News
IRCPA: The Long Goodbye
International Resource Centre for Performing Artists closes after 40 years of Innovative Programming
After 40 years as a charitable service organization for Canada’s musicians, the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists [IRCPA] is ceasing operation November 30. Eleanor Friedland, president of the IRCPA Board, made the announcement today.
“The Board would like to thank Ann Summers Dossena* for having developed innovative programs to serve the needs of Canadian artists. Not just singers but many of Canada’s musicians and personnel working behind the scenes in the performing arts owe Ann a huge debt of gratitude,” said Ms. Friedland. “Through her tireless efforts and fertile imagination, she identified the skills and types of input artists needed to tighten the gap between their training and a professional career. Using her enviable contact list, she brought international expertise to Canada so that artists didn’t have to travel to New York or Europe at considerable expense to be heard and to gain valuable feedback.”
Ms. Summers Dossena is an award-winning* Canadian artists’ manager who retired from management in 2013 after 55 successful years in New York, Rome and Toronto. At that point, she channelled her energy to become fulltime volunteer artistic director of the IRCPA.
She had begun the organization in 1983 as the Ann Summers Resource Centre for Performing Artists, with the support of some of Canada’s leading musicians. It quickly became a trailblazer, presenting Encounters with international mentors, workshops and other life skills programs they knew from experience would enable Canadian artists to move forward in their international careers.
“Over four decades, our goal has been to help Canadian musicians, mostly opera singers, whose career span may be limited, but also other performing artists, to become aware of the international stages available to them and of how they measure up in their search for excellence,” said Ms. Summers Dossena.
“After many years of being essentially the only such organization helping musicians in this way, we are pleased to see the torch being taken up by a number of others with appropriate funding, who are offering feedback on artists’ skills and knowledge of the music industry.”
Headed by president Eleanor Friedland, the current IRCPA Board consists of John Lopes, treasurer; Anna Gemmitti, Linda Litwack, Sheila Rose and David Warrack. Debra Chandler has served as consultant/video interviewer.
While the organization that Ann Summers Dossena founded 40 years ago may be discontinuing, her advice lives on in her handbook for artists, Getting It All Together, published by Scarecrow Press in the U.S.
*Ann Summers Dossena has been recognised with the following honours from her peers: Honourary Lifetime Membership, International Society of Performing Arts (ISPA), New York, 1969; Manager of the Year, North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents (NAPAMA), New York, 2011; and International Citation of Merit, International Society of Performing Arts (ISPA), New York, 2014.
Storied Origins and Programmes
IRCPA’s fabled narrative is featured on its website, which will remain online, and includes comments from some of the more than 600 alumni who benefitted from the programs and from the celebrated authorities who inspired them. In 1982, L’Aquila, Italy dedicated its annual Festival of Music and Architecture completely to Canada’s performing artists and architecture. Artists’ manager Ann Summers Dossena was commissioned to produce the three-week festival of music, ballet, puppets and mime performances. She engaged artists from across Canada, among them the Ottawa Choral Society, the orchestra from London (ON) and conductors Alexis Hauser and Brian Law for Handel’s Messiah with vocal soloists Frances Ginzer, Patricia Kern, Mark Dubois and Christopher Cameron. The Danny Grossman Dance Company and stars of the National Ballet also performed. The artists were greeted by cheering audiences, rave reviews from the Italian media and enthusiastic coverage from Canadian journalists who covered the festival, including Ruby Mercer [Opera Canada], Aviva Layton [Maclean’s], William Littler [Toronto Star], Eric McLean [Montreal Gazette] and Richard Newman [London Free Press].
According to William Littler, “The Festival represented the largest, most successful attempt ever launched to broaden Canada’s image culturally in the land of Michelangelo and Verdi.” He quoted David Anido, Canada’s Cultural Attaché in the Rome embassy, as noting [that] “‘A huge amount of goodwill has been created through this festival…. A Canadian impresario made it happen. Ann Summers has done something that has given credit to all of us as Canadians.’”
