Covid-19 – Post pandemic Music Industry / Where do we go from here?

Moderator: Mathilde Hountchegnon - Co-presented by TD Sunfest

Panelists:

Rochelle Hum – Canada Council for the Arts

Mercedes Caxaj – TD Sunfest

Tracy Jenkins Lula Arts & Music Center

Heather Gibson– National Arts Centre

Deborah Cognet – Mundial Montreal

MATHILDE HOUNTCHEGNON

Mathilde Hountchégnon has been working for more than 15 years in the media and cultural industry. Host and producer, she is also the founder of the agency 36 Mille. She has collaborated with many artists, cultural organizations and several TV and radio channels in France and Canada.

HEATHER GIBSON – National Arts Centre

Originally from Manitoba, Heather Gibson built her career in the performing arts in Halifax where she graduated from Dalhousie University. She has done everything from run the Halifax Jazz Festival, to open her own club, to own an artistic management company.

An active volunteer, Ms. Gibson has served as the Chair of the East Coast Music Association, member of the board for CAPACOA (The Canadian Arts Presenting Association), The Khyber Centre for the Arts, and The Western Roots Artistic Directors. She is currently the Executive Producer of the Popular Music and Variety Programming at the National Arts Centre.

TRACY JENKINS – Lula Music and Arts

Tracy Jenkins is Executive and Co-Artistic Director of Lula Music and Arts Centre, providing year-round programming for the Toronto live music venue Lula Lounge. With a focus on Latin, Brazilian and global roots music, she produces the annual Lulaworld and Women in Percussion festivals, manages the Lulaworld record label and artist management and oversees Lula's educational and artist development initiatives. She is a member of the Toronto Live Music Advisory Committee and a board member of the Canadian Live Music Association.

DEBORAH COGNET – Mundial Montreal

Déborah Cognet joined Mundial Montréal in 2012 and has been developing the main contact-event in November as well as leading throughout the year “Mundial On the Road” activities & Canadian delegations (namely at APAP, Folk Alliance International, Babel Med Music, WOMEX, Atlantic Music Expo).

Fuelled by the beautiful energy of the world music community, Deborah is dedicated to helping artists to spread their music, their cultures and their stories with the goal of building a more inclusive society.

Her background includes a master degree in musicology, music administration and collaborations with organizations & festivals in France, Australia and Canada.

ROCHELLE HUM – Canada Council for the Arts

Rochelle Hum has extensive experience in the national and international dissemination of arts and culture. As a program officer at the Canada Council for the Arts and project lead on the Canada in Germany initiative, she is in charge of the cultural programming in Germany for the period leading up to the 2021 Frankfurt Book Fair, which will take place during Canada’s Guest of Honor year. She is overseeing ambitious cultural programming that includes music, dance, theatre, circus, visual arts, film, video and digital arts in collaboration with federal partners at Global Affairs Canada and Canadian Heritage. Her considerable experience working in the Council’s various programs over the years is now contributing to the strategic engagements of Canada’s arts funding organization. More specifically, she was responsible for the Council’s former dissemination programs in dance, including national and international touring, dance presentation, foreign artist tours, commissions, co-productions, creative residencies and strategic collaborations.

MERCEDES CAXAJ – TD Sunfest

Mercedes has contributed to the ongoing success of multiple arts and non-profit organizations and festivals in Ontario — and continues to be responsible for artistic programming, community program development, cultural advocacy and strategy, prioritizing representation. Mercedes has served as the Co-Artistic Director for SUNFEST - London Committee for Cross Cultural Arts Inc., a non-profit organization with a strong mandate to support diversity and artistic excellence in music, dance and the visual arts.  She is now Head of Programs for Small World Music, based in Toronto, Ontario.