Soundstreams Canada, established in 1982 by Artistic Director Lawrence Cherney, exists to foster and promote Canadian creation in music and music theatre.  

The Encounters series of new music concerts, begun in 1993, is produced in association with CBC Radio Two. Most programs pair a significant Canadian composer with a visiting international counterpart, often premiering specially commissioned works.  In 2001-2002 the series hosts, among others, Paul Hillier conducting the Danish choir Ars Nova, Tonu Kaljuste and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (both appearing with the Elmer Iseler Singers), and the Gryphon Trio.  Featured composers are Per Nørgård of Denmark, Australians Peter Sculthorpe and Elena Kats-Chernin, and our own R. Murray Schafer, Gilles Tremblay, Eric Morin and Omar Daniel.

In association with the Encounters concerts, an extensive outreach program, Encounters for Youth, takes place in high schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area. In 2000-2001, this program reached 3000 students, the largest such program in new music in the country. 

Soundstreams won a 2000 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for the Arts for achieving exceptional community and private sector support.