Canada’s music tells our story; our history, our identity, our dreams. As Hamilton hosts the JUNO Awards, we celebrate our music and reaffirm our commitment to the artists who shape our cultural voice.
At the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, we believe in the Power of Canadian Music. Through bold performances, commissions, and mentorship programs, we champion Canadian composers and emerging talent.
Ways to Give
- Make a Major Gift
Help create the music of tomorrow. Major gifts fund new Canadian commissions, expanding the repertoire and ensuring Canadian voices are heard for generations.
- Become a Monthly Donor
Monthly gifts provide steady support, giving the HPO stability to invest in young artists, mentorship, and bold artistic leadership year-round.
- Leave a Legacy Gift
Include the HPO in your estate plans and ensure Canadian culture lives on, supporting emerging talent for years to come.
Be Part of Canada’s Musical Future
This moment is about more than music. It’s about belief: belief in Canadian artists, Canadian stories, and Canadian culture at a time when our cultural identity matters more than ever.
Make your gift today and join us in supporting the artists who help define our cultural legacy.
About Canadian Music at the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra
Musicians
Canadian musicians, composers, and artists are at the heart of the HPO’s artistic mission. Our orchestra is proudly made up of dedicated Canadian players whose talent and artistry make every performance possible.
We also are committed to working with Canadian soloists and ensembles. Featured in our 2025-2026 season, we are thrilled to share the stage with Yi-Jia Susanne Hou, Ken MacDonald, The Elora Singers, Bach Elgar Choir, Hamilton Children’s Choir, and Dwayne Gretzky, among others.
Beyond the concert stage, our musicians are active cultural leaders in Hamilton. They bring Canadian music directly into the community by visiting local schools to mentor and inspire young learners, performing for seniors in long‑term care homes, and sharing music at outdoor festivals and neighbourhood events. These connections help ensure that Canadian music is not only performed, but lived, experienced, and shared with the next generation.
Composition at the HPO
In 2012, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra was thrilled to add Composer‑in‑Residence Abigail Richardson‑Schulte to our artistic team, reflecting our deep commitment to fostering Canadian compositions.
The HPO commissions a new work from our composer‑in‑residence every two years, expanding the Canadian repertoire and contributing to the continued evolution of our national musical voice. We are proud to have a composer as such a valued member of the HPO.
Composer Fellows
The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra is now in its eighth consecutive year of the Composer Fellowship Program, a year‑long, tuition‑free initiative that nurtures emerging Canadian composers at a pivotal stage in their artistic development. Through hands‑on mentorship, real‑world training, and direct engagement with our orchestra, fellows gain the skills and experience needed to contribute meaningfully to Canada’s musical landscape.
Conductor Fellows
The HPO is proud to invest in the next generation of Canadian conductors through our participation in Tapestry Opera’s Women and Musical Leadership program. This national initiative provides emerging conductors with direct mentorship from leading professionals in the field, offering a level of training and artistic development that strengthens Canada’s conducting landscape.
Intimate and Immersive
The Intimate & Immersive concert series highlights the voices shaping music today, with a special emphasis on celebrating Canadian composers. Each performance features newly created work, including music by HPO Composer Fellows, placing Canadian creativity at the centre of the experience. The immersive setting surrounds audiences with sound, creating space for a deeper connection to the music and a more immediate experience of its impact.
