Salazar’s victory should not be particularly controversial. Yet she has become a media sensation not because of her political views, but because of her backstory.

On Aug. 18, I travelled by train out of Windsor, Ont., to Toronto, for the funeral of my 99-year-old cousin Harry Chil Zborowski, who led a most improbable and inspiring life.

The world premiere of works by the two winners of the 2018 Azrieli Music Prizes will be presented at a gala concert at the Maison symphonique de Montréal on Oct. 15.