February 12, 2024
The Board of the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition wishes to acknowledge and state we are aware of the ongoing national and provincial discussions concerning Ferdinand Eckhardt. The Board remains steadfast in these discussions as they are critical to our community of composers, performers, artists, and listeners at a time when we aim to seek truthful responses and reconciliation of historic harms. The Board has begun examining and will subsequently review and respond to this information. Based on our longstanding relationship, we seek to work in alignment with Brandon University throughout this investigation. We will keep everyone within our trusted community updated on our findings and responses regarding our process of addressing this issue.
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Please consider making a donation to the competition. All donations are tax deductible and the names of donors will be featured in the competition program.
To donate, please send an e-transfer to: egretreasurer@gmail.com
Thank you for your support!
Meet the 2025 Finalists in Piano!
Xuan He, Hamilton Lau, Dan Luong, Jonathan Mak, Linda Ruan and Paul Williamson
The 48th Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition (E-Gré) for the performance of Canadian and contemporary music is pleased to announce its 2025 prize winners:
1st Prize: Linda Ruan
2nd Prize: Hamilton Lau
3rd Prize: Dan Luong
City of Brandon Prize for the Best Performance of the Commissioned Work:
Linda Ruan
Finalist Prizes (in alphabetical order):
Xaun HE
Paul Williamson
On April 26th and 27th, 2025, five of Canada’s best emerging pianists performed in person, live-streamed recitals for the 48th Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition (E-Gré) in Piano. 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.
Five 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: “where poppies still bloom and fall” by Rita Ueda.
First place winner, Linda Ruan, received a cash award of $6000, and will embark on a cross-Canada tour in October and November 2025. The Winner will each receive ca. $5000 in performance fees.
Second prize winner, Hamilton Lau, received a cash prize of $2500 and third prize winner, Dan Luong received the Prize of $1500 cash. The City of Brandon Prize of $1000 for the Best Performance of the 2025 commissioned piece, “where poppies still bloom and fall” by Rita Ueda, was awarded to Linda Ruan. The remaining competing finalists each received a $1000 cash prize.
" "The process of preparing for the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition pushed me far beyond my comfort zone. It completely shattered and redefined what I thought were my limits and capabilities as a musician and an artist. I’m endlessly grateful to the wonderfully warm community here in Brandon and the School of Music as well as the organization for cultivating such a positive and uplifting space. I am so inspired this weekend by my colleagues for their highly individual and unique artistry. And my most sincere thanks to Rita Ueda for her beautifully profound piece which allowed me to discover a part of myself that I didn’t know existed – yet, it felt so true to the core of who I am. I’m thankful beyond words for this transformative experience and I look forward to connecting to communities across Canada through music!"”
— Linda Ruan, 2025 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.