Youth Musician Commission

04/28/2026

We are excited to announce Julian Taylor as one of our three judges for the Lyrical: Multi-Instrumental category!

With a soulful voice and captivating stage presence, Julian’s unique blend of blues, roots, and folk music has earned him a growing fanbase and critical acclaim not only in Canada but also in Europe and the US. He’s earned five Juno Award nominations (including one this year for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year for “Pathways”) , along with eight Canadian Folk Music Awards for Solo Artist and English Songwriter of the Year – won Solo Artist in 2022, five Native American Music Award nominations, plus a nomination for Canada’s most prestigious music accolade, the Polaris Music Prize.

04/07/2026

This year we are thriled to introduce the new first place prize for our Youth Songwriting Contest… studio time at the Deane Cameron Recording Studio to record your own music!!! The first place winner from each of the four categories will recieve studio time to record one original composition. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We would be more than happy to help!

03/31/2026

We are super excited to announce our judge for the Film Composition category, ! Steph Copeland is a screen composer, producer and recording artist, best known for darker leaning pop and dramatic film scores (It Feeds, Cascade, The Retreat, Laced, The Oak Room). Since 2022, she’s won 6 Canadian Screen Music Awards and earned two Canadian Screen Award nominations for Original Song and Best Original Score for a feature film, Cascade
In 2023, Copeland travelled to Bratislava to work with the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra recording her feature film score for ‘Reveillon’ a political, family drama on the 1993 dissolution of Czechoslovakia.

Steph began as a singer-songwriter and electronic artist in Windsor and Detroit, performing and touring on both sides of the border. Her original songs have seen placements in series such as Tiny Pretty Things, Snowpiercer, L.A.’s Finest, UnREAL, animated series’ Mysticons and The Unicorn Academy. Commercial works include NBA Canada, Pursuit, Thule Sweden, The North Face, Destination Toronto, Pan-Am Games and Bose

Copeland occasionally takes on the role of music director, producing and conducting performances showcased at the 2018 SOCAN Awards, the 2018 TIFF Gala and Canada’s Walk of Fame Ceremony in 2025. Steph is a classically trained vocalist with roots at The Royal Conservatory of Music.

03/31/2026

We are super excited to announce and welcome back our judge for our two instrumental categories, ! Saman Shahi is a JUNO-nominated composer, pianist, conductor and educator based in Toronto. His compositions have been performed, and broadcast around the world and include orchestral works, operas, ballets, and many works for choral, vocal and chamber ensembles. Saman holds a master’s degree in composition from the University of Toronto, is an affiliate Member of the Canadian League of Composers, Associate Composer at the Canadian Music Centre as well as a SOCAN member. He is a Co-Founder and the Executive Director at ICOT, Music Director at the Peterborough Concert band, and a composer and teaching artist with the Canadian Opera Company. In 2020 Saman’s debut composition album “Breathing in the Shadows” was recorded and released by Leaf Music. All song cycles in this album have won awards both in Canada and the United States including a 2022 JUNO Awards nomination. His second album, “Microlocking” was released by People|Places|Records in 2021.

03/24/2026

We are excited to announce this year’s new category… film composition! We are so thankful for working with Parry Sound High School to create this amazing film. Submissions due April 18.

03/10/2026

Calling all young musicians across Canada, it’s time to get composing, because it’s time for the YMC’s 7th annual Youth Songwriting Contest!
Submit your original music to one of our 5 categories by APRIL 18TH for a chance to receive adjudication from professional artists and win one of many prizes available for the top submissions!

Guidelines:
1. Submissions are due by APRIL 18TH, 2026; only ONE entry is allowed per person, except for our film composition which you can submit for even if you have entered another category.
2. All genres are welcome.
3. We do not accept any sheet music/scores; only audio files will be judged.
Please email [email protected] for any questions.
The submission form can be found in the link in our bio! Good luck!

02/28/2026

Join us live on YouTube on Saturday, February 28th for the second annual Youth Songwriting Showcase at the Allied Music Centre! The event is hosted by the Youth Musician Commission (YMC), the youth council of Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall, in celebration of their annual songwriting contest. The evening will feature 13 songwriters and composers from across Ontario and a special performance from songwriting duo Good Grief.

02/24/2026

11/25/2025

A look inside our recording session at the Deane Cameron Recording Studio at the Allied Music Centre, on November 4th. Huge thanks to our producer, , and photographer, , for capturing the process so beautifully!

11/25/2025

Introducing...the 2025-2026 Youth Musician Commission!! We're super excited to show you what we've been working on and can't wait to make this the best year yet 🎶