Manitoba Music and Creative Manitoba Team Up for Music Industry Mentorship Project

Aspiring Local Music Entrepreneurs Curate Showcase on April 30 at The Park Theatre

Whether you’re a musician, an aspiring producer, or have dreams of running your own indie label or promoting shows, mentorship and real-world experience is critical for anyone exploring a career in the music business. Eight youth have had the opportunity to build their knowledge and skills on the way to becoming the next generation of music entrepreneurs in Manitoba through a project dubbed Come Together: Showcasing Winnipeg's Rising Talent.

Run under Creative Manitoba’s Careers in the Arts Mentorship Program, the project is produced by Manitoba Music. Over the span of two months, the youth had the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the industry and develop their own music business skills. Students participate in a series of mentor sessions facilitated by local industry professionals covering different aspects of the business, including marketing and publicity, event production, music publishing, composing and songwriting, and more.

Led by experienced local event producer Andrea Burgoyne, the mentor sessions featured the expertise of Red Brick Songs’ Emily Haffenden, Gil Carroll and Adam Soloway of Real Love Winnipeg and First Date Touring, Francium Enterprises’ Heather Guibert, The Forks’ Kristin Pauls, marketing consultant Lor Brand, Royal Canoe’s Matthew Schellenberg, and The Good Will Social Club’s Tyler Sneesby.

While the mentor sessions helped students get real world industry experience, they also had the chance to develop their practical skills putting on a showcase event that is coordinated and marketed by the students themselves. In addition to running the show behind the scenes, the students will also be on stage. All of this year’s participants are active musicians.

Come Together will take over Winnipeg music hotspot The Park Theatre on April 30 to showcase an eclectic lineup of young Manitoba acts. The event will feature performances from this year’s students: Cynthia Doo, Emily Arsenault, Maya Penner, Noah St-H, Rocket Saddle Company, S.I.R., Tommyphyll, and Tuva Bergstrom.

“Being an artist means understanding the music business and learning while building a network of peers is a big part of the process,” says Manitoba Music executive director Sean McManus. “Offering these students connection with industry mentors and an industry toolkit that they can apply to their own work has an important career impact.”

Creative Manitoba’s Careers in the Arts youth and young adult mentorship programs provide opportunities for youth and young adults to be exposed to careers in arts and culture. Creative Manitoba’s Careers in the Arts Mentorship Program is made possible by the Province of Manitoba.