musica intima is a 12-voice vocal ensemble with a 34-year history of championing new Canadian music. Over that time, we have commissioned more than 30 new works and have supported hundreds of contemporary works by Canadian composers through premieres, workshops, mentorship, and artistic collaboration.

Established in 2014, NOVUM is musica intima's composer development program. Selected composers are encouraged to break new ground, explore new creative possibilities, and compose exciting, inventive, and forward-looking works that contribute to the future of Canadian choral music.

No submission fee is required for NOVUM 2026, and selected composers will participate free of charge.

This year, we are honoured to welcome Tokyo-based composer, conductor, and clinician Ko Matsushita as the NOVUM 2026 Mentor. Works by selected composers will be workshopped, polished, and developed by Ko Matsushita together with the staff and singers of musica intima. The works will then be performed and video recorded at a live showcase concert on Canada's Music Creator Day, November 7.

NOVUM 2026 is presented with the support of the SOCAN Foundation, Canadian Music Centre BC, and the Hamber Foundation, whose partnership helps make the development of new Canadian choral music through NOVUM possible.

SELECTED COMPOSERS RECEIVE

• Mid-September
o Initial READING SESSION / WORKSHOP with the musica intima singers
o SCORE PREPARATION SESSION with Artistic Manager Risa Takahashi
o COMPOSITION LESSON with General Manager / composer Rita Ueda
o A chance to make revisions

• October 22, 10:00 am-4:00 pm: Canadian Music Centre BC
o 30-minute MASTERCLASS with Ko Matsushita and musica intima

• Early November
o An invitation to attend a REHEARSAL of the selected work

• November 7, 7:30pm: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Vancouver
o NOVUM gala performance on Canada's Music Creator Day

• VIDEO of the performed work for non-commercial use

• E-PUBLISHING OPTION with Musica Printima, musica intima’s publishing imprint

ELIGIBILITY AND RULES

• Open to composers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents at any stage of their careers. Applicants must be SOCAN members or be eligible to become SOCAN members if selected.

• Submission requirements:
o 4 minutes or less
o suitable for performance by a 12-voice collaborative SATB vocal ensemble without a conductor
o not be previously commercially recorded or published
o recordings are OPTIONAL.
o shorter works are encouraged

• Each composer may submit ONE original work written within the past FIVE years. Arrangements of pre-existing works are ineligible.

• Previously performed works are welcome, provided they have not been commercially recorded or published. However, we encourage composers to submit new or recently completed works that would benefit from the NOVUM development process.

• Composers using text that is not in the public domain must provide proof of permission to use the text if selected.

• Previous NOVUM works are ineligible. Past NOVUM composers may submit a different work that meets the current eligibility requirements.

• Selected composers from Metro Vancouver are expected to attend the October 22 Masterclass/Workshop and the November 7 showcase concert in person.

• Selected composers from outside Metro Vancouver will participate online and are encouraged to join us in person if possible. While musica intima is unable to cover travel or accommodation costs, we are happy to provide a letter of invitation or confirmation of participation in support of applications for eligible travel funding.

For application information and instructions, please visit https://www.musicaintima.org/novum

For more information about musica intima, please visit https://www.musicaintima.org