The inaugural YGK Emerging Musicians Competition seeks to inspire and support Kingston’s rising musical talent and provide them with the tools they need to launch their careers in the industry. Out of the 43 submissions received for the competition, 6 talented finalists were selected to receive a prize package valued at $7,500.
Read on to learn more about the competition’s 6 finalists who will be showcasing their talent at the Isabel Bader Centre on September 20, 2019. If you haven’t already, you can purchase your tickets here.
Abby Stewart
Country singer-songwriter
Abby Stewart is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter from Kingston, Ontario. A true Canadian girl, she plays hockey and softball but feels most at home on stage, already achieving some pretty impressive success in her budding career. Abby released her EP “Firsts”in 2015 which included her radio release “I’m Still Faster”, followed by her first music video, which now has over 360,000 views on YouTube.
In 2014, she opened for Hunter Hayes on his Tattoo Your Name Canadian Tour,along with Dan + Shay, and has had the privilege of being invited on stage to sing duets with Dean Brody, Dallas Smith, Aaron Pritchett, and the Hunter Brothers.
Alex Mundy
Folk-pop singer-songwriter
Alex’s first experience with music began at the age of four on her family’s organ in Sydenham, Ontario. With her dad’s guitar renditions of Clapton and McCartney classics resonating throughout the house, she would mimic the melodies on the keys, singing the names of the notes as she played along. Alex has been playing the piano and singing ever since, both through her classical training, and as a singer/songwriter.
Throughout her career, Alex has always turned to songwriting to tell her story. “When I have something to say, music is my megaphone. I love the challenge of taking an idea and sculpting it into a succinct hook or phrase. Putting each element together – the chord progression, melody, instrumentation, lyrics – the writing process is like my therapy. Everything seems to make more sense after I’ve written it into a song.”
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Julia Finnegan
Indie-folk singer-songwriter
A performer since the age of 13, Julia has grown up telling stories through song. In 2015, Julia released her first EP entitled Thoughts Collide, which received radio-play across the region and coast-to-coast across Canada on CBC Radio. She has just completed her Bachelor of Fine Art degree at Queen’s University and is now set to focus all of her energy on delivering personal portraits through her music.
She is currently working on the release of her first full-length album recorded with Jonas Bonnetta of Evening Hymns at Port William Sound.
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Michelle Kasaboski
Jazz, adult contemporary, traditional pop, easy listening
Michelle is on a journey to establish herself as a top Jazz & Adult Contemporary singer in the Canadian music scene. Commended for her rich tone and vocal command, she continues to draw praise from audiences and musicians alike, including Juno Award Winning artists Ranee Lee (Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, 2010) and Hugh Johnston (Musicounts Teacher of the Year, 2012).
Her most recent career highlights include the release of a new EP of Jazz Standards, “The Very Thought of You”, and a sold-out concert at the Kingston Grand Theatre this past Christmas 2018.
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Sadaf Amini
World music, Iranian classical music, santur
Sadaf Amini was born in Tehran, Iran, when, at the age of 12, she began studying the Santur, and later enrolled at the Tehran Music School. In 2012, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Iranian Music Performance from Tehran University.
After immigrating to Canada in 2014, she received her Master’s degree in Music Technology and Digital Media from the University of Toronto. She has performed at several music festivals across the world and received First Prize in the 2006 Fajr Music Festival for Ensembles (Iran), the 2007 Festival of Music Conservatories (Iran), the 2007 Fajr Music Festival (Iran), and the 2015 Colour of Music Festival (Vancouver, Canada).
Savannah and Michael
Folk, jazz, blues
Savannah and Michael met as choristers in Cantabile Choirs of Kingston, with their musical collaboration officially beginning in high school. Along with three other friends, Michael and Savannah started a pop cover band, playing for local talent shows and school coffee houses.
Savannah owes a great deal of her success to Kingston’s wonderful community of musicians, and she is especially thankful for the support of Musiikki Cafe, her home away from home.
Keep up to date with the YGK Emerging Musicians Competition by following them on Facebook and Instagram!
