Sault Ste. Marie Vocalist Gabrielle Turgeon Wins Big at Concours OSM!

Emerging artist sweeps prestigious Canadian classical music competition, earning multiple prestigious awards and scholarships.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 7:08pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An abstract, high-contrast close-up photograph of a shimmering, sequined fabric, capturing the luxurious, high-fashion aesthetic of classical music performance.Gabrielle Turgeon's triumph at the Concours OSM shines a spotlight on the glamour and prestige of classical music competitions in Canada.Sault Ste. Marie Today

Gabrielle Turgeon, a vocalist from Sault Ste. Marie, has achieved remarkable success at the Concours OSM, one of Canada's premier classical music competitions. She not only won the grand prize, the Barbara Bronfman Prize, but also secured several other prestigious awards and scholarships that will propel her career to new heights.

Why it matters

Turgeon's triumph at the Concours OSM represents a significant milestone for the Sault Ste. Marie arts community, showcasing the talent and potential of emerging artists from the region. Her success also highlights the importance of classical music competitions in nurturing and supporting the next generation of musical talent in Canada.

The details

At the Concours OSM held in Montreal on November 15th, Turgeon emerged victorious, earning the $20,000 Barbara Bronfman Prize, which is awarded to the most promising emerging artist. In addition to the grand prize, she also received the OSM Invitation Prize from Canimex, providing her with valuable performance opportunities, the Michèle-Paré Prize for a community engagement project, the Chapelle Musicale Reine Élisabeth Prize for a residency in Belgium, and the $25,000 Ann Birks Career Scholarship for professional development.

  • The Concours OSM competition took place on November 15th in Montreal.
  • Turgeon will receive the Chapelle Musicale Reine Élisabeth residency in Belgium for the 2026–2027 season.

The players

Gabrielle Turgeon

A vocalist from Sault Ste. Marie who won the prestigious Concours OSM competition, earning multiple awards and scholarships that will propel her career.

Concours OSM

One of Canada's premier classical music competitions, which provides scholarships, development opportunities, and performance engagements for emerging artists.

Barbara Bronfman Prize

The grand prize of the Concours OSM, a $20,000 scholarship awarded to the most promising emerging artist.

Canimex

The sponsor of the OSM Invitation Prize, which provides Turgeon with valuable performance opportunities.

Michèle-Paré Prize

A prize that awards Turgeon a residency at Orford Musique, where she will develop a community engagement project and receive mentorship.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Gabrielle Turgeon's remarkable success at the Concours OSM firmly establishes her as one of Canada's most promising emerging vocalists. She's not just representing herself; she's representing Sault Ste. Marie on both a national and international stage.”

— Rubie Ullrich, Author

What’s next

Turgeon will begin her residency at the renowned Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in Belgium for the 2026–2027 season, where she will have the opportunity to study and perform alongside some of the world's leading musicians.

The takeaway

Gabrielle Turgeon's success at the Concours OSM demonstrates the power of classical music competitions to nurture and support emerging talent. Her journey is an inspiration to aspiring musicians everywhere, showing that with dedication, hard work, and a bit of luck, anything is possible.