Andrew Balfour (composer) facts for kids

Andrew Balfour is a Cree composer and conductor. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is the artistic director of a vocal group called Dead of Winter.

In 2023, Andrew Balfour was nominated for a Juno Award. This award was for Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble). His album Nagamo was recorded with the Musica Intima vocal ensemble.

Early Life and Music

Andrew Balfour was born in 1967. His birthplace was the Fisher River Cree Nation, north of Winnipeg. When he was six months old, he was adopted by a family of Scottish background. This happened as part of the Sixties Scoop. The Sixties Scoop was a time when many Indigenous children were adopted into non-Indigenous families.

Andrew's adoptive father was a minister. His mother was a violinist. His family encouraged his love for music. He enjoyed choral singing and playing instruments. He learned to play the trumpet and the trombone.

Andrew attended Brandon University. Later, he started singing in a choir. This group of singers eventually became Camerata Nova. Today, it is known as Dead of Winter. Andrew Balfour is the artistic director of this group.

Andrew Balfour's Career

Andrew Balfour started the vocal group Dead of Winter in 1996. It was first called Camerata Nova. Starting this group also marked the beginning of his career as a composer.

Since then, many famous groups have asked him to create music for them. These include the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Vancouver Chamber Choir. He has also composed for the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir.

Andrew Balfour's Music

Andrew Balfour has written many pieces of music. Here are some of his selected compositions:

• Take the Indian - This piece for a chamber choir was created in 2014.
• Empire Étrange: The Death of Louis Riel - This is an oratorio from 2013.
• Notinikew: Going to War - This chamber choir piece was written in 2018.
• Nagamo - This work for a chamber choir was released in 2022.