david foster
#FIRSTLOOK: 2022 CANADIAN SONGWRITERS HALL OF FAME GALA
Presented by el Mocambo, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame Gala took place tonight at Massey Hall, honouring the best in Canadian Music and on an international stage. Hosted by Marie-Mai, among those honoured tonight in are legends like Alanis Morissette, Bryan Adams, Jim Vallance, David Foster and Daniel Lavoie. The event concluded the inaugural Song & Score Week presented by RBC Emerging Artists which included a Songwriting Masterclass with Foster, in addition to a Songwriters’ Circle with the likes of Fefe Dobson, Tyler Shaw, Tim Hicks, TOBi and Ruby Waters.
In addition to tonight’s Honourees, the list of talent performing in tributes and presenting, was an A-List including Corey Hart, Alessia Cara, Nickelback’s Chad Kroeger and Ryan Peake, Deborah Cox, Jessie Reyez, Charlotte Cardin, Serena Ryder, plus a special appearance by Olivia Rodrigo. So honoured to be there for this monumental moment in Canadian Music History.
A Highlight Reel of the evening’s most memorable moments:
See some Snaps from the evening:
Visit the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame website for more here.
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#FIRSTLOOK: SONG & SCORE WEEK IN TORONTO PRESENTED BY RBC EMERGING ARTISTS
Legendary Songwriter David Foster is giving musicians a change to take a class with him at upcoming Song & Score Week in Toronto!
The inaugural Song & Score Week presented by RBC Emerging Artists will be one of Canada’s largest celebrations dedicated to honouring, fostering, and shining a spotlight on the lifeblood of the music industry – songwriters, composers and music publishers. The first-ever Song & Score Week will include songwriting camps, workshops, listening parties, film screenings, and industry panels to help and inspire music creators and emerging music publishers to achieve their career goals.
As part of Song & Score Week, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in partnership with RBC Emerging Artists, Ontario Creates, Music Publishers Canada and peermusic, will present a David Foster Masterclass on September 23rd at 8 pm at the El Mocambo in Toronto.
2022 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee David Foster, one of the most successful songwriters and record producers in history, will reflect on his illustrious songwriting career in front of a live audience comprising of young music creators. Moderated by Ralph Peer II Executive Chairman of peermusic and emceed by singer-songwriter and CBC Radio host Damhnait Doyle, participants will hear Foster play some of his biggest hits while sharing his personal journey and relationship with his long-time music publisher, peermusic.
2022 Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee David Foster to present a Songwriting Masterclass on September 23rd at 8pm at the El Mocambo in Toronto, as part of the inaugural Song & Score Week, presented by presented by RBC Emerging Artists.
The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame is also pleased to present Songwriters’ Circle, in partnership with SiriusXM Canada, on September 22nd at 8pm at the El Mocambo. Fefe Dobson, Tyler Shaw, Ruby Waters, TOBi and Tim Hicks will reveal the stories behind their songs in an intimate setting with pared-down performances and enlightening conversations surrounding the art of music creation. The Songwriters’ Circle will be hosted by Jeff Leake and will air on SiriusXM Channel 173 The Verge on Saturday, September 24 prior to the Gala.
Song & Score Week is organized collectively by the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, Music Publishers Canada, the Screen Composers Guild of Canada, SOCAN, the SOCAN Foundation, and the Songwriters Association of Canada. By providing educational programming to build skills, support industry growth, and deliver opportunities to connect, Song & Score Week works to bridge knowledge and skills gaps for music creators.
Song & Score Week is proud to acknowledge the support of RBC Emerging Artists, SiriusXM Canada, Ontario Creates and the City of Toronto.
Additional Highlights of Song & Score Week:
Indigenous Song Camp (Industry Only)
Sept. 19 – 21 (12pm – 8pm), Kilometre House
Presented by RBC Emerging Artists in partnership with Ontario Creates, City of Toronto, SOCAN Foundation, sākihiwē festival
A 4-day creative journey, bringing together 17 Indigenous and non-Indigenous writers, artists and producers to explore new writing styles, develop new relationships, and create a positive community experience.
