The Concours musical international de Montréal (CMIM) is an elite-level competition for classical musicians who are interested in pursuing an international career as a professional concert artist. Established in 2001 by the late André Bourbeau and by the late French-Canadian bass Joseph Rouleau, the CMIM features three disciplines - voice, violin and piano - on a rotating basis over a three-year cycle.
The CMIM is composed of four rounds: the preliminary round (based on video recordings), the first round, the semi-finals and the finals. Award winners receive prizes and grants valued at over $150,000. The 2024 edition, dedicated to the piano, will be followed by the voice edition in 2025 and the violin edition in 2026.
André Bourbeau was the president of the Competition since its first edition in 2002 and was succeeded by François R. Roy in 2018.
Since May 2004, the CMIM has been a member of the World Federation of International Music Competitions.
In September 2023, Chantal Poulin and Shira Gilbert were appointed as Executive Director and Artistic Director of the CMIM.
Editions
2024 The 2024 edition of the CMIM was dedicated to piano. It took place from May 5 to 16 and featured 24 competitors aged 19 to 29 from twelve different countries. For the first time in its history, the competition included a Chamber Music round during the first stage of the semifinal.
Canadian pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko won the first prize of the Piano 2024 edition and became the first Canadian laureate of an instrumental edition of the Concours musical international de Montréal.
Laureates +Main PrizesRangConcurrentsPays1st PrizeJaeden Izik-Dzurko2nd PrizeGabriele Strata3rd PrizeAnthony RatinovFinalistElias Ackerley / FinalistJakub KuszlikFinalistDerek Wang
Special Prizes PrixGagnantPaysICI Musique Audience Award, Offered by ICI MusiqueGabriele StrataBest Canadian Artist Award, Offered by the Bourbeau FoundationJaeden Izik-DzurkoBest performance of a Sonata in the Semifinal, Offered by Anne StevensJaeden Izik-DzurkoAndré Bachand Award for the Best performance of the imposed Canadian work, Mzizaakok Miiniwaa Mzizaakoonsak (Horseflies and Deerflies) by Anishinaabekwe composer Barbara Assiginaak, Offered by Claudette HouldJaeden Izik-DzurkoChamber Music Award, Offered by Dixi Lambert and the Festival de musique de chambre de MontréalGabriele StrataJunior Jury PrizeJakub KuszlikBita Cattelan Philanthropic Engagement Award Offered by Bita & Paolo CattelanÉlisabeth PionThree CMIM Grants for the unranked finalists, Offered by the Rouleau Family, Morris & Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, and Louise RoyElias Ackerley Jakub Kuszlik Derek Wang /
2023 The twenty-second edition of the CMIM was dedicated to violin. First prize was won by Dmytro Udovychenko.
Laureates +Main prizesRankCompetitorCountryFirstDmytro UdovychenkoSecondSongHa ChoiThirdSooBeen LeeFinalistNathan MeltzerFinalistMichael ShahamFinalistRuslan Talas
Special prizes Prize Winner CountryICI Musique's People's Choice Award SongHa Choi André-Bourbeau Award for the best Canadian artist Not attributed Sonata Award for the best performance of a sonata in the Semi-final round SongHa Choi André-Bachand Award for the best performance of the imposed Canadian work, L'inconnu.e bouleversant.e by Luna Pearl Woolf SongHa Choi Award for the best performance of a work by J.S. Bach Dmytro Udovychenko Award for the best performance of a virtuosic workYesong Sophie LeeBita Cattelan Philanthropic Engagement AwardAaron Chan / CMIM grants awarded to the three unranked finalists Nathan MeltzerMichael Shaham Ruslan TalasJohn Newmark Prize for the Best Collaborative PianistUmi Garrett
2022 The twenty-first edition of the CMIM was dedicated to voice and featured two divisions - aria and art song. First prize in Aria was won by Simone McIntosh. First prize in Art Song was won by Meredith Wohlgemuth.
