Profs earn Juno nods

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by lwilks in A&E

Maegan McGregor
Andrew Sutherland
A&E Reporters

Humber is jazzed over all the nominations it has scored for Canada’s top music award, the Juno.
“It made me smile when I heard of all the Humber faculty nominated,” said Denny Christianson, director of the music program.
Seven jazz artists who teach at Humber – and one program graduate – are among those up for the awards to be handed out on April 17 in St. John’s, Nfld.
Those competing for best contemporary jazz album are: Hilario Durán, Mark Kelso and Roberto Occhipinti for Motion by the Hilario Durán Trio; Kirk MacDonald… ... [continue reading]

Yuk Yuk’s laugh off competition a great opportunity for comics

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E

Patrick Faller
A&E Reporter

Humber comedy students have a chance to jump start their careers and win a $25,000 grand prize at Yuk Yuk’s Great Canadian Laugh Off, March 26-28.
Jeff McEnery graduated from the comedy program in 2005 and won Canadian comedy’s largest prize in 2006.

“Winning the contest got me noticed by Yuk Yuks. It was the beginning of my career. The prize money was pretty great too,” he said.
“I love the Laugh Off now. It’s super-hot crowds and great comics. Since I’ve won I get to sit back and enjoy the drama,”… ... [continue reading]

Music grad’s album nominated for Juno

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E

Maggie Cameron
A&E reporter

Humber grad Emilie-Claire Barlow’s album, The Very Thought of You, is nominated for vocal jazz at this year’s Juno Awards.
The Toronto-raised star said she always knew she wanted to be a musician, but it was her time at Humber that taught her what she needed to learn in order to succeed.

“I wanted to learn theory and arranging so that I could impart my ideas in my head, to the musicians I was working with,” she said.
Barlow began her career at a young age, lending her voice to multiple voice-overs… ... [continue reading]

Top model comes to North Campus

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E

Miranda Anthistle
A&E Reporter

The fashion arts program will offer 30 Humber students the chance to experience a professional photo shoot and receive high resolution images for their personal modeling portfolio.
This year’s final assignment is dubbed Humber’s Next Top Model, a title inspired by the popular television series America’s Next Top Model, said second-year fashion arts student Jasmine Davis.
However, she said that unlike the television show, the project is not a competition.
“I thought the title would create a buzz and generate interest. We want people with fresh faces who have little experience, but who would like… ... [continue reading]

Workshop series provides students with advice on how to get published

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E

Patrick Faller
A&E Reporter

Aspiring writers can get advice on how to get published when Humber faculty members Cynthia Good and Jennifer Murray present a workshop called The Insider’s Guide to Getting Published.
The event will be held on March 11, 18 and 25 at the Yonge and Eglinton branch of the Toronto Public Library.
“Our workshop teaches people how to make themselves stand out and to pitch themselves to a publisher or an agent,” said Murray, former director of marketing for Penguin Canada, who now teaches marketing in the creative publishing program.
“I teach students how to take… ... [continue reading]

T.O. music venues fading away

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E

Maegan McGregor
A&E Reporter

The sudden death of a handful of Toronto’s famous music venues is leaving independent young bands without a place to cut their teeth, said Mark Kelso, head of the percussion department of Humber’s school for creative and performing arts.
“The music business has always been in a recession, it has always been hard to find places to play, especially as being an independent musician or band,” he said.
The lack of venues for unseasoned musicians is largely due to places such as the historic Big Bop concert hall and nightclub closing down, as the further… ... [continue reading]

Lakeshore Campus showcases first aboriginal Pow Wow

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E

Miranda Anthistle
A&E reporter

Dancers, hand drummers and the Tall Pine Singers will be perform for free at the Humber aboriginal powwow — the the first of its kind — at Lakeshore Campus on March 25.
The Pow Wow, called Namebini Geezis [meaning snow-crested moon in Ojibwe], will also have native artisans and artwork.
“By having this Pow Wow, we’re making the culture more accessible,” said Amanda Murray, a Saulteaux originally from Pine Creek First Nation, Manitoba.
“Our hope is that Humber students will come forward and take part in events that support and promote native culture.”
Murray is… ... [continue reading]

Winner of earth-friendly art show will move on to international competition

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E

Brigitte Truong
A&E Reporter

One lucky and talented winner of the Earth Matters art show will represent Humber at the League of Innovation — an international college art competition held for the first time at Humber this year.
Five jury members will judge the submissions from Earth Matters, which promotes the improvement of community colleges in North America and around the world.
“Some of the best in show pieces are going to get put into the competition and that’s something that is nationwide, with all community colleges. This is really an amazing opportunity for students to get involved and… ... [continue reading]

Grammy jazz star jams at Lakeshore

Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E

Miranda Anthistle
A&E Reporter

Jazz lovers will have the chance to hear Grammy-award winning trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard, accompanied by the Humber Studio Jazz Ensemble, in concert.
Blanchard is the latest artist-in-residence at Humber’s School of Creative and Performing Arts and is scheduled to perform Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Lakeshore Campus auditorium.
Tickets are $25.
The concert will feature pieces from Blanchard’s album, Jazz in Film, a compilation of movie soundtracks ranging from Chinatown to Taxi Driver, done in a jazz rendition.
The New Orleans born artist composed the scores for numerous Spike Lee… ... [continue reading]

Canadian Music Week lacks diversity

Posted on 03. Mar, 2010 by lbrunetti in A&E

Andrew Sutherland
A&E Reporter

Canadian Music Week (CMW) descends on Toronto this month, showcasing a plethora of homegrown indie rock talent, but for those Canadian musicians who fall outside the indie genre, it’s just another week.
“They service a different niche of the market than we do,” said Denny Christianson Director of the Humber’s music program.
“We don’t have any involvement with Canadian Music Week, we have found that it is overly expensive in terms of what we could hope to gain in profile and recruiting.”
Fourth-year Humber music student Lucas Gadke, 21, agrees that Canadian Music… ... [continue reading]