Scores, Songs & Screens: Pulling Back The Curtain Panel (Industry Only)
Sept. 21 (3:30pm – 4:30pm), El Mocambo
Panelists discuss composing original music to picture and how the role of the composer today encompasses a wide gamut of responsibilities. With panelists Rob Carli, Darren Fung, Aaron Paris, Alexandra Petkovski and Sarah Slean. Panel will close with special performance from Sarah Slean.
2022 Screen Composers Guild of Canada Canadian Screen Music Awards (CASMA) (Industry Only)
Sept. 21 (5:30pm – 7pm), El Mocambo
The SCGC’s biggest night as they award the accomplishments of Canadian Composers over the past year.
How To Optimize Your Vocal Recordings (Industry Only)_
Sept 22 (12:30pm -2:30pm) El Mocambo
Dr. Amandine Pras, Lecturer in Sound Recording and Music Production at the University of York, UK offers tips and tools on how to optimize your vocal production.
NXTGen Workshop and Networking (Industry Only)
Sept. 23 (4pm – 6:30pm), El Mocambo
NXTGen is a new Music Publishers Canada membership level created to foster the next generation of Canadian music publishing leaders.
Women in the Studio: Producing, Mixing, Mastering (Industry Only)
Sept. 23 (10am – 5pm), El Mocambo
A full day of career development for six talented producer-songwriters from across Canada who are part of the Music Publishers Canada Women in the Studio National Accelerator.
For full schedule and details on Song & Score Week, go to www.songandscoreweek.com.
#SPOTTED: DAVID FOSTER AND KATHERINE MCPHEE IN TORONTO FOR “A NIGHT ON BROADWAY”
For the first time in over two years, the David Foster Foundation was back in Toronto with their A NIGHT ON BROADWAY Gala at Hotel X. The evening featured performances by Foster himself, plus the likes of wife Katharine McPhee (Smash), Leslie Odom, Jr. (Hamilton), Loren Allred (The Greatest Showman), Erich Bergen (Jersey Boys), Jessica Vosk (Wicked) and several more. An A-List who’s-who of Broadway stars. Icons only.
16-time Grammy winner Foster who hails from Vancouver originally, is behind some of the most important Pop Songs of our time including “To Love You More” (Celine Dion), “St. Elmo’s Fire (Man in Motion)” (John Parr), “I Have Nothing” (Whitney Houston), “You’re the Inspiration” (Chicago), “Unbreak My Heart” (Toni Braxton), “Through the Fire” (Chaka Khan) and so many more. We can’t imagine a world without Foster’s music which has touched hearts around the globe.
The Fundraiser serves to raise awareness and funds to financially support Canadian families with children who record life-saving organ transplants, and the organization has been active for 35 years. Since 2017, they’ve raised in-excess of $10 million, and that’s without events the past couple years!
In-attendance were Bella Thomson, whom after 23 surgeries, is awaiting a bowel transplant. And also Rosie Audia, who is awaiting a heart transplant.
Power Couple Foster and McPhee arrived in Toronto Thursday night to do a round of press in advance of the affair, with appearances on the likes of Global‘s The Morning Show and CITY’s Breakfast Television. They revealed Foster will be doing a Vegas residency soon, and they also will be going on-tour together this Fall!
Some Snaps from tonight’s Purple Carpet:
…and of course, THE SNAP.
More on the David Foster Foundation here and how you can get involved.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#SPOTTED: STEVIE WONDER, KIESZA, PETER CETERA, MICHAEL BOLTON AND MORE AT THE 2015 DAVID FOSTER FOUNDATION MIRACLE GALA + CONCERT
Often when we think of fundraisers, we think of generating money towards research and cost of medical procedures. Sometimes however, we forget the peripheral costs involved for families and in the instance of children awaiting vital organ transplants, it is important to note the financial, in addition to emotional impacts involved. The loss of salary for some parents taking time away from work to care for their child, plus the stresses of making mortgage payments, travel expenses, car payments, gas, groceries, etc. are an extra-challenging reality for those families impacted. 16-time Grammy winner David Foster is on a mission to aid financially those families requiring assistance in these cases.
