Alexander Peter Pauk (born October 4, 1945) is a Canadian conductor and composer, most noted as the founder of the

Esprit Orchestra The Esprit Orchestra is an orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that is dedicated to the performance of new orchestral works. It was established in 1983 by music director and conductor Alex Pauk, and is Canada's only full-sized orchestra d ...

Awards and nominations

At the

Juno Awards of 1996 The Juno Awards of 1996, representing Canadian music industry achievements of the previous year, were awarded on 10 March 1996 in Hamilton, Ontario at a ceremony in the Copps Coliseum. Anne Murray was the host for the ceremonies, which were broad ...

, both

Alexina Louie Alexina Diane Louie, (born July 30, 1949) is a Canadian composer of contemporary art music. She has composed for various instrumental and vocal combinations in a variety of genres. She has fulfilled a number of commissions, and her works, whic ...

and

Harry Freedman Harry Freedman (''Henryk Frydmann''), (April 5, 1922 – September 16, 2005) was a Canadian composer, English hornist, and music educator of Polish birth. He wrote a significant amount of symphonic works, including the scores to films such as '' T ...

received Juno nominations for Classical Composition of the Year, for works they had composed for the Esprit Orchestra album ''Music for Heaven and Earth'', and

Harry Somers Harry Stewart Somers, CC (September 11, 1925 – March 9, 1999) was a contemporary Canadian composer. Possessing a charismatic attitude and rather dashing good looks, as well as a genuine talent for his art, Somers earned the unofficial title ...

was nominated at the

Juno Awards of 2001 The Juno Awards of 2001 were held in Hamilton, Ontario Canada during the weekend of 3–4 March 2001. The primary ceremonies were hosted by Rick Mercer at Copps Coliseum on 4 March 2001 and broadcast on CBC Television. Performers during the tel ...

for "The Third Piano Concerto", from the Esprit Orchestra album ''Celebration''. Pauk and the Esprit Orchestra were themselves nominees for Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment) at the

Juno Awards of 1998 The Juno Awards of 1998 were presented in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The primary ceremonies at GM Place before an audience of 10 000 on 22 March 1998. Actor Jason Priestley of the television series ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' hosted ...

, for ''Tabuh-Tabuhan, Music of Colin McPhee''. In 1999, Pauk and Louie received a

Genie Award The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978; also known as the "Etrog Awards," for scu ...

nomination for Best Original Score at the 19th Genie Awards, for their work on the film '' Last Night''. In 2007, he was a recipient of the

Canada Council The Canada Council for the Arts (french: Conseil des arts du Canada), commonly called the Canada Council, is a Crown corporation established in 1957 as an arts council of the Government of Canada. It acts as the federal government's principal i ...

Molson Prize The Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Prize for the Arts is awarded by the Canada Council, Canada Council for the Arts. Two prizes are awarded annually to distinguished individuals. One prize is awarded in the arts, one in the social sciences and human ...

for distinguished achievement in the arts. In 2014, he was inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada for his contributions to Canadian orchestral music and longstanding support and fostering of new music and early career composers.

Compositions

*''Fragmentations'', 1971 *''Fibro'' for viola solo, 1973 *''Magaru'' for flute, viola and percussion, 1973 *''The Scroll'', 1974 *''Solari'', 1977 *''Echo Spirit Isle'', 1983 *''Mirage'', 1984 *''Split Seconds'', 1988 *''Cosmos'', 1988 *''Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra'', 2001 *''Touch Piece'', 2003 *''Concerto for Harp and Orchestra'', 2005

Film scores

*''The Life and Times of Edwin Alonzo Boyd'', 1982 *''At the Wheel: Under the Influence (Facultés affaiblies)'', 1985 *''At the Wheel: After the Crash (Sous le coup du choc)'', 1985 *''

Martha, Ruth and Edie ''Martha, Ruth and Edie'' is a Canadian drama film, released in 1988. An anthology film directed by Deepa Mehta, Norma Bailey and Danielle J. Suissa, the film centres on the titular Martha (Jennifer Dale), Ruth (Andrea Martin) and Edie (Lois Maxw ...

'', 1988 (with Alexina Louie) *''See No Evil'', 1988 (with Louie) *'' Last Night'', 1988 (with Louie) *'' The Five Senses'', 1999 (with Louie) *'' 24fps'', 2000 (with Louie) *''

Perfect Pie ''Perfect Pie'' is a play written by Judith Thompson, and first staged at Toronto's Tarragon Theatre in 2000, with Judith Thompson also directing. The assistant director for the original production was Caroline Azar. The original cast starred Nancy ...

'', 2002 (with Louie) *'' Inside Hana's Suitcase'', 2009 (with Louie)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pauk, Alex 1945 births Living people 20th-century Canadian composers 21st-century Canadian composers Canadian classical composers Canadian film score composers Canadian male classical composers Musicians from Toronto Members of the Order of Canada