Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, Hilario Durán and Joy Lapps are the three finalists for the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Muriel Sherrin Award for 2023.

The award celebrates an artist or creator who has made a contribution to the cultural life of Toronto through outstanding achievement in music.

The recipient will also have participated in international initiatives, including touring, studying abroad and participating in artist exchanges.

The winner receives a $10,000 cash prize, while the finalists each receive $1,000. In addition to the prize money, the 2023 recipient will receive a complimentary week-long stay at Valleyview Artist Retreat.

Brueggergosman-Lee has presented innovative programs at numerous renowned theatres with celebrated collaborative pianists Justus Zeyen, Roger Vignoles, Julius Drake and Simon Lepper. She is the permanent artist in residence for Opera Atelier. The assessment panel noted her sincerity in creating a more inclusive opera space. They were taken by her undeniable talent, noting that she’s “one of the best at what she does.”

One of Cuba’s and Canada’s premier exponents of Latin jazz, Durán has continually shown his skills as a pianist, producer, composer, arranger and bandleader of remarkable virtuosity. The assessment panel was impressed with Durán’s artistry, making special note of his captivating performances. He is “a powerhouse” who has contributed to cultural life in Toronto, they said.

Lapps is an internationally lauded artist, composer and educator who activates spaces for community building and creative expression, using the steelpan as her primary tool for engagement. Her most recent recording Girl in the Yard is an inspiring musical tribute to the women in her life. The assessment panel noted that Lapps is an “excellent musician” who gives engrossing performances. They said that her capacity as an organizer is impressive, and that through her work and investment in the city, she provides a “glowing example of how to develop the self and community together.”

The recipient of the Muriel Sherrin Award will be announced on April 17, 2023.

See the Toronto Arts Foundation’s full list of finalists at torontoartsfoundation.org.