Taking place October 24 – 28, four emerging artists will participate in a curated mentorship program with music industry leaders
TORONTO – The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) and Slaight Music announced today the roster of emerging artists selected for the 2022/2023 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class program. Anna Sofia, Aysannabe and Katie Tupper join grand prize winner of the 2022 CBC Music Toyota Searchlight award, Chad Price, for the mentorship program, which is customized to meet each of the artist’s unique needs and help them become “JUNO ready.”
Voted in by a Super Jury of music industry notables, the four finalists will take part in a workshop running from October 24 to 28 in Toronto, which includes vocal and stage performance coaching, as well as sessions with industry leaders. The artists will also attend JUNO Week 2023 in Edmonton, AB and one finalist will be selected to perform at the JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada.
2022/2023 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class artists:
- Anna Sofia – Toronto, ON
- Aysanabee – Thunder Bay, ON
- Chad Price – London, ON
- Katie Tupper – Saskatoon, SK
Left to right: Aysannabe, Katie Tupper, Anna Sophia, Chad Price.
“It’s moving to see the lasting effects of my father’s impact on the Canadian music industry,” said Gary Slaight, President & CEO, Slaight Communications. “His contributions have enabled us to provide budding artists like these ones with the skills they need to succeed in their careers. We’re thrilled to be a part of their paths to achievement.”
“We feel so energized by this year’s roster of artists, who each bring their own unique sound and identity to the table,” said Allan Reid, President and CEO, CARAS/The JUNO Awards. “We can’t wait to see them flourish on the national scale, while learning from some of the best in the business.”
The Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class program is run in collaboration with Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI).
For photos of the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class participants, promotional graphics, suggested social copy, logos and more reference our Digital Toolkit.
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Social Media:
The JUNO Awards: @TheJUNOAwards / @TheJUNOAwards / @TheJUNOAwards /@TheJUNOAwards
#JUNOS / #JUNOMasterClass
Slaight Music: @SlaightMusic / @SlaightMusic / @SlaightMusic
Canada’s Music Incubator: @CMincubator / @CMIncubator/ @CMIncubator
Exclusive Broadcast and Content Partner: 
CARAS acknowledges the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada, and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
Premier Sponsor: TD Bank Group
Lead Sponsor: SiriusXM Canada
Funding Partners: The Province of Alberta, The City of Edmonton, Explore Edmonton and Radio Starmaker Fund
About Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class
The Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class is an initiative that provides the crucial tools to help artists develop their careers, build their own sustainable business and become ‘JUNO ready’. The ‘Master Class’ includes a week-long customized artist development program co-developed with Canada’s Music Incubator at Coalition Music. This development program provides hands-on mentoring, networking and collaboration opportunities.
About CARAS
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) is a not-for-profit organization created to preserve and enhance the Canadian music industry and promote higher artistic and industry standards. CARAS’ mandate is comprised of four key pillars: Educate through our music education charity, MusiCounts, programs and initiatives; Develop emerging artists through mentorship and development programs; Celebrate Canadian artists with year-round JUNO Awards showcasing; and Honour music industry icons through the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. The 52nd annual JUNO Awards Broadcast will take place in Edmonton at Rogers Place on Monday, March 13, 2023. For more information on the JUNO Awards or The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) please visit www.staging.junoawards.ca.
About Allan Slaight
A pioneer of rock and roll, Allan Slaight parlayed his entrepreneurial flair with his knowledge of radio to create Canada’s largest privately owned multimedia company, Standard Broadcasting Corporation Limited.
Born in 1931, Allan hosted his own radio program, Spins and Needles, a late night jazz program, at age 16 at CHAB in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. He moved to Edmonton in 1950, working his way up the ladder being appointed in 1956 as the National Sales Manager at CHED. There he came to the attention of Allan Waters, owner of CHUM Radio in Toronto, who hired Allan to turn around the fortunes of his struggling station. Allan’s programming, promotions, and business acumen propelled CHUM into a household name.
Allan left the station in 1966 to coordinate programming and sales of Radio Caroline, the infamous pirate radio station. He returned to Canada in 1967, to become the President and General Manager of Stephens and Towndrow.
In 1970, Allan established Slaight Communications and acquired radio stations CFGM in Toronto and CFOX in Montreal. In 1977, Allan launched a new rock and roll radio station, CILQ-FM, known as Q107, in Toronto. In 1985, Slaight Communications sold CFGM and Q107, and purchased Standard Broadcasting Corporation Limited from Conrad Black. Under Allan’s leadership, Standard Broadcasting and Standard Radio grew from seven radio stations to a national network of over fifty. In 2007, the Slaight’s sold Standard Broadcasting to Astral Media.
Radio was not Allan’s only passion. He served as a trustee of Women’s College Hospital (1978- 1982), a director of the United Way of Greater Toronto (1979-1987), director of the Shaw Festival (1982-1988), a governor of York University (1986-1987), and a director of the Festival of Festivals (1989-1993).
An inductee into the Broadcast Hall of Fame (1997), the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Commerce from Ryerson Polytechnic University (2000), appointed a Member of the Order of Canada (2001), the recipient of the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award (2005) for his contribution to the growth and development of the Canadian music industry, Allan has also maintained a lifelong interest in conjuring.
About Slaight Music
Slaight Music was started in 2011 with a mandate to support the Canadian music community through a variety of initiatives and to develop Canadian talent via strategic partnerships with industry peers.
About Canada’s Music Incubator
Canada’s Music Incubator (CMI) is a Toronto-based national not-for-profit organization specializing in professional development, ongoing mentorship and live events for artists, managers, and music companies. Launched in 2012, CMI supports 1,200+ emerging music entrepreneurs, of all genres, in the development of long-term careers and sustainable businesses. CMI has provided 11,000 hours of professional development programs and one-on-one mentorship. CMI Live works with private and community partners across the country curating paid performance opportunities for artists. To date, CMI has programmed 1,000+ shows and paid nearly $2 million directly to artists. CMI also advocates on behalf of music sector infrastructure development and creative entrepreneurship education in high schools.
For more information or interview requests please contact:
Jillian Starkie, rock-it promotions, jillian@rockitpromo.ca, 905-449-5068