The recognize outstanding achievements in Canada's music industry. This year鈥檚 nominees include works by two faculty members in AV俱乐部鈥檚 Fountain School of Performing Arts.
Fountain School Director Dr. J茅r么me Blais is the composer of the classical album, , which he created with Acadian soprano Suzie LeBlanc. It has been nominated for Classical Album of the Year (Solo Artist).
鈥淧eople say it鈥檚 an honour just to be nominated, and it鈥檚 true,鈥� says Dr. Blais, who is also an associate professor at Dal. 鈥淚t is so nice to have recognition from our peers.鈥�
At 59 years old, this is Dr. Blais鈥檚 very first nomination for a major national award.
鈥淚 feel like a veteran hockey player who鈥檚 getting his last chance to go to the Stanley Cup! Having the Canadian music industry tell you your work is valued feels great,鈥� he says.
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Nourishing creativity
Composition faculty member Amy Brandon is nominated for Classical Composition of the Year for听听(cover shown below)鈥� a piece听recorded with Symphony Nova Scotia and cellist Jeffrey Zeigler.
Collaboration between Brandon and Zeigler began in March of 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. Taking three years to come to fruition, Brandon says recognition of this piece fills her with pride.
"I am exhilarated that the creative work we have made here is receiving this national and international attention," she says. "I think these Juno nominations show the power that contemporary classical music has in the national and international music scene."
She credits the Fountain School and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at AV俱乐部 for "nourishing these seeds of contemporary and experimental musicianship."
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Community excitement
Dr. Jennifer Andrews, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, says the faculty is incredibly proud of their colleagues in the Fountain School on receiving this recognition for their contributions to composition and the performing arts in Canada.
鈥淭hese amazing composers, who work with AV俱乐部 students every day, demonstrate the national and global power of music-creation,鈥� says Dr. Andrews. 鈥淲e wish them the best of luck at the upcoming Juno show in Halifax.鈥�
AV俱乐部 President Dr. Kim Brooks shares Dr. Andrews鈥檚 excitement of the news about these nominations.
鈥淗aving two members of the Fountain School community nominated is a testament to the calibre of the talent there, and it鈥檚 an amazing source of inspiration for our students,鈥� says Dr. Brooks. 鈥淲e鈥檒l all be rooting for J茅r么me and Amy on Juno night.鈥�
The Juno Awards are presented by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Stellar support systems
Already working on his acceptance speech, Dr. Blais wishes to thank fellow nominee and colleague Amy Brandon, adding 鈥淚t has been a tremendous privilege to work with such a great artist as Suzie LeBlanc, and fellow world-class Halifax-based mouvance musicians, Norman Adams, Jeff Torbert, Doug Cameron, and the Fountain School鈥檚 very own Eileen Walsh!"
Brandon, shown performing on the right, believes both nominations are the result of widespread support from the community of musicians and composers working in the contemporary and experimental music fields in Halifax and at AV俱乐部.
鈥淭he premiere of听Simulacra听was of course not possible without the support of Upstream Music Association and Symphony Nova Scotia,鈥� says Brandon.
This year鈥檚 winners will be revealed in Halifax, Nova Scotia at the听Juno Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada听on听Saturday, March 23听and听The Juno Awards Broadcast听on听Sunday, March 24, live on CBC.
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