The 49th Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition in VOICE
Finals: April 17 - 19, 2026
Finals to be held at Brandon University, School of Music - Brandon, Manitoba
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To donate, please send an e-transfer to: egretreasurer@gmail.com
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Meet the 2026 Finalists in Voice!
Camille Labonté, Aemilia Moser, Hillary Tufford, Diana Rockwell, Kendra Dyck and James Coole-Stevenson
The 49th Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition (E-Gré) for the performance of Canadian and contemporary music is pleased to announce its 2026 prize winners:
1st Prize: Aemilia Moser
2nd Prize: Kendra Dyck
3rd Prize: Camille Labonté
City of Brandon Prize for the Best Performance of the Commissioned Work:
Aemilia Moser
Finalist Prizes (in alphabetical order):
James Coole-Stevenson
Diana Rockwell
Hillary Tufford
On April 19th, 2026, six of Canada’s best emerging vocalists performed in person, live-streamed recitals for the 49th Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition (E-Gré) in Voice. The E-Gré Competition began in 1976 and is the most important annual Canadian and contemporary music competition. We were grateful this year to be able to once again hold the competition live in Brandon, MB.
Six competitors performed one final recital, and each program was required to include at least 50% Canadian music, as well as this year’s commissioned work: “ᐊᔨᒥᐦᐄᑐᐧᐃᓐ ayimihîtuwin (The Conversation)” by J. Alex Young.
First place winner, Aemilia Moser, received a cash award of $6000, and will embark on a cross-Canada tour in October and November 2026. The Winner will each receive ca. $5000 in performance fees.
Second prize winner, Kendra Dyck, ,received a cash prize of $2500 and third prize winner, Camille Labonté, received a cash prize of $1500. The City of Brandon Prize of $1000 for the Best Performance of the 2025 commissioned piece, “ᐊᔨᒥᐦᐄᑐᐧᐃᓐ ayimihîtuwin (The Conversation)” by J. Alex Young. was awarded to Aemilia Moser,. The remaining competing finalists each received a $1000 cash prize.
“The E-Gré Competition truly celebrates the musician’s creative spirit. The process of
preparation has transformed my artistry, and ignited a deep passion for Canadian music. This
country is rich with artists and creators brave enough to share their perspective. Studying and
preparing just a fraction of the fantastic music out there has reinvigorated me to keep working on
my craft and be a part of Canada’s unique and strong artistic industry.“
-Aemilia Moser, 2026 E-Gré Winner
The Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition
The Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition for the performance of Canadian and contemporary music is a memorial to composer, pianist, and violinist S.C. (Sonia) Eckhardt-Gramatté, who spent the last twenty-one years of her life in Manitoba. It fulfills her lifelong dream of creating a means by which the music of contemporary composers could make its presence felt by young musicians on the threshold of their careers. The E-Gré National Music Competition has been held annually since 1976 at Brandon University.