Biography
Composer Abigail Richardson-Schulte was born in Oxford, England, and moved to Canada as a child. Ironically, she was diagnosed incurably deaf at 5. Upon moving to Canada, however, her hearing was fully intact within months. Her music has been commissioned and performed by major orchestras, presenters, music festivals and broadcasters including the Festival Présences of Paris. Abigail won first at the prestigious UNESCO International Rostrum of Composers which resulted with broadcasts in 35 countries. She won the Karen Kieser Prize (CBC) and the Dora Mavor Moore Award for “Best New Opera.” Abigail has been Affiliate Composer with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and now is Ancillary Events Curator for the TSO New Creations Festival. She wrote the very popular music for the classic Canadian story, “The Hockey Sweater” by Roch Carrier, in the country's first triple co-commission by the TSO, National Arts Centre Orchestra, and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Already within its first four seasons, this work has been seen by over sixty thousand audience members, often with Abigail hosting from the stage. She recently finished a WWI memorial piece, "Song of the Poets", with choir and orchestra for NACO's UK tour. The work was co-commissioned by NACO, The World Remembers, CPO, and TBSO and had many partner performances across the country. Recent large projects include a Trumpet Concerto for HPO and g27, as well as a complete children's orchestra concert for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra using Dennis Lee's "Alligator Pie". Abigail is currently Composer in Residence with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and serves as Artistic Director of the HPO's What Next Festival.