Taking place at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, the David Foster Foundation Miracle Gala and Concert drew a star-studded line-up of guests to the purple carpet tonight, headlined by a performance from international megastar Stevie Wonder as he zipped through his greatest hits before a lucky, intimate audience. Together with a line-up which included the likes of Michael Bolton, Kiesza, Howard Dell, Peter Cetera, Brian Williams, Premier Kathleen Wynne, former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, an astonishing tally of $6.5 million was raised this evening. The foundation’s goal is to raise $30 million total by its 30th anniversary come 2017.
Also this evening, two Visionary Awards were handed-out. Gregg Saretsky, President & CEO of WestJet (one of this evening’s major sponsors), received the award for National Business Leader of the Year. The National Humanitarian Leader of the Year went to Simon Keith, who has the distinction of being both an organ donor advocate and the first professional athlete in the world to play a professional sport after undergoing a heart transplant.
Although being advised with confidence David Foster and Stevie Wonder would walk the purple carpet to speak to media, alas only a few outlets had the chance to speak to the duo before they were ushered off. We did however, have the pleasure of chatting with a few of the evening’s stars and this is what they had to say about the foundation.
Former Chicago frontman and acclaimed vocalist Peter Cetera: “Whenever I can help and it happens to coincide with my schedule, it’s a wonderful cause. And when you can work music into it, that’s important”, says the Idaho resident who will be on tour this fall, with a stop soon in Niagara Falls.
Actor Howard Dell, who has starred on Young and the Restless: “I came to be involved three years ago in Victoria, BC when I met David and started to learn about foundation. Luckily, David and I got to perform at the gala – the start of a singing career in hibernation for 15 years!”. “Having gone through a transplant suffering financial burdens of it, etc. when you see the foundation come in and alleviates the burdens, it’s a tremendous relief for the parents.”. Dell also is a huge fan of Steven Wonder and sang a couple lines of Overjoyed, expressing his excitement for the evening’s main attraction.
International hit-recording artist Kiesza: “I’ve always known about foundation since childhood. I’m a huge David Foster fan, so it’s surreal being involved with it. It’s helping save children’s lives and acknowledges the families, the siblings. It’s about all the people affected by the situation. It’s really a ‘miracle’ foundation like they say.”. The singer tells us her next album will be an “evolution”, building on some elements of her debut disc, Sound of a Woman.
To learn more about the David Foster Foundation and how you can contribute, click here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
#SPOTTED: STARS IN TORONTO TO CELEBRATE 2013 CANADA’S WALK OF FAME AWARDS SHOW INCLUDING MIKE MYERS, VICTOR GARBER, MARTIN SHORT, DAVID FOSTER, ALICE COOPER, JOANNA KERNS & MORE
It certainly was a star-studded night in Toronto as the 15th annual Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards Show was held at Elgin Theatre. The Ceremony honours Canadians who have made significant contributions in the Arts, Sports, Science and Innovation. The Event was preceded by a Red Carpet which shut-down a section of Yonge Street beforehand.
Honourees this year include:
Bob Ezrin
Terry Fox
Victor Garber
Craig & Marc Kielburger
Oscar Peterson
Christine Sinclair
Alan Thicke
Presenters and Performers also added much Starpower to the Affair including the likes of Mike Myers (just here last week for TIFF ’13 with Documentary Supermensch), Martin Short, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jacob Hoggard (Hedley), David Foster, Joanna Kerns, Alice Cooper and several more. Cooper even performed a Medley of his mega-hit School’s Out for Summer together with Pink Floyd‘s The Wall.
Global Television airs the 2013 Canada’s Walk of Fame Awards Show on Sunday, October 27, 2013 at 8:00 PM EST.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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