SweetWater Music Festival is looking for aspiring, emerging musicians (14 to 29 years of age) to perform during the 2021 Next Wave Showcase (happening online June 16 to 30).
“I invite young musicians out there to join us for our third annual Next Wave Showcase. It’s a great opportunity for these performers to share their favourite music with our audience and many more,” says Edwin Huizinga, SweetWater Artistic Director.
Applicants can be a solo performer (instrumentalist or vocalist) or an ensemble (duo, trio, trio or quartet – instrumental or vocal). All performers must be Royal Conservatory of Music Grade 9 level or similar equivalent.
To apply, performers must register via the SweetWater website and submit a one-page letter of recommendation along with a performance video clip. Edwin Huizinga will make the final selection of musicians to perform. Application deadline is April 25.
Next Wave Showcase musicians receive a small honorarium, career counselling from Huizinga, and get to take part in an online round table discussion about music and more. A select number of Showcase performers will be invited by the Artistic Director following the Showcase to participate and take part in a Mentorship/Internship Opportunity during SweetWater 2021 (September 16 -19).
The Next Wave Showcase provides a stage for young musical performers from Grey Bruce and beyond. Due to COVID-19 and physical distancing guidelines, SweetWater decided last spring to transform the Showcase into a virtual event. Hundreds tuned in and viewed performances by eight featured musicians. Based on this great response and current COVID-19 restrictions, SweetWater has decided to continue with the “virtual stage” again in 2021.
“It was fantastic to see how many people were tuning into watch the performances,” notes Paul Eichhorn, SweetWater General Manager. “The live Showcase had an audience of just over 100 people. Our first virtual Showcase had a total audience in the thousands during its two-week run.”
For more information about SweetWater’s Next Wave Showcase or how to become a performer, go to sweetwatermusicfestival.ca and click on the Next Wave Showcase link, https://www.sweetwatermusicfestival.ca/sweetwater-2015/2015-sweetwater-festival/next-wave-showcase-2021/.
A special thanks to The Leflar Foundation for supporting this important initiative for aspiring, emerging musicians.
source: media release, SweetWater Music Festival
