NMC is sad to announce the loss of one of our cherished community members, composer Daniel Foley (1952-2025).
Daniel’s life was woven deeply into the fabric of the contemporary music community. For many years, he was a thoughtful, perceptive, and generous presence in the NMC office, working alongside David Olds and Robert Aitken with a true love for the music around him.
As a composer himself, he knew the repertoire intimately and understood other artists through the intricacies of their craft. For Daniel, adventurous music was a world to inhabit, celebrate, and share.
Daniel’s depth of knowledge, especially of twentieth- and twenty-first-century composers, was extraordinary. His ear for musical detail, his ability to trace structure, colour, and gesture across even the most complex works, and his joy in hearing something new were inspiring to everyone around him. He carried that passion beyond the office as a reviewer for WholeNote, as a world-class engraver, and as a familiar face in concert halls across the city.
He will be deeply missed by all of us who care about adventurous music, and his spirit will remain present in the community he helped nurture.
Some of Daniel’s music can be heard here and his scores can be ordered through the Canadian Music Centre.
Thank you, Daniel.
The NMC Team
