While obtaining his Ph.D., State University of New York, Buffalo, N.Y., Christos Hatzis, born, Volos, Greece, 1953, visited Toronto and decided to make Canada home upon completing his Ph.D., 1982, because of  “the country’s mosaic concept of culture.” He has since added to that mosaic by composing over 40 major works which include a number of compositions based on Inuit music and culture that has received international attention through concerts and broadcasts worldwide. Following a Halifax concert celebrating his Inuit works that included performances by Baffin Island throat singers, a local critic wrote, “if that is not sublime, what is?” Dr. Hatzis, Associate Professor, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, since 1995, has composed music for some of Canada’s and the world’s best-known artists, and orchestras. The Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra of Toronto, commissioning the work of a living composer for the first time, performed his Farewell to Bach, under his direction, 1998. The same year, his 70-minute choral work, Kyrie, was performed in Toronto. In 1998, as well, his Confessional for cello and orchestra was given its world premiere by Cellist Shauna Rolston and the CBC Vancouver Orchestra. The English Chamber Choir of London, sang his Heirmos to “sold out” audiences the same year. Later the score was recorded by Sony. Other labels that have recorded his music are Naxos, Marquis, CBC and Centrediscs. Dr. Hatzis won the Prix Italia, 1996, for Footprints in New Snow, the Prix Bohemia, 1998, for the same work, the Jules Leger Prize, 1996, for Erotikos Logos, and the Jean A. Chalmers National Music Award, 1998, for his composition Nunavut. [Photo, courtesy Dr. Christos Hatzis]