Established in 2007, the award honours the legacy of Oskar Morawetz – one of Canada's leading composers of contemporary music, whose career spanned more than 50 years.

“Bramwell is a champion of new music with an outstanding national and international reputation,” said the jury. “He has created so many opportunities to promote Canadian composers and musicians, sparking new enthusiasm for Canadian repertoire. He has also shown tremendous commitment to young musicians and bringing the best of new music to Canada.”
“I am deeply honoured to receive the 2015 Oskar Morawetz Award,” said Bramwell. “Oskar's work and dedication to his new country have been inspirations for me in my own work. This award belongs to the musicians of the VSO as much as to me – it has been an honour to lead them in playing for audiences nationally and internationally.”

Previous winners are mezzo-soprano Judith Forst (2013), cellist Shauna Rolston (2011) and flutist Robert Cram (2009).

The Ontario Arts Council administers the jury process for the Oskar Morawetz Award. This year’s jury consisted of Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser (Kitchener), Allan Gordon Bell (Calgary) and Judith Forst (Port Moody, B.C.).