Manitoba Music
Manitoba Music Announces Board of Directors for 2025-26 and Legacy Award Recipients
Manitoba Music announced its board of directors for 2025-26 and celebrated the Kevin Walters Legacy Award and Vince Fontaine Legacy Award recipients at its annual general meeting on July 3 at The Saddlery on Market, in the same building as Manitoba Music’s office.
The AGM was a chance to reflect on a remarkably productive year that included greatly expanded export market development programming, extensive industry advocacy, and the ongoing evolution of programs and services. Read the Manitoba Music Annual Report for 2024-25
Manitoba Music is the hub of Manitoba’s vibrant music community. A member-based, not-for-profit industry association, it works with 700 members in all facets of the music industry. Through its programs and services, Manitoba Music provides information, education, and industry development opportunities to nurture, develop, and promote the growth and sustainability of the Manitoba music industry.
“Reflecting on my first full year with Manitoba Music, I am filled with gratitude for the generosity of our members, directors, funders, partners, volunteers, and team. This has been an engaged year of programming and activities, mindfully built to facilitate connection and career development on many levels. Manitoba’s music scene is powered by a unique combination of authentic talent, cultural richness, and community spirit. These are our greatest strengths, and they continue to position us as a force in Canada’s cultural economy,” said Kuzina, who presented this year’s executive director's report at the AGM.
“This past year has been a testament to the creativity, resilience, and community spirit that define our members, our team, and our association. Manitoba Music’s dedicated staff had an immensely productive year and delivered the membership thoughtful approaches to programming, a focus on impact and outcomes, and community connections. The Board would also like to thank all of our government funders, especially this year the Government of Canada through PrairiesCan and the Province of Manitoba through Sport, Culture, and Heritage, for their support of our three-year export and business development program,” said Liliane Lavack and Neil Exell, co-presidents of Manitoba Music’s Board of Directors.
Manitoba Music’s programs and services are made possible by the generous support of The Government of Canada, The Manitoba Government through the Department of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Department of Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources and the Arts, Culture and Sport in Community Fund, PrairiesCan, FACTOR through the financial support of the Government of Canada and Canada's private radio broadcasters, Manitoba Film & Music, and members of the music industry of Manitoba. We would like to thank all of our funders and sponsors who have contributed to the success of many of our initiatives this year.
Board of Directors
Thank you to departing directors Chloe Chafe, David Landreth, and Suzanne Holatko for their dedication and generosity in sharing their guidance and experience with Manitoba Music during their terms. Each has had a significant impact on the association, and their wisdom and perspectives will be missed.
Manitoba Music welcomes Kelsey Assad, Day to Day Manager at Birthday Cake Records, rapper/producer/artist Osani Balkaran, and Tyler Sneesby aka DJ Hunnicutt. They bring invaluable insights, expertise, and community connections that will be assets to the work of the board and the association.
2025-26 Board of Directors
Liliane Lavack, Wookey Films (Co-President)
Neil Exell (Co-President)
Adam Soloway, First Date Touring / Real Love Winnipeg / Living Hour
Alannah Walker, Deloitte LLP
Danielle Morrison, Cochrane Saxberg
Elliott Walsh, Nestor Wynrush / Trinipeg / The Live Mixtape
Jason Burnstick, Artist/Composer
Kelsey Assad, Birthday Cake
Osani Balkaran, The O.B.
Rhonda Thompson, Black History Manitoba / Congress of Black Women of Manitoba Inc
Tyler Sneesby, DJ Hunnicutt
Kevin Walters Legacy Awards
The board of directors announced this year's recipients of the Kevin Walters Legacy Award and Kevin Walters Memorial Songwriter Award, in honour of Kevin Walters, a longtime Manitoba Music board member and music industry legend.
Recognizing an emerging professional in the music industry, the Legacy Award was awarded to Kerri Stephens, founder of artist management company Lost Cat Artists, the lead of the Manitoba chapter of Women in Music Canada, part of the Winnipeg Folk Festival’s artistic team, who continues to support musicians through mentorship, grant writing, and, most recently, international initiative development with UK’s Enki Music.
