“Every Artist starts somewhere,” says Chris Herard. “When you hear them thanking people during the awards ceremony, it’s important to note they all were amateurs and learned their craft somewhere.”

Herard is the Artistic Director of the “Listening to Our City” Youth Showcase & Fundraiser for MusiCounts, a charitable foundation dedicated to keeping music alive in schools across Canada.

“It only makes sense to showcase Calgary’s finest young musicians in Calgary’s youngest (and finest) concert hall,” he notes. That’s why the Out Loud 2016 Juno Awards Host Committee are having their youth-focused show at the Bella Concert Hall at Mount Royal University on March 14, 2016 at 7:30pm.

Among the ensembles featured are MRU Conservatory’s own Calgary Boys’ Choir, MRU Academy String Trio and Piano Trio. They will be joined onstage with other Calgary arts groups including the Stampede Showband, the Alberta International Band Festival High School Honour Band and the Jazz YYC Youth Lab Big Band. “It’s an opportunity for students,” Herard notes, “to perform on a world-class stage in celebration of Calgary’s Year of Music.”

When the Junos asked to have a youth-featured program, they chose the right producer. Herard has been an influential musician and music educator in the Calgary Separate School Board (Bishop Carroll High School) and many community arts organizations. As a member of Calgary’s popular comic a cappella ensemble, the Heebee-jeebees, he has the musical showmanship to ensure the event is both musically spectacular and entertaining for all audiences.

For many of these young artists, it will be the first time on the Bella stage. For some, it might be the first time on a stage of this magnitude. “We look forward to showcasing this incredible new facility to the nation both at our show and during Juno week.  We are so lucky to have the opportunity to perform in the new Bella.”

“We hope our event has the opportunity to shine the spotlight on these phenomenal student musicians, as well as on their teachers and families whom support them.” Herard adds, “We also hope to inspire them towards greatness with our headliner Michael Bernard Fitzgerald.  He is such a wonderful supporter of young people making music, and we have a special finale planned with him that will surely get everyone out of their seats, and be something none of us will soon forget.”

In this year’s Juno nominees, many hail from right here in Calgary which is an inspiring notion for all of these Calgary-based artists performing on March 14^th. Will this performance be the beginning of a career that will achieve Juno Award success in the future? Herard is confident, “Without question – we will see future Juno nominees here.”

So, support them now to make sure you are thanked in their Juno victory speech in the future.

For tickets click here.

-by (Juno Award Not-yet-nominated) JLove