TD program at MacEwan creates opportunities and removes barriers for emerging music artists from underserved populations

The inaugural TD Music Artist Development Program at MacEwan University was held in August of 2022. Eleven aspiring musicians spent two all-inclusive weeks working with faculty, current students and alumni, creating and recording a song and music video of their own.

The program is supported by TD Bank Group (TD) by a grant through the TD Ready Commitment, the Bank’s corporate citizenship platform. Dr. William Richards, associate professor and chair of MacEwan’s Department of Music, says that the initial conversation about potential funding was centred on providing access to music education for underprivileged youth and reducing barriers for potential applicants.

“TD wanted to give back and donate to places that are underfunded,” says Richards. “Other programs like this can cost thousands of dollars in tuition, and not everyone can afford that.”

TD has committed to three years of funding for the program, allowing for enhancements and fine-tuning over the next two years.

The selected participants are emerging and up-and-coming artists from underserved communities who would otherwise be unable to access post-secondary education.

“In the application process, we asked if there are any cultural, financial or other barriers to entry into a career in music,” says Brandon Baker, project manager of the TD Music Artist Development Program. “Every participant, aside from one, was either accessing government support to live or was from a marginalized community. Each one of them really deserved to be a part of this program.”

Richards praised the program’s inclusivity. “We had a person who recently came from Nigeria, another from Peru, a couple of people who are on the autism spectrum, and a few who are in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. We were able to create a safe and positive environment and dispel any notions of fear or isolation.”

Baker notes that education and positive experiences were not the only things attendees took away from the program. “Some of the music recorded in Studio A at MacEwan is world-class. I fully expect to hear a lot of it being released as participants receive the mixed and mastered copies of their songs.”

To learn more about this exciting initiative between TD and MacEwan, visit TDMusicArtistAtMacEwan.com.

We're proud to support the TD Music Artist Development Program at MacEwan University, which helps aspiring musicians from Alberta take their skills to a higher level. By investing in music initiatives, particularly those for emerging music artists from underserved populations, we're helping people create connections and foster a sense of belonging. Our support is designed to reflect and help amplify the diverse voices in the communities we serve. I'd like to congratulate the first 11 students who went through the program this year. It's designed to help remove many of the financial and academic barriers that young artists face by providing education, mentoring and performance opportunities. Throughout the year, this group of students participated in experiential learning, private studio and classroom instruction, and ultimately focused on the production and marketing of their music. These artists now have the opportunity to use their music to create shared experiences with people from all backgrounds. This helps bring people together and strengthens our communities. We've seen so much incredible talent this first year and are looking forward to continued successes in years to come.

Robert Ghazal, TD Senior Vice President, Branch Banking, Prairie Region

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