Blind music producer and recording artist Mattmac is this year’s recipient of the Kevin Walters Memorial Songwriter Award in recognition of his excellence in songwriting. He has harnessed his melodic pop-trap beats and inspiring story, quickly establishing himself as ‘one to watch’ on the national scene with more than 30 million + streams across platforms, and critical acclaim across all major media outlets. With two award-winning albums under his belt, he has amassed a long list of accolades early in his career.
It’s an honour to present these awards to Kerri and Mattmac, who each have a long relationship with Manitoba Music and share an indelible dedication to supporting and amplifying their communities. Their passion, drive, and community-building are an inspiration. The board celebrates all they have accomplished and looks forward to all that is to come.
Vince Fontaine Legacy Award
The Indigenous Music Steering Committee at Manitoba Music presented the third recipient of the Vince Fontaine Legacy Award. Indigenous and Guyanese rapper, producer Osani Balkaran has earned the honour this year. The Vince Fontaine Legacy Award recognizes an emerging Indigenous artist or industry professional currently working towards a career in the music industry and is intended to contribute to their professional development, sponsored by Manitoba Music and Manitoba Film & Music. The award honours the indelible legacy of Vince Fontaine, who passed away in 2022. Osani’s dedication to sharing his knowledge with youth and uplifting his community perfectly demonstrates Vince’s professional traits, values, and commitment.
Kerri Stephens
Kevin Walters Legacy Award 2025 Recipient
Kerri Stephens has worked in the Canadian music industry for over 17 years, with experience in programming, artist development, event planning, and community outreach. She spent nearly a decade at Winnipeg’s West End Cultural Centre, where she took on multiple roles, including Artistic Director/Associate and Marketing Coordinator. In 2020, she founded Lost Cat Artists, an artist management company currently working with 2025 Juno nominee The Secret Beach, 2025 WCMA nominee Leaf Rapids, Petunia & The Vipers, JP Hoe, and Gabi Ocejo. Kerri also leads the Manitoba chapter of Women in Music Canada, where—under the leadership of Robyn Stewart—she helps develop programs and initiatives that support equity and access in the music sector. In 2024/2025, she co-presented a live sound training program and co-executive produced the HER (204) recording project for Winnipeg 150, which featured 11 local women and gender-diverse artists covering 150 years of songs written by Manitobans.
Kerri is currently in her third year as part of the Artistic team at the Winnipeg Folk Festival, where her role includes overseeing the Young Performers Program, the Minstrel program, and assisting with Artist Relations. A former touring artist herself, she continues to support musicians through mentorship, grant writing, and, most recently, international initiative development with Enki Music (UK).
Mattmac
Kevin Walters Memorial Songwriter Award 2025 Recipient
Blind music producer and recording artist Mattmac has harnessed his melodic pop-trap beats and inspiring story, quickly establishing himself as ‘one to watch’ on the national scene with more than 30 million + streams across platforms, and critical acclaim across all major media outlets such as CBC, CTV, Virgin Radio, and more. With two award winning albums under his belt, he has amassed a long list of accolades early on in his career: CBC Searchlight 2023 Winner, International Indigenous Hip-Hop Awards 2023 Album Of the Year, Canada’s Walk Of Fame RBC’s Emerging Musician Award Winner 2022, Rap/Electronic Album Of The Year at the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards 2022, Broadcast Dialogue Emerging Artist Radio Award 2021 + more. On top of these awards, Mattmac has hit #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown for two singles “Paradise” & “Rez” and has hit top 50 on the mediabase charts in 2020. His music has been featured on a few Spotify Editorials such as “New Music Friday Canada”, “Fresh Finds”, “Indigenous”, “Northern Bars” & “All New Hip-Hop”. His third album, “All Eyes On Us” is available NOW!
Osani Balkaran
Vince Fontaine Legacy Award 2025 Recipient
OSANI BALKARAN is an Indigenous and Guyanese rapper, producer, and artist based in Winnipeg. Blending Hip-Hop, storytelling, and cultural roots, he crafts self-produced tracks that feature Cree references and RE-IMAGINED melodies. His work reflects loss, resilience, and community pride. OSANI has opened for The Lytics and Gully, showcased at Canadian Music Week, featured in the 2025 Indigenous Music Spotlight and is planning an upcoming Manitoba Tour with Kristen McKay and Mike North. He’s now focused on releasing his debut EP—built with local creatives—and using music as a platform to uplift Indigenous and minority youth.