Spurred on by both the L’Aquila success, and the lack of resources back home in Canada, the following year the “Ann Summers Resource Centre for Performing Artists” was created. It was financially supported in 1983 by Canadian and American professionals in the field who identified the barriers that prevented emerging artists from competing on international stages. The project was championed by contralto Maureen Forrester, and promoted by Arnold Edinborough [founder/president of what is now known as Business/Arts] and founding board members: celebrated CBC-TV producer Norman Campbell and his lyricist wife, Elaine; musician Graeme Page, currently principal, Engaging Philanthropy; arts administrator Debra Chandler, currently executive director, Concerts In Care, Ontario; and attorney Bernard Koffman, with artists’ manager Ann Summers Dossena as artistic director. The organisation was granted charitable status in 1985. In 1994, its name changed to the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists.
Early sponsors included Imperial Oil, General Electric, Bank of Montreal, Global TV Network, Northern Telecom, Citibank, Prudential Assurance, Remenyi House of Music, and the Daniels Corporation. In 2013 the Centre applied for and began to receive a few small intermittent grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, and Toronto and Ontario Arts Councils. In more recent years, the Azrieli Foundation also provided support.
In 1992, the McConnell Foundation supported a cross-Canada tour by Ms. Summers Dossena and Metropolitan Opera coach Joan Dornemann, to give audition feedback and business workshops for graduating singers. A scholarship was awarded a pianist to work with Ms. Dornemann in Toronto.
Many singers discovered by the IRCPA attended the International Institute of Vocal Arts Summer Programme headed by tenor William Woodruff in Chiari, Italy. Ms Summers Dossena organized this residency by bartering with the city to use its Villa Mazzotti for study and performances in exchange for free concerts and events for the townspeople, such as a visit by Simonetta Puccini, granddaughter of the [Giacomo Puccini] revered opera composer.
The concerts, as well as open rehearsals, proved very popular with people in Chiari and nearby towns, and provided a rewarding experience for the singers, in performing to a knowledgeable audience. The residency also offered non-musical community interactions. A soccer game was organized between the mayor and staff, and the singers and coaches, which was also attended by the Canadian Consulate staff from Milan.
For 12 summers, the residency hosted 60-70 singers a year from Canada, the U.S., China and Europe, with Ms. Summers Dossena producing the weekly concerts and outdoor galas that celebrated Canada Day and the Fourth of July during seven seasons, 1984-2000.
In 2015, at the urging of alumni members, the IRCPA reconfigured its Encounters for singers as a more formal program. In accordance with the mandate to recognize Canadian Artists past and present, Canadian Scholarships donated in their names were established to enable 10 emerging singers [and an 11th as a cover] to work without financial burden in the “Encounter” with international mentors, who included some of Canada’s best known current vocal stars.
In addition, each singer received a $200 honorarium for performing in the gala concert two weeks later, broadcast live on The New Classical FM. At the conclusion, the artist/mentor who led the Encounter would name an artist as recipient of the Opera America Career Blueprint Award.
Canadian icons honoured by the naming of these scholarships include Opera Canada Founder/Editor Ruby Mercer, singers Maureen Forrester, Louis Quilico, Ermanno Mauro, Jean Edwards, Adrianne Pieczonka, Clarice Carson, Lois McDonall, Mary Morrison, Georgina Stirling, Lois Marshall, Carrol Anne Curry, Teresa Stratas, Portia White, Riki Turofsky, Judith Forst and Karina Gauvin; violinist Eugene Kash, pianist Stuart Hamilton, and artists’ manager Ann Summers Dossena.
Over the past 40 years, the IRCPA has attracted some 600 alumni, among them the following opera singers:
Sopranos Adrianne Pieczonka, Isabel Bayrakdarian, Sara Schabas**, Natalya Gennadi**, Jana Miller, Jaclyn Grossman** and Jocelyn Fralick**; mezzos Emily d’Angelo, Jean Stilwell and Marjorie Maltais**, tenors Colin Ainsworth and Asitha Tennekoon, baritone Clarence Frazer**, soprano and artists’ manager Kathy Domoney, and pianist Rachel Andrist
** Recipients of the Opera America Career Blueprint Award
Among countless collaborators over the years, the IRCPA would like to thank the following:
Metropolitan Opera staff: Conductors Eduardo Muller and Paul Nadler; Joan Dornemann, vocal coach; Nico Castel, tenor and languages coach; and Janet Bookspan, stagecraft authority; Canadian stage directors Leon Major and Irving Guttman; American director Colin Graham, Teatro alla Scala opera coach Vincenzo Scalera, and Debra Chandler, consultant/video interviewer.
