Allan Slaight Master Class Long List Finalists

By FYI Staff

The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and Slaight Music have announced the long list of artists for the 2020/2021 Allan Slaight Juno Master Class. Now in its sixth year, the program has been expanded from three to 10 Canadian artists to satisfy the much-needed demand for support for emerging artists negatively impacted by the pandemic.

This year saw the largest number of applications in the program's history, and as a result, Mentorship Week, developed in partnership with Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI), has evolved into two streams. Part one, taking place this Fall, will feature a week-long digital experience tailored to the mentorship needs of ten artists selected by an industry jury. Part two of Mentorship Week, in March 2021 will include three selected artists from the long list.  2020 CBC Music Searchlight competition winner, Shawnee Kish (Welland, ON), will join the artists in both parts of this year’s Allan Slaight Juno Master Class program.

The 2020/2021 Allan Slaight Juno Master Class Long List includes:

Abigail Lapell - Toronto

Biawanna - Vancouver

Command Sisters - Spruce Grove, AB

Desire - Toronto

Desirée Dawson - White Rock, BC

JJ Shiplett - Calgary

Laur Elle - Medicine Hat

Monowhales - Toronto

Myles Castello - Scarborough, ON

Sara Diamond - Montreal

“We are very excited and proud to be taking the Allan Slaight Juno Master Class to new heights by including more emerging artists to this year’s program,” said Allan Reid, President & CEO, CARAS/The Juno Awards & MusiCounts, in a press release “This evolution is an incredible opportunity for us, along with Slaight Music and Canada’s Music Incubator, to help more artists from across the country achieve their goals of a successful career in the music industry.”

“Now more than ever emerging artists need our support and I would like to commend the CARAS team for extending this program to include even more talent,” said Gary Slaight, President & CEO, Slaight Communications.  “We continue to see the impact this program has on those that have participated and we are thrilled to continue our commitment in elevating the next generation of Canadian artists.”

The Allan Slaight Juno Master Class program is renowned for offering emerging artists with opportunities to hone their craft and further develop their music careers. For the first time in the program's history, TD Bank Group will be offering a Financial Education session during Mentorship Week, to help provide financial insight and advice to artists on topics such as Starting & Operating a Small Business to Personal Finance, that will help artists succeed. 

Program participants of the 2017/2018 Allan Slaight Juno Master Class, Neon Dreams, recently won their first Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year sponsored by FACTOR, The Government of Canada, and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.

More information on the Allan Slaight Juno Master Class here