I am honoured to have received the ‘2025 Oskar Morawetz Award for Excellence in Music Performance.’

“This award is presented biennially to an outstanding Canadian performer or conductor in the field of classical music who has elevated their craft and been met with widespread acclaim.” – Ontario Arts Council

The award was presented to me at one of the University of Toronto New Music Festival concerts on January 31, 2026. Past recipients have included Christina Petrowska, Angela Hewitt, Russell Braun and Yannick Nezet-Seguin.

From the Ontario Arts Council announcement:
The assessors were unanimous in selecting Beverley Johnston as the laureate of the 2025 Oskar Morawetz Award for Excellence in Music. They said, “Beverley’s artistry represents pure excellence. We were moved by her commitment to commissioning and premiering new works, which has expanded the Canadian repertoire and inspired future generations of percussionists. She is a visionary collaborator leading to the creation of unique interdisciplinary projects. Beverley has placed percussion and Canadian music at the forefront of today’s concert stage.”