Opera stars as mentors: Regina Resnick, Renata Scotto, Shirley Verrett, Louis Quilico, Adrianne Pieczonka, Sondra Radvanovsky, Brett Polegato, Theodore Baerg and Measha Brueggergosman; soprano and maestra Barbara Hannigan, maestro Marco Guarini, former Canadian Opera Company [COC] General Director Alexander Neef; jazz singers Sheila Jordan and Ori Dagan; critics and writers Joseph So and William Littler; and artists’ manager Andrew Kwan; and composer, pianist and playwright Tomson Highway.
Vocal Advisory Group: Adrianne Pieczonka, Mary Morrison, Brett Polegato, Theodore Baerg, Kathy Domoney, Lois McDonall, Clarice Carson, Bernard Diamant, Irving Guttman and Joan Dornemann.
Non-profits and businesses included the COC, Remenyi House of Music, Daniels Corporation, Arts and Letters Club, Goethe House, 519 Church Street, Jazz.FM91, Long & McQuade, and The New Classical FM.
Artists have their say:
“I know only too well how important it is to learn the skills to perform well and build self-confidence. A program such as this will go a long way in helping to achieve these goals.”
– Maureen Forrester, contralto
“The calibre of singing for the IRCPA Encounters has always been extremely high and last year’s was no exception. It was thrilling to work with such a talented group of young artists; not only did they possess fine instruments, but they proved themselves to be fine, hardworking musicians.”
– Brett Polegato, baritone, and 2017 and 2021 IRCPA Encounter mentor
As a young singer aspiring to become an opera singer (some years ago), I had the good fortune to benefit from the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists. I participated in an Encounter given by Joan Dornemann, which was a revelation! Her expertise and energy inspired me very much and I can still recall the suggestions she made.”
– Adrianne Pieczonka, soprano, and 2018 IRCPA Encounter mentor
“… In this busy audition season, when we have so many expenses, the timing was ideal. I had to travel for auditions and I would not have been able to afford the extra voice lesson. The Encounter gave me tools to feel more confident and have strong auditions. Thank you also for the career blueprint in New York City. Headshots, recordings, and consultations are very expensive but very important and it puts me at ease to know that these will be covered for the audition season.”
– Marjorie Maltais, mezzo-soprano, 2016 Career Blueprint recipient
“I’m so very grateful to have had the honour of working with Sondra (Radvanovsky) …I learned so much, not only from my time with her but also from observing everyone else she worked with. I don’t think this would’ve been possible without the generous sponsorship. I myself wouldn’t have been able to afford it had it not been for the scholarship.”
“I left the Encounter feeling inspired, motivated and eager to get to work in the practice room. The amount of information and knowledge I gained is quite frankly immeasurable; the technical advice I got…was literally priceless.”
– Comments from two singers assisted by IRCPA Encounter[s]
“I would like to thank you for your recommendation that I audition for Bramwell Tovey. Due to that audition, I now have my first contract.”
– Hugh Russell, baritone
Source: Linda Litwack Publicity – Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
The nominations for the 55th Annual JUNO Awards are officially in—and they paint a vivid portrait of a Canadian music scene that is both globally dominant and richly diverse at home.
Unveiled by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) on January 27, this year’s JUNOS feature 248 nominations across 47 categories. The winners will be revealed during The JUNO Awards Gala Presented by Music Canada on Saturday, March 28, followed by the nationally broadcast awards show live from Hamilton’s TD Coliseum on Sunday, March 29. Canadians can tune in across CBC platforms, with global viewers watching via CBC Music’s YouTube channel.
Pop Power and Global Impact
Leading the nominations are Justin Bieber and Tate McRae, each earning six nods—the most either artist has received in a single JUNO season. For Bieber, an eight-time JUNO winner with 32 career nominations, the recognition marks another milestone in an already storied career. Among his nominations is Single of the Year Presented by Sunrise Records for “Daisies,” underscoring his continued relevance and evolution on the global stage.
Tate McRae, meanwhile, continues her meteoric ascent. With 17 previous JUNO nominations and multiple wins last year, her six new nominations confirm her status as one of Canada’s most compelling young exports. A year of chart-topping singles, international touring, and artistic growth has positioned her firmly at the forefront of contemporary pop.
