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Francis Battah is a Montreal-based Quebec composer. Trained in both classical and jazz piano, he later studied composition at the Université de Montréal and McGill University under Denys Bouliane, Alan Belkin, Denis Gougeon, and Ana Sokolović. His work explores the intersection of jazz and contemporary music, microtonality, piano writing, and the creation of an imaginary folklore rooted in melody and modality.
His catalogue includes works for solo instruments, chamber ensembles, and orchestra. He has received commissions from the Orchestre Métropolitain, the Orchestre de l’Agora, the Société de musique contemporaine du Québec (SMCQ), Quatuor Bozzini, Quatuor Cobalt, and Quasar. His music has been performed at the Festival Montréal/Nouvelles Musiques, the aDevantgarde Festival in Munich, the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne Composition Forum, and the finals of the Graham Sommer Competition.
In 2025, Francis Battah was nominated for an Opus Award as Composer of the Year. He has won more than a dozen composition prizes, including the 2021 SOCAN Foundation Grand Prize, the 2022 Andrew Svoboda Award, the 2023 Pierre-Mantha Scholarship from the Prix d’Europe, and the Collegiate Prize for Contemporary Music. In Europe, he received five awards at the Antonín Dvořák International Composition Competition, including prizes for Best Fugue and Best Orchestral Composition. In 2023, he also won both First and Third Prize at the Free Range International Composition Competition.
His scores are published by Doberman-Yppan, Nouveau Théâtre Musical, and the Canadian Music Centre. Since 2023, he has taught ear training at Cégep de Saint-Laurent.