Laureates +Main prizes - AriaRankCompetitorCountryFirstSimone McIntoshSecondSarah Dufresne CanadaThirdValerie EickhoffFinalistNils Wanderer GermanyFinalistHugo Laporte + Main - Art SongRankCompetitorCountryFirstMeredith WohlgemuthSecondHarriet Burns United KingdomThirdBryan Murray
Special prizes Prize Winner CountryICI Musique People's Choice Award - Aria Nils Wanderer GermanyICI Musique People's Choice Award - Art SongDeepa Johnny CanadaBest Canadian Artist Award - Aria Simone McIntosh CanadaBest Canadian Artist Award - Art SongDeepa Johnny CanadaOpera Aria Award Simone McIntosh French Art Song Award Meredith Wohlgemuth United StatesGerman Lied Award Harriet Burns United KingdomJohn Newmark Award for best collaborative pianistJinhee ParkBita Cattelan Philanthropic Engagement AwardAdanya Dunn / André Bachand Award for the Best Performance of a Canadian WorkMichael LaffertyMontreal students' coup de coeur PrizeSimone McIntosh Sarah DufresneCMIM grants awarded to two unranked finalistsNils Wanderer Hugo Laporte
2021 The twentieth edition of the CMIM was dedicated to piano. First prize was won by Su Yeon Kim, from South Korea.
Laureates +Main prizesRankCompetitorCountryFirstSu Yeon KimSecondYoichiro Chiba JapanThirdDimitri MalignanFinalistAlice Burla CanadaFinalistFrancesco Granata ItalyFinalistYing Li ChinaFinalistChaeyoung Park South KoreaFinalistMarcel Tadokoro France
Special prizes Prize Winner CountryICI Musique Audience Award Dimitri Malignan André-Bourbeau Award for the best Canadian artist Alice Burla CanadaBita Cattelan Philanthropic Engagement Award Anna Han United StatesAndré-Bachand Award for the best performance of the compulsory Canadian work Alice Burla CanadaFestival Bach Montréal Award for the best performance of a work by J.S. Bach Dimitri Malignan CMIM grants awarded to the five unranked finalists Alice BuralFrancesco GranataYing Li Chaeyoung Park
Marcel Tadokoro|| Italy Ying Li South Korea
2020 The COVID-19 confinement and closing of international borders prevented this nineteenth edition of the CMIM to be held. Instead, every day from May 4 to May 18, 2020, from their respective locations, the selected competitors performed short recitals, in anticipation of the competition, which was postponed to 2021.
2019 The eighteenth edition of the CMIM was dedicated to violin. First prize was won by Hao Zhou.
Laureates +Main prizesRankCompetitorCountryFirstHao ZhouSecondJohanna Pichlmair AustriaThirdFumika MohriFinalistElli Choi United States / South KoreaFinalistAnna Lee United States / South KoreaFinalistChristine Lim United States / South Korea
Special prizes Prize Winner CountryRadio-Canada People's Choice Award Hao Zhou André-Bourbeau Award for the best Canadian artist Not attributed Sonata Award for the best performance of a sonata in the semi-finals Anna Lee United States / South KoreaAndré-Bachand Award for the best performance of the compulsory Canadian work, Stand Alone by Michael Oesterle Johanna Pichlmair Montreal Bach Festival Award for the best performance of a work by J.S. Bach Johanna Pichlmair CMIM grants awarded to the three unranked finalists Elli ChoiYejin NohJinhyung Park United States / South Korea United States / South Korea
2018 The seventeenth edition of the CMIM was dedicated to voice and featured two divisions - aria and art song. First prize in Aria was won by Mario Bahg. First prize in Art Song was won by John Brancy.
Laureates +Main prizes RankCompetitorCountryFirstMario BahgSecondEmily D'Angelo CanadaThirdKonstantin LeeFinalistJohn Brancy United StatesFinalistMikhail GolovushkinFinalistAndrew Haji Canada
Main Prizes - Art Song RankCompetitorCountryFirstJohn Brancy United StatesSecondJulien Van MellaertsNew Zealand/United KingdomThirdClara Osowksi United StatesFinalistGemma Summerfield United Kingdom
Special prizes Prize Winner CountryRadio-Canada People's Choice Award - Aria Emily D'Angelo CanadaRadio-Canada's People Choice Award - Art SongClara Osowksi United StatesBest Canadian Artist Award - Aria Emily D'Angelo CanadaBest Canadian Artist Award - Art SongRihab Chaieb CanadaOpera Aria Award Mario Bahg Oratorio Award Andrew Haji CanadaFrench Mélodie Award John Brancy United StatesLied Award Julien Van MellaertsNew Zealand/United KingdomJohn Newmark Award for best collaborative pianistJoao AraujoPortugal