Close behind are Cameron Whitcomb and The Weeknd, each earning five nominations. Whitcomb’s story stands out: fresh off two wins at the Canadian Country Music Awards, he makes a powerful TD JUNOS debut with nominations in major categories including Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Breakthrough Artist or Group of the Year, Country Album of the Year, and TD JUNO Fan Choice. It’s a breakout moment that signals a fast-rising career.
The Weeknd, already one of the most decorated artists in JUNOS history with 22 wins and 46 nominations, continues to expand his legacy. His five nominations this year reinforce his global stature and creative ambition.
Daniel Caesar earns four nominations and will also receive the International Achievement Award during the broadcast, recognizing his worldwide impact. He joins a performance lineup that includes The Beaches—fresh from their 2025 Group of the Year win—and six-time winner Jessie Reyez, who earns three nominations this year.
A Historic First: Latin Music Recording of the Year
One of the most significant developments in 2026 is the introduction of a brand-new category: Latin Music Recording of the Year. This historic addition reflects the growing influence and creative excellence of Latin music within Canada’s cultural landscape.
The inaugural nominees—Alex Cuba, Lido Pimienta, Andy Rubal, Isabella Lovestory, and Mario Puglia—represent a spectrum of sounds and identities shaping Latin music from a distinctly Canadian vantage point. Their inclusion marks an important step in acknowledging the genre’s evolution and impact nationwide.
Celebrating Community and Education
Beyond chart-toppers and global icons, the JUNOS continue to spotlight the grassroots foundations of Canadian music.
MusiCounts, CARAS’ music education charity, has announced five nominees for the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Entertainment. Educators from Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta are recognized for their outstanding contributions to school music programs. The winner will receive a JUNO statuette, a $10,000 cash prize, and a MusiCounts grant for their school—an investment in the next generation of Canadian musicians.
Hamilton Takes Centre Stage
As the JUNOS return to Hamilton, the city’s own talent is in the spotlight. Waterdown native Josh Ross, last year’s Country Album of the Year winner, earns four nominations following a breakout year. Hamilton icons Daniel Lanois—an eight-time JUNO winner and Canadian Music Hall of Fame inductee—receives a nomination for Album Artwork of the Year, while Brendan Joseph Murphy of Counterparts earns a first nod in Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year.
Adding an intergenerational dimension, 2026 Canadian Music Hall of Fame Inductee Nelly Furtado is nominated for Pop Album of the Year for her eleventh album, 7. With 22 career nominations and 10 wins, her continued presence reflects a legacy still in motion.
A Truly National Celebration
From Francophone Album of the Year nominees Ariane Roy, Fredz, JF Pauze, Lou-Adriane Cassidy, and Pierre Lapointe, to Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year contenders Aysanabee, Sebastian Gaskin, Shawnee Kish, Siibii, and Tia Wood, the 2026 JUNOS highlight the artistic breadth that defines Canadian music today.
In total, 65 artists are making their TD JUNOS debut this year—an unmistakable signal of renewal and emergence alongside established legends.
As Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho noted, the JUNO Awards not only celebrate artistic excellence but also underscore culture’s vital role in driving tourism and economic growth.
On March 29, the country—and much of the world—will be watching as Hamilton hosts a celebration that honours legacy, amplifies new voices, and reflects the ever-evolving soundtrack of Canada.
For the complete list of nominees and artist bios, visit junoawards.ca.
The countdown is on — we’re just one month away from the 2025 Toronto Jazz Festival!
The Toronto Jazz Fest is celebrating its 38th year from June 20 to 29 with 10 days of FREE outdoor performances alongside ticketed shows featuring some of the best local and international jazz artists. With venues across the city, the Toronto Jazz Fest will have neighbourhoods pulsing with music, culture, and community as Toronto reaffirms its place as one of North America’s most vibrant music cities.
OLG Opening Weekend kicks off the Festival’s free admission programming with an incredible diversity of music. From the tap dance of Johnathan Morin to the groove of Soul Stew to David Occhipinti’s chamber jazz and the blues and soul of Dione Taylor, OLG Opening Weekend is a fantastic snapshot of the breadth of the Festival’s programming.
