as I continue my musical journey. This funding will allow me to invest in new equipment that will support my artistic development and help me continue striving for the highest level of performance. It will also allow me to dedicate more time and energy to my studies, practice, and artistic growth. I am deeply thankful for the Foundation's commitment to supporting emerging Canadian artists and for believing in the next generation of musicians. I believe this grant will have a meaningful impact on my education and career and I look forward to carrying this support forward through my future performances and contributions to the musical community.”
Instagram: @constanceprost.trombone
Acting (English Theatre)
Asa O'Connor-Jaeckel (they/he)
Student at The University of British Columbia
Photo: Kanyiri Njoroge, 2025
Asa O'Connor-Jaeckel (they/he) is a queer actor, director, and interdisciplinary theatre artist pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting at the University of British Columbia. Over the years, they have created and performed their way around so-called Vancouver and Victoria, delighting especially in physical theatre and absurdist texts. Recent credits include Witch #2/Ross/Hecate in Macbeth (Word of Mouth Department), and Performer 02 in Pyper (UBC Theatre Department). Asa has been fortunate to work with Ragamuffin Productions, the Vancouver OR Festival, North Van Arts, Iuvenis Productions, Christy-Webb Productions, and the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival. Wearing a variety of hats, he is committed to making bizarre and intriguing art grounded in kind and curious communities. Also passionate about theatre education, Asa has supported young artists at Bard on the Beach and Gateway Theatre exploring the worlds of Shakespeare, acting, and musical theatre. Asa is a member of the 2026 Riotous Youth cohort (Bard on the Beach), and is the recipient of the Yvonne Firkins Prize for Directing (2025). When not on or around the stage, they can be found playing guitar, writing the odd philosophy paper, or befriending strangers' dogs.
Photo: Javier Ricardo Sotres Porres, March 2026
“I sincerely thank the Hnatyshyn Foundation for this amazing opportunity, and thank everyone in my personal and professional life that has and continues to support me. Receiving this grant is not only an incredible vote of confidence in my work, it will have a tangible impact on the amount of time, energy, and passion I can put into furthering my career. Being an emerging actor and interdisciplinary theatre maker means being consistently presented with new questions and new puzzles to solve. How do I carve my own path through our industry? How do I build myself community, practice, and a professional life all at once? Does my work truly deserve a place in the conversation? Structural and financial support gives an artist space – to learn, to investigate, to fail, to successfully navigate failure, to discover who they are. This funding makes navigating these questions seem possible. Receiving this support as I am on the cusp of entering the professional artistic world is an equally humbling and inspiring gift.”
Instagram: @asa.oconnor.jaeckel_theatre
Acting (French Theatre)
Alexie Haddad-Cliche (she/her)
Student at the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Montréal
Photo: La fée candide, February 2026
An actress since her teenage years, Alexie Haddad-Cliche initially worked mainly in television before joining the Conservatoire d'art dramatique de Montréal, where she is currently continuing her acting training.
Inspired in particular by the thinking of David Mamet, Alexie believes that theatre possesses an indescribable and unique ability to emerge from almost nothing: everything is already there, everything exists in words; in the instability of the present and the unexpected. A humble, unadorned body, fully present and whole, allows itself to be filled with words that are not its own. When these words are placed with precision in the hands of complete strangers ready to receive them, the trick is done: the illusion of the character emerges, and theatre blossoms. The actor is a conduit between words and the world; an intermediary. Their sole purpose lies in their encounter with the audience. It is through this act of sharing that Alexie hopes to make her mark in the arts. She does not wish to perform for herself; she wishes to perform for others, for audiences. To move them, to make them laugh. To offer words as a gift to anyone willing to listen, to create beauty in a world that can be harsh.
Passionate about music, poetry, cinema and writing, Alexie draws on all the disciplines that are close to her heart to enrich her work as an actress. Music sharpens her sensitivity to the rhythm and musicality of texts, while writing nourishes her imagination and her relationship with imagery and subtext. Each of these practices thus becomes a tool, a gateway to acting, helping to make her a more well-rounded, curious actress who is deeply rooted in her art.