2017 The sixteenth edition of the CMIM was dedicated to piano. The Grand prize was won by Zoltan Fejervari.
Laureates +Main prizeRankCompetitorCountryFirstZoltán FejéváriSecondGiuseppe GuarreraThirdStefano AndreattaFinalistAlbert Cano SmitFinalistYejin NohFinalistJinhyung Park
Special prizes Prize Winner CountryRadio-Canada People's Choice Award Giuseppe Guarrera André-Bachand Award for the best performance of the compulsory Canadian work in the semifinals Giuseppe Guarrera Award for the best semifinal recital Giuseppe Guarrera Chopin Award for the most outstanding performance of a work for solo keyboard by Frédéric Chopin Giuseppe Guarrera Bach Award for the most outstanding performance of a work for solo keyboard by J.S. Bach Giuseppe Guarrera CMIM grants awarded to the three unranked finalists Albert Cano SmitYejin NohJinhyung Park /
2016 The fifteenth edition of the CMIM was dedicated to violin. The Grand Prize was won by Ayana Tsuji.
Laureates +Main prizeRankCompetitorCountryFirstAyana TsujiSecondBomsori KimThirdMinami YoshidaFinalistPetteri IivonenFinalistJi Won SongFinalistFedor Rudin
Special prizes Prize Winner CountryRadio-Canada People's Choice Award Bomsori Kim André-Bachand Award for the best performance of the compulsory Canadian work in the semifinals Ayana Tsuji Award for the best semifinal recital Ayana Tsuji Award for the best performance of a Sonata in the semifinal round Ayana Tsuji Bach Award for the best performance of a work by J.S. Bach in the quarter-final round Ayana Tsuji Paganini Award for the best performance of a Caprice by Paganini in the quarter-final round Ayana Tsuji CMIM grants awarded to the three unranked finalists Petteri IivonenFedor RudinJi Won Song
2015 The fourteenth edition of the CMIM was dedicated to voice. The Grand Prize was won by Keonwoo Kim.
Laureates Laureates of the 2014 Montreal International Musical CompetitionRankCompetitorCountryVocal RangeFirstKeonwoo Kim South KoreaTenorSecondHera Hyesang Park South KoreaSopranoThirdFrance Bellemare CanadaSopranoFinalist Anaïs Constans FranceSopranoFinalistVasil Garvanliev MacedoniaBaritoneFinalistTakaoki Onishi JapanBaritone
Special prizes Radio-Canada People's Choice Award Hera Hyesang Park (soprano), South Korea André Bourbeau Award for the Best Canadian Artist France Bellemare (soprano), Canada Joseph Rouleau Award for the Best Artist from Quebec France Bellemare (soprano), Canada Award for the best semi-final recital Anaïs Constans (soprano), France
2014 The thirteenth edition of the CMIM was dedicated to piano. The Grand Prize was won by Jayson Gillham.
Laureates Laureates of the 2014 Montreal International Musical CompetitionRankCompetitorCountryFirstJayson Gillham Australia / United KingdomSecondCharles Richard-Hamelin CanadaThirdAnnika Treutler GermanyFinalist Kate Liu United StatesFinalistXiaoyu Liu CanadaFinalistAlexander Ullman United Kingdom
Special prizes Radio-Canada People's Choice Award Jayson Gillham, Australia/United Kingdom Award for the Best Performance of the Compulsory Canadian Work Jayson Gillham, Australia/United Kingdom André Bourbeau Award for the Best Canadian Artist Charles Richard Hamelin
2013 The twelfth edition of the CMIM was dedicated to violin. The Grand Prize was won by Marc Bouchkov.
Laureates Laureates of the 2013 Montreal International Musical CompetitionRankCompetitorCountryFirstMarc Bouchkov BelgiumSecondStephen Waarts United StatesThirdZeyu Victor Li ChinaFinalistChi Li TaiwanFinalistJi Young Lim South KoreaFinalistFédor Roudine France
Special prizes Radio-Canada People's Choice Award Stephen Waarts, United States Award for the Best Performance of the Compulsory Canadian Work Luke Hsu, United States