This year’s Sounds Like Toronto series shines a spotlight on homegrown talent. This curated lineup celebrates musicians who are not only building on the legacy of jazz but reshaping it through the lens of Toronto’s multicultural identity. From Waleed Kush Afro-Jazz to Dánae Olano to Lavender Town, Alex Pangman and Jeremy Ledbetter, you’ll get to hear why jazz made in Toronto sounds like nowhere else in the world.
Sidewalk Sessions presented by OLG will bring music directly to the streets, turning the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood’s sidewalks into spontaneous stages where passersby can discover some of Toronto’s most engaging musicians. From the Flamenco of Tamar Ilana, the trad sounds of the West End Riverboat Band, the soulful SexBandit or Tania Gill’s bike-powered trio, discover some of Toronto’s most engaging musicians!
For ten days, some of the best musicians in the world will join our lineup. From gospel, blues, soul and civil rights icon Mavis Staples, to forward-looking drummer and producer Makaya McCraven, to the incredible Pakistani vocalist Arooj Aftab and local legends Broken Social Scene, you’re sure to find your musical taste on a Festival stage
Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime concert event, celebrating Toronto’s musical legacy with performances by Jackie Richardson, Molly Johnson, Joe Sealy, Jay Douglas, Joy Lapps and many more.
Catch a stellar series of shows featuring top performers from across North America in an intimate club setting – don’t miss your chance to see these outstanding artists up close!
To learn more, see the full festival schedule, or to buy tickets visit: torontojazz.com
The 2025 Toronto Jazz Festival has been made possible in part by the generous support of OLG; The Government of Canada; the Province of Ontario; the Ontario Arts Council; the Toronto Arts Council; ABCRA; and the Bloor-Yorkville BIA. Community support provided by GYRA. “Sounds Like Toronto” is supported by The City of Toronto Music Office, the Music Performance Trust Fund and the Toronto Musicians Association; Long & McQuade is Presenting Partner for Festival educational initiatives.
Source: Toronto Jazz Fest
For 45 years, the Ottawa Jazz Festival has been a big part of the Canadian jazz community, proudly celebrating the talent and innovation of musicians from across the country. Each year, the city comes alive with the sound of over 350 Canadian artists, transforming downtown Ottawa into a hub of rhythm, creativity, and connection.
This rich tradition continues from June 20 to June 29, 2025, as the Festival once again shines a national spotlight on Canadian jazz with a stellar lineup that stretches from coast to coast to coast. From the electrifying energy of Main Stage headliners to the boundary-pushing brilliance of artists featured throughout each series, the 2025 edition promises an unforgettable musical journey.
Not just performers – they’re award-winning artists, renowned composers, dynamic conductors, and passionate educators from some of the top music institutions in the world. They’re improvisers and innovators defining the sound of Canadian jazz today – and tomorrow.
And the celebration doesn’t stop there. Stay tuned for the announcement of the outstanding free local lineup, featuring some of Ottawa’s finest jazz talent.
Friday, June 20
- Allison Russell – Main Stage, 8:30pm (Opening Night Headliner)
Self-taught singer, songwriter, poet, activist, multi-instrumentalist and Grammy-winning artist from Montreal, redefines 21st-century music with her powerful second album The Returner. - Carl Mayotte Quartet – Main Stage at Confederation Park, 6:30pm
Bassist and grand laureate of the 2020-2021 Radio-Canada Jazz Revelation title, his latest album Carnaval, which is a vibrant tribute to Brazilian and Latin music. - Christine Jensen Quartet – NAC Fourth Stage, 6:30pm
Saxophonist, composer and conductor from Montreal, the Juno award winner for Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year in 2011 and 2014 currently resides in Rochester, where she is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at the Eastman School of Music. - Tanika Charles – OLG Stage at Marion Dewar Plaza (in front of Ottawa City Hall), 7:30pm
A leading voice in Canadian soul, with two Juno nominations and three Polaris Prize long-list nods. - François Houle‘s The Secret Lives of Colour – NAC Fourth Stage, 9pm
A renowned clarinetest and composer who leads a global ensemble of the music world’s top improvisers including Joëlle Léandre – double bass, Myra Melford – piano, Gerry Hemingway – percussion and Gordon Grdina – guitar/oud. - The Bros. Landreth – OLG Stage After Dark Series, 10:30pm
Juno-winning band blending roots, soul, and atmospheric textures. Come Morning reflects the introspection of the pandemic era.
