Biography

Anna’s compositions seek out tactile encounters with the world while also extending into history, memory, and landscape. Performed throughout Canada and internationally, her works have been described as “suggestive, elegant and hauntingly beautiful.” Alongside pieces for chamber ensemble, voice, orchestra, solo performers and opera, she has composed for dance, installation, theatre, experimental film and video, and created music for the National Film Board. Supported by a SSHRC Joseph Bombardier scholarship, Anna’s DMA in composition from the University of Toronto researched the chamber works of experimental Toronto composer, Martin Arnold. Gary Kulesha supervised her composition thesis, a work for English horn, French horn and string orchestra. While a master’s student at the University of Victoria, Anna studied composition with  John Celona, Christopher Butterfield and Gordon Mumma.

From 2005-8, Anna was composer-in-residence of the Victoria Symphony. Her opera What Time is it Now? based on an original libretto by P.K. Page was premiered by the Symphony and recorded and broadcast by CBC radio.

Anna is a recipient of the prestigious K.M. Hunter Award, the Canadian Music Centre’s Toronto Emerging Composer’s Award, residencies at the Matralab (Concordia University) and Outvert Artspace (Iceland), and a Chalmers Professional Grant. Her work has been supported by numerous grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, K.M. Hunter Foundation, the Koerner Foundation, the SOCAN Foundation, as well as private donors.

Anna currently lives in Victoria with her sheepadoodle Blossom, and teaches composition at the University of Victoria.