Bio
Michelle Lorimer is a first generation Canadian of East Indian descent, living and working in Toronto Canada as a composer for screen media & live ensemble.
Currently collaborating with Canadian composer Bruce Fowler on an upcoming documentary for CBC's The Nature of Things, Michelle recently completed the score to the documentary When I Go Outside, on Kurdish-Syrian visual artist Bistyek, by Toronto filmmaker Geordie Sabbagh, set to be released in 2023.
Along with five other Toronto composers, she'll be working on a new commission by two Toronto Symphony musicians (flute and violin duo, The Sonority Sisters), funded by the New World Symphony. As a part of the Alliance for Women Film Composer's Live Recording Initiative & under the mentorship of American film composer Ariel Marx, Michelle is currently preparing a piece for live recording by the FAMES String Orchestra in Macedonia.
Michelle studied Music Composition at Humber College where she was awarded the Dean's Award for Music Composition. Her teachers included noted bassist and recording engineer Justin Gray, composer Kevin Wilks Lau, and orchestrator Becca Pellett. A movement from her finishing project at Humber, Suite for Grief, placed runner-up in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra's Explore the Score program for emerging Canadian composers in 2022.
List of Works
*For inquiries about scores please email: lorimer.michelle@gmail.com
For a full list of works with recordings (including screen media examples + arrangements for orchestra, string quartet & jazz/fusion ensemble), please visit michellelorimer.ca
Orchestral
Grief Suite in 4 movements (2022) – for full orchestra
*chosen as a runner up in 2022 for the TSO’s Explore the Score program
Small Ensemble/Solo Instrument (2021-2022)
Ruminations – for piano & percussion
Bach à la Dorian – for two flutes, piano, organ, bass & drums
Fall Finds Me Home – for jazz trio: piano, bass & drums
Off Kilter Waltz – for solo oboe
Friendship Waltz – for solo cello
Birdsong in My Backyard – for wind quintet
For Voice
Love is a Bird (2021) – alto voice + jazz trio
Jelly-Fish (2021) – alto voice & piano *text by Marianne Moore
Sacred Songs for Voice, Choir, Piano Accompaniment/Band
Christmas Morn (2021) – for solo voice (alto or tenor) + piano, organ, bass, drums/percussion & flute
I Will not Use His Name (2022) – for solo voice (alto or tenor) + acoustic guitar, organ, bass, drums & percussion, 3 piece brass
Why are You Downcast? (2008) – for soprano, cello & piano
Psalm 63/65 (2009) – for tenor & piano
Be Born in Us (2012) – for soprano, tenor, two violins, SATB choir, with piano accompaniment
My Lord, My Lord (Peter’s Lament) (2012) – for tenor and cello, with piano accompaniment
Worthy is the Child (2013) – for children’s choir with violin solo & piano accompaniment
God is Not Far from Us (2014) – for children’s choir with piano accompaniment
He is Not Here; He is Risen (2014) – for children’s choir with piano accompaniment
Love is Stronger than Death (2015) – for tenor & children’s choir with piano accompaniment
Cast Your Nets Again (2015) – for tenor & SATB choir with piano accompaniment
Sacred Songs for Contemporary Worship
Album: Undivided (2002)
Songs from this album:
Great God
Where Could I Go
At All Costs
Can I See the Lord of Glory
Lord I Want to Live the Life
One Thing I Know
To Those Who Seek
Undivided Heart
Heaven & Earth
Here in This Place
A God Like You
Album: Overflow (2014)
Songs from this album:
Fashion a Heart
My High Priest
I am not Ashamed
I Will Never Let You Go