Chris Thornborrow

Chris Thornborrow is an award-winning composer for film, theatre, and the concert stage. His work has been described as “heightened and brashly percussive” (Variety), “urgent, masterful” (NOW Magazine), “powerfully virtuosic” (Barcza Blog), and “elegiac music that casts a spell” (Hollywood Reporter). Recognition for his work includes the Karen Kieser Prize in Canadian Music, multiple SOCAN Awards for Audio Visual Composers. 

Chris has established himself as a leading voice in contemporary opera and theatre. Highlights include Hook Up, a critically acclaimed hybrid-musical opera exploring issues surrounding drinking and rape culture on university campuses, which was nominated for the Dora Award, Outstanding New Opera. He also was the sound designer, music producer, arranger, and soundtrack composer of the massive site-specific work Brantwood, which won the 2015 Audience Choice Dora Award. He has co-created over sixty original opera productions with the Canadian Opera Company and young people across the Greater Toronto Area. As an Arts Educator, his programs with the COC, Canadian Children’s Opera Company, the Gryphon Trio, and Continuum Contemporary Ensemble have impacted thousands of students. 

Chris’s music has been performed by Array Music, Brantford Symphony, Ensemble Paramirabo, Esprit Orchestra, Hamilton Philharmonic, junctQìn keyboard collective, Thin Edge, Toronto Symphony New Creations, TorQ Percussion, and the Toy Piano Composers.