The Ontario Arts Council has honoured Quebec-born conductor Alain Trudel with the 2008 Heinz Unger Award.

Established in 1968, the $9,000 prize celebrates a young to mid-career professional Canadian conductor.

The 41-year-old Trudel holds down a number of posts across the country, including artistic advisor for the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and principal conductor and musical director of Quebec's Orchestre Symphonique de Laval. His resumé also include serving as principal conductor of the Vancouver-based CBC Radio Orchestra and conductor of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.

The prize jury praised Trudel's "artistic vision and his demonstrated commitment to orchestral life and music in Canada" as well as the artistic collaborations he's undertaken across the country.

"His work speaks to how music conductors should relate to and reach out to an orchestra's community as well as an incredible ability to speak to an audience."

In a statement, Trudel said he was honoured to receive the prize.

A conductor's job "is to communicate the gift of live music, to bring out the best in our colleagues, and to make every concert an exciting event, while respecting the wishes of the composer. It is very reassuring to know that there is an award in our country that recognises our work."

Past winners of the Heinz Unger Award include Kenneth Hsieh, Stéphane Laforest and Paul Andreas Mahr.