Photo: Jean-François Turner
I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Hnatyshyn Foundation for this immense privilege. Beyond the financial support that this grant represents, it is a recognition that encourages me to continue along the path I have chosen with even greater freedom and dedication.
This gesture of confidence will guide me as I continue my training and develop my artistic practice. It gives me the momentum to keep learning, exploring and creating with curiosity and a commitment to excellence. Thank you for giving emerging artists the chance to fulfill their dreams and devote themselves fully to their art. You are the pillars of tomorrow's culture.
Instagram: @alexie_hc
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Classical Vocal Performance
Cecilia Livingston, Composer-in-Residence at the Canadian Opera Company
Ernesto Ramirez, international opera tenor
Sara Schabas, soprano, Instructor at the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba, and Editor at Art Song Canada Magazine
Classical Music - Piano
Meagan Milatz, concert pianist, co-Artistic Director of HausMusique, Artistic Director of the Cecilian Chamber Series, and laureate of a 2014 Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant (piano)
Mariya Orlenko, classical pianist, doctoral candidate at the University of Toronto, Director and CEO of Efficient Musician Inc., co-founder and collaborative pianist of the York Region Music Academy, and laureate of a 2020 Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant (piano) and a 2022 Hnatyshyn Foundation Ukraine, Heritage, Spirit and Future Award
Philip Chiu, concert pianist and broadcaster, soloist, and chamber musician
Jazz Performance
Eli Bennett, saxophonist, composer, producer, and laureate of a 2007 Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant (The Oscar Peterson Award for Jazz Performance)
Laila Biali, jazz vocalist, songwriter and pianist, 2026 Grammy nominee, 2019 JUNO Award winner, 2020 SOCAN Award winner, and host of CBC’s “Saturday Night Jazz”
Gentiane MG, pianist and composer
Classical Music - Strings
Jae-Wong Bang, Adjunct Professor of Violin, University of British Columbia, and Violinist, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Renaud Lapierre, Concertmaster, Symphony Nova Scotia
Contemporary Dance
Angie Cheng, dance artist and Artistic Lead, CanAsian Dance
Liliona Quarmyne, Artistic Director, Live Art Dance
Classical Music - Winds, Brass, Percussions
Keith Dyrda, Trombonist in the Canadian Brass ensemble and laureate of a 2007 Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant (orchestral instrument)
Sarah Pollard, Assistant Principal Flute and Piccolo, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra
Amanda Wilk, freelance flutist and flute teacher
Acting - English Theatre
Ivy Charles, actor and laureate of a 2019 Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant (English Theatre)
Sarah Kitz, Artistic Director, Great Canadian Theatre Company
Nathan Medd, cultural executive and producer specialized in theatre and music and CEO, Victoria Conservatory of Music
Acting - French Theatre
Félix-Antoine Boutin, Artistic Director and co-Executive Director of Espace Libre
Laurence Gagné-Frégeau, actor, director, and laureate of a 2019 Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant (French Theatre)
Claudine Robillard, artist, co-Executive Director and co-Artistic Director of Système Kangourou
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In 2003, Mrs. Hnatyshyn visited famed jazz pianist and composer Dr. Oscar Peterson, C.C. C.Q. O.Ont., at his home. When she was about to leave, he said, “I’d like to do a benefit concert for the Foundation.”
In 2004, The Hnatyshyn Foundation was formally launched at “An Evening with Oscar,” a fundraising concert at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa with The Oscar Peterson Quartet.
To this day, The Hnatyshyn Foundation is tremendously grateful for the late Dr. Peterson’s generosity. Since 2005, the Oscar Peterson Award has supported exceptional emerging jazz performers, many of whom have gone on to enjoy impressive careers as performers and composers.
