Liam Ritz

Liam Ritz is a Canadian-born composer based in Toronto, Ontario.

Ritz has been fortunate to work with outstanding musicians and ensembles including the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Gemma New, Veronique Lacroix, Etsuko Kimura, Cameron Crozman, Adam Sherkin and more.

His works have been frequently performed across Canada in festivals and workshops such as the Canadian Contemporary Music Workshop, the Scotia Festival of Music, the University of Toronto: New Music Festival, the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra’s What Next Festival, and at the Orford Music Academy.

In addition, Liam’s works are often programmed by musicians in solo and chamber recitals, including recent performances in the United States, Italy, Finland, and Argentina. Recognized for his work, Ritz has received six SOCAN Foundation Young Composers Awards, as well as a Prix Artistique from the Jeunesses Musicales Canada: Concours Do Mi Si La Do Ré. His works have been supported by organizations such as the Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Canada Council for the Arts, and the RBC Emerging Artists Project. In 2018, Ritz was selected as the inaugural winner of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra’s Composer Fellowship Program, in their 2018/19 Season, and was recently awarded a 2020 City of Hamilton Arts Award. Liam received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, studying composition under Abigail Richardson-Schulte. In addition, he has participated in masterclasses with Peteris Vasks, Robin de Raaf, Ana Sokolovic, and Jean Lesage and has studied conducting under Ivars Taurins, Stephane Potvin, and Gillian McKay. Liam is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre.

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