Canadian Art Song Project (CASP) was founded in 2011 by tenor Lawrence Wiliford and pianist Steven Philcox. Its mission is to build on the rich legacy of Canadian song by engaging composers, writers and performers to create new music while also providing opportunities for Canadian artists to champion the wealth of existing song literature.
Since its inception, CASP has commissioned 17 new works by the likes of James Rolfe/André Alexis, Marjan Mozetich, Tawnie Olson, Jeffrey Ryan, Cecilia Livingston, Ana Sokolović, Abigail Richardson-Schulte, Afarin Mansouri, Christos Hatzis and Maria Thompson Corley.
CASP’s debut recording, Ash Roses (2014), featuring all previously unrecorded works by composer Derek Holman, was met with widespread critical acclaim. Since then, the organization has released five recordings on the Centrediscs label. Summer Night (2019), dedicated to the solo songs of Healey Willan, was nominated for a JUNO in 2020 as Classical Album of the Year: Vocal or Choral. Found Frozen, a recording devoted to the song cycles of Jeffrey Ryan, was released in 2022.
In addition to research, commissioning and recording, Canadian Art Song Project presents recitals and performances that highlight song in traditional and innovative ways through partnerships with arts organizations and educational institutions across Canada.