Meet the MusicWorks Panelists: J Riley Hill, Stephen Carroll, Tessa Gooden

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Canadian musicians and record labels enjoy a tremendous amount of support through various funding agencies; the challenge for many artists often lies in finding the right funding option and writing the perfect grant application. This workshop is separated into two parts: the first teaches about the variety of grants available, while the second teaches how to effectively write an application to maximize your chances for success. Learn How to Access Funding and Write Grant Applications by seeing real examples of success and to hear tips from J Riley Hill, Tessa Gooden, and Stephen Carroll, artists and industry professionals who are experienced grant writers and funding representatives.

J Riley Hill is a musician and producer born in Winnipeg. He has spent the last decade touring with various bands and playing in the Winnipeg music scene. Hill works full-time as a freelance audio engineer and producer. He is currently a member of the band Mulligrub and creates electronic music as The Emu. Hill is involved in grant writing for his own projects and the projects of his clients.

Stephen Carroll is the music programs manager for Manitoba Film & Music. Carroll achieved international recognition as a member of the JUNO-nominated band The Weakerthans (Epitaph/Anti Records). After joining the group in 1998, he managed all of the business affairs and helped steer the group to fame. In 2009 he began managing the Manitoba band Imaginary Cities and went on to form Empirical Artist Services Inc. Carroll was awarded Manager of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards in 2013, after garnering nominations for the award the two previous years. Carroll was a member of the board of directors for FACTOR and currently serves on the board of Manitoba Music.

Symphony cellist, actor, and powerful RnB singer and producer, Tessa Gooden definitely knows how to multitask. She is a published musician through Universal Music Group as well as independently, and has toured internationally. As the current digital media and outreach coordinator at the SOCAN Foundation she is leading their new TD Artist Incubator Program and is honored to be in a position to foster emerging Canadian songwriters. Gooden is a graduate of Laurentian University’s Music program and is a NOMFA nominated singer/songwriter.

Get to know them better with our little Q+A...

Q: If you could only listen to one record for the rest of your life, what would it be?

J Riley: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly.... not the single version... The LONG one.

Stephen: PJ Harvey – Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. Why? Why not!

Tessa: Anderson Paak – Malibu

Q: What item, that you don't have already, would you most like to own?

J Riley: A really nice chair or something.

Stephen: Fender Deluxe Reverb black face AMP circa late 60s/early 70s. Anyone selling?

Tessa: I miss having a car! I left it behind in my hometown as Toronto is not car-friendly haha.

Q: Which three words would the people closest to you use to describe you the best?

J Riley: Warm, caring, messy

Stephen: Bossy x 3?

Tessa: Wise, loving, fierce. (based on actual poll)

Q: If you could be any movie or TV character, who would you be?

J Riley: Batman

Stephen: Hmmm, stuck on this. Maybe Steve Carell’s character from Anchorman – see what I did there? 

Tessa: Female version of Don Draper since my life is making deals and building relationships LOL

Q: What is the best advice you have ever been given relating to your career in music?

J Riley: I've been told various times something along the lines of "It's not a sprint, its a marathon" and I think it's really true. Some people get really lucky and can just make a living performing or creating. For most people having a career in music (or any arts) is about having lots of interconnected skills and a network of people that you build over time.

Stephen: Seek the advice of others who may have more knowledge or experience than you.

Tessa: Always appreciate your gift and keep the people you love as close as you can. Even the small wins are stepping stones. (In conversation with Burton Cummings and his lovely wife.)

Find out more about this workshop and register online

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