SweetWater Music Festival is looking for aspiring, emerging musicians (14 to 29 years of age) to perform during the 2022 Next Wave Showcase (happening online June 16 to 30).
This year’s edition marks the 4th annual Showcase. Last year SweetWater received a record number of talented applicants from throughout Ontario VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS. For the first time, four of the 10 Showcase finalists were invited to be interns during the September Festival and perform during Community Concerts.
Applicants can again 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. Artistic Director Edwin Huizinga will make the final selection of musicians to perform. Application deadline is May 1.
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. Four of the Showcase performers will be invited by the Artistic Director to participate and take part in an Internship Opportunity during SweetWater 2022 (September 15 -18). The four will be featured during a special Community Concert.
The Next Wave Showcase provides a stage for young musical performers from Grey Bruce and beyond. Though it began as a live event, the success of the “virtual stage” since 2020 and its wider reach to connect with performers and audiences has inspired SweetWater to continue this online format moving forward.
“We’ve really seen the Showcase grow since we moved to a virtual stage in 2020,” explains General Manager Paul Eichhorn. “In the beginning, it was more of a regional event but we now have truly created a stage for performers from throughout Ontario. We see this as an important platform for young performers.”
For more information about SweetWater’s Next Wave Showcase or how to become a performer, go to sweetwatermusicfestival.ca and click on the Showcase link.
source: media release, SweetWater Music Festival
