John Hawkins
John Hawkins (26 July 1944 in Montreal – 14 January 2007 in Toronto) was a Canadian composer, conductor, music educator, and pianist. He notably won the 2nd-century Week Composition Competition in 1967 for his Eight Movements for Flute and Clarinet and received the Jules Léger Prize in 1983 for Breaking Through which was commissioned by ARRAYMUSIC. In 1971, he helped found the New Music Concerts in Toronto and was frequent performer there during his lifetime. He also frequently performed in concerts presented by the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec, notably appearing as a soloist on the organization's recording of Jacques Hétu's Cycle.
John Hawkins
- Born
- 1944 · Montreal.
- Died
- 2007 · Toronto.
- Nationality
- Canada
- Occupation
- composer · pianist · music educator
- Education
- McGill University · Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec
- Teachers
- Lubka Kolessa
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John Hawkins (26 July 1944 in Montreal – 14 January 2007 in Toronto) was a Canadian composer, conductor, music educator, and pianist. He notably won the 2nd-century Week Composition Competition in 1967 for his Eight Movements for Flute and Clarinet and received the Jules Léger Prize in 1983 for Breaking Through which was commissioned by ARRAYMUSIC. In 1971, he helped found the New Music Concerts in Toronto and was frequent performer there during his lifetime. He also frequently performed in concerts presented by the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec, notably appearing as a soloist on the organization's recording of Jacques Hétu's Cycle.
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Hawkins began his professional education at the Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec where he was a pupil of Lubka Kolessa. He transferred to McGill University in 1965 where he went on to earn a Bachelor of Music (1967), a Concert Diploma (1968), and a Master of Music (1970). At McGill he studied music composition with István Anhalt through a grant from the Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation. He also studying conducting with Pierre Boulez in Basel in 1969. In 1970, Hawkins became a member of the faculty of the University of Toronto, where he taught music theory, analysis, composition, and orchestration until ill health forced him to retire in 2006. He died a year later at the age of 62. Among his notable pupils was composer John Burge. He was an associate of the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers.
John Hawkins is recorded with the occupation music educator. Recorded as composer, pianist and music educator.
Life and career
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1944
John Hawkins was born on 26 July 1944.
2007
John Hawkins died on 14 January 2007.
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Montreal.
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Toronto.
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Formation and teaching. Hawkins studied at McGill University and Conservatoire de musique du Québec à Québec. He trained under Lubka Kolessa.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
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