Banff Centre congratulates 2018 JUNO Award winners and nominees

BANFF, AB, March 26, 2018 – Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity congratulates all of its alumni, faculty, and community on their 2018 JUNO Award wins and nominations in a broad range of categories. As Banff Centre reflects on 85 years of creative practice in the Canadian Rockies this summer, the arts training institution is proud to celebrate artists who have made significant achievements in the Canadian music industry, including those who were honoured at the 2018 JUNO Awards. 

2018 JUNO Award winners and nominees who have attended Banff Centre include: 

Chris Dadge, a percussionist, producer and music alumnus, who served as support staff for the Indie Band Residency. Dadge is the drummer for Alvvays, which won Alternative Album of the Year for the album Antisocialites. 

Kevin Drew, who shared a win with Gord Downie in the category of Songwriter of the Year for songs from the album Introduce Yerself. Drew has served as faculty at Banff Centre. 

James Ehnes, who was nominated with Andrew Armstrong for the album Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Nos. 6 & 9 'Kreutzer in the category of Classical Album of the Year (Solo or Chamber Ensemble). Ehmes was also nominated with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra for the album Beethoven & Schubert: Violin Concerto in the category of Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble). Ehnes has served as faculty and performed at Banff Centre.

Barbara Hannigan, who with Ludwig Orchestra, won a JUNO for the album Crazy Girl Crazy in the category of Classical Album of the Year (Vocal or Choral). Hannigan is a Banff Centre music alumna and has taken part in multiple programs.

IsKwé, who was nominated for the album The Fight Within in the category of Indigenous Music Album of the Year. IsKwé has taken part in multiple Banff Centre programs and was most recently in Banff working on songs for her next album. 

Jan Lisiecki, who along with NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, won a JUNO for the album Chopin: Works for Piano & Orchestra in the category of Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble). Lisiecki has taken part in a Banff Centre music program. 

Mike Murley, a member of the jazz quartet The North, which won a JUNO for their self-titled album in the category of Jazz Album of the Year (Group). Murley has participated multiple times in the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music. 

Richard Reed Parry, a core member of Arcade Fire, which was nominated in the categories of Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Alternative Album of the Year, and Album Artwork of the Year for Everything Now. Parry has participated in multiple Banff Centre music programs and has also served as faculty. Arcade Fire won the JUNO for Album of the Year.  

Buffy Sainte-Marie, who took part in a 1994 Media Arts Residency and has performed at Banff Centre multiple times. Sainte-Marie won the JUNO for Indigenous Album of the Year for her album Medicine Songs. 

Charles Spearin and Nyles Spencer, for their contribution to the Do Make Say Think album Stubborn Persistent Illusions, which won two JUNO Awards in the categories of Instrumental Album of the Year and Album Artwork of the Year. Spearin and Spencer have both served as faculty at Banff Centre. 

Tanya Tagaq, who was nominated for the album Retribution in the category of Alternative Album of the Year. Tagaq has taken part and performed in multiple Banff Centre programs, and was most recently at Banff Centre as guest faculty in the Spoken Word program.

Bear Witness, a core member of A Tribe Called Red, which won a JUNO in the category of Group of the Year. Bear Witness has served as faculty in Visual, Digital and Media Arts residencies, and A Tribe Called Red has performed multiple times at Banff Centre. 

Banff Centre also congratulates Canadian visionary, philanthropist, and music industry leader Gary Slaight, who was honoured with the 2018 Humanitarian Award. On behalf of artists at Banff Centre and across the Canada who have benefited from the generous support and leadership of Slaight and The Slaight Family Foundation, thank you. 

The 47th annual JUNO Awards ceremony took place in Vancouver on Sunday, March 25 and was hosted by CBC q’s Tom Power. The full list of JUNO Award winners is available at junoawards.ca/nominees

About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity: Founded in 1933, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity is a learning organization built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and creative development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become the global organization leading in arts, culture, and creativity across dozens of disciplines. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to inspire everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, and thinkers – to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to society through cross-disciplinary learning opportunities, world-class performances, and public outreach. In 2018, Banff Centre celebrates 85 years of creative practice. banffcentre.ca