Saturday, June 21
- Peggy Lee with Open Thread – NAC Fourth Stage, 4pm
Renowned cellist, improvisor and composer from Vancouver. Now living in Australia and performing with Open Thread. Together, the group weaves together music with anthemic melodies, diverse rhythmic structures and a broad range of improvised landscapes. - Deborah Davis and Segue to Jazz – Main Stage, 6:30pm
Opening for Mavis Staples, vocalist Deborah Davis explores jazz’s evolution from Gospel to the contemporary era. - Anna Webber’s Simple Trio – NAC Fourth Stage, 9pm
Guggenheim-winning saxophonist and flutist, and co-chair of Jazz Studies at New England Jazz Conservatory. - La Pambelé in collaboration with Axé World Fest – OLG Stage, 10:30pm
A high-energy Colombian salsa dura band featuring members of Canada’s Legaia Salsa Brava.
Sunday, June 22
- Shuffle Demons – Main Stage, 6:30pm
Pioneering indie-jazz fusion band known for their explosive style and early MuchMusic success. - Pony Girl – OLG Stage, 7:30pm
Ottawa artpop collective praised for their sonic depth and genre-bending live performances.
Tuesday, June 24
- Prime Rib Big Band – Main Stage, 6:30pm
Led by trumpeter, composer and musical director Ed Lister, this 12-piece powerhouse brings swinging, feel-good energy to Ottawa. - Peter Van Huffel‘s “CALLISTO” – NAC Fourth Stage, 6:30pm
Latest avant-jazz project from saxophonist Peter Van Huffel, a bass-less quartet that blurs the lines between composition and free improvisation also with Canada’s extraordinary trumpeter Lina Allemano. - Polky – OLG Stage, 7:30pm
Toronto-based group of multi-talented female immigrant musicians offering high-energy performances and distinctive harmonies. - Marc Copland & Roddy Ellias– NAC Fourth Stage, 9pm
American pianist Marc Copland is considered brilliant and Canadian guitarist Roddy Ellias has been described as a genius. Together they bring to their duo a lyric sensibility and harmonic depth second to none. This performance in Ottawa marks their debut as a duo.
Wednesday, June 25
- Canadian Jazz Collective Septet – Main Stage, 6:30pm
Award-winning Canadian jazz artists, take a collaborative approach to the presentation of original Canadian jazz on the international market. The Collective’s repertoire consists of original compositions from saxophonist Kirk MacDonald, and trumpeter Derrick Gardner, and guitarist Lorne Lofsky, all specially arranged for this ensemble. - Tony D – OLG Stage, 7:30pm
MonkeyJunk guitarist returns with Electric Delta, his first solo project in two decades.
Thursday, June 26
- Broken Social Scene – Main Stage, 8:30pm (Headliner)
The legendary Canadian collective, created by Toronto musicians Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning, returns with their ever-evolving, boundary-pushing musical energy. - Carn Davidson 9 – Main Stage, 6:30pm
A chamber jazz ensemble led by William Carn and Tara Davidson, showcasing rich arrangements and dynamic interplay. - Kris Davis Trio feat. Robert Hurst & Jonathan Blake – NAC Azrieli Studio, 7pm
Grammy-winning pianist and Associate Program Director of Creative Development at the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, performs with two jazz heavyweights. - iskwē | ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ (short for waseskwan iskwew, meaning “blue sky woman”) – OLG Stage, 7:30pm
Cree Métis artist blending Indigenous sounds with electronic rhythms across a bold, genre-defying catalogue.
Saturday, June 28
- Thanya Iyer – Main Stage, 6:30pm
Experimental pop visionary exploring themes of identity and healing on her new album TIDE/TIED. - Magi Merlin – OLG Stage, 7:30pm
Bold, soulful artist pushing against commercial norms with her latest introspective project A Weird Little Dog. - Utopia Ontario – NAC Fourth Stage, 9pm
Named after a quiet Ontario town, north of Toronto nestled on the Nottawasaga River, their music evokes nature, nostalgia, and introspective calm. - June 29 Jazz Youth Summit – Main Stage, 6:30pm
Nine emerging jazz music students Ottawa’s high schools and universities take the spotlight in an intensive program that runs during the Festival. Many also perform with renowned musicians in the Late-Night Jamming Series at the Lord Elgin Hotel.
Source: Ottawa Jazz Festival
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