Annual Virtual Conference
January 23-24, 2027 – Free Virtual Event
Join us for an online webinar series that will highlight a wide range of career options in the ever-changing music landscape. Our all-star lineup of panelists have represented a diverse cross-section of industry leaders, including ensemble founders, artistic directors, freelance performers, small business owners, recording artists, music therapists, arts administrators, sound engineers, community music facilitators, instrument repair technicians, and more.
Whether you’re a prospective music student, currently enrolled in a post-secondary program, or a recent graduate, this event is for you!
Where Music Leads (WML) is an arts organization that seeks to normalize a wider range of career paths and broaden the definition of success in today's music industry.
OUR MISSION: To be a free resource for musicians exploring diverse career pathways; a bridge between musical passion and career reality that honours both artistic integrity and practical sustainability.
OUR VISION: To empower emerging Canadian musicians by filling the gap between traditional music education and contemporary industry demands, providing comprehensive career development that combines practical skills with inspirational guidance for both traditional and non-traditional musical paths.
OUR STORY:
WML was born from an online series called "Where Can I Go With a Music Degree...?" which first took place in 2024. After reflecting on our own professional journeys, we asked the question: “What do we wish we could go back in time and tell our eighteen year-old selves about becoming a musician?” We gathered together a group of dynamic colleagues, aiming to highlight a broader range of career options beyond the traditional paths typically presented in schools and to emphasize the extensive range of skills involved in developing a sustainable career in music. Since then, we have been committed to facilitating regular conversations between music professionals whose expertise we know will inspire the next generations to be creative and flexible in their career aspirations.
We are thrilled to be working with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO) as our collaborative partner.
For more information about our past editions, please consult our archives here.
2027 Edition
This year's edition comprises four roundtable discussions, a financial management workshop and continuation of our interactive career fair.
Each event features panelists with a range of fulfilling careers, sharing their insights about cultivating a sustainable career in music, as well as discuss the value of a musical education both within and outside the music industry.
Full details available below.
2027 Speakers
FEATURED INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS
LEADING IN THE INDUSTRY
Aline Homzy
Jazz Violinist & Composer
Jonathan Patterson
Head of Music (National Theatre School of Canada), Acting & Movement Instructor (McGill University), Freelance Stage Director, Music Director & Voice Over Artist
Percussionist & Strategic Partnerships Unit, School of Continuing Studies (McGill University)
Workshop #1
INDUSTRY GUESTS FOR 2027
"Building a Sustainable Music Career: A Financial Toolkit for Musicians"
A sustainable career in music involves developing skills both within and beyond your artistic practice. This professional development workshop offers aspiring musicians practical tools for navigating the financial side of a career in the music industry.
Topics may include budgeting (yes, even for musicians!), managing variable income, taxes, saving, and financial planning. Participants will leave with greater confidence and practical strategies to support their financial well-being and build a sustainable career in music.
Clinician TBA
Career Fair
INDUSTRY GUESTS FOR 2027
Continuing in 2027:
Join representatives from Canadian music organizations for short presentations on the types of roles and career opportunities typically offered within their organizations, followed by a Q&A in breakout rooms.
Network, learn, and explore diverse paths in the music and arts sector.
Session Two
February 1, 2025
All roundtables will be 90 minutes. Times in EST.
11:00
Roundtable #2
.
"Musical Entrepreneurship: Building Your Own Projects
and Organizations"
This roundtable will feature panelists who have developed their own dynamic projects and organizations from the ground up, driven by their individual goals of addressing existing gaps in the classical music scene for both artists and listeners. We’ll discuss what inspired them to embark on these projects, how they’ve been able to grow them, and their advice for creating your own sustainable career in music.
Panelists: Dr. Michael Bridge, Miki Sawada, Aria Umezawa
Session Three
February 8, 2025
All roundtables will be 90 minutes. Times in EST.
11:00
Roundtable #3
.
"A Day in the Life: Navigating the Demands of a Music Career"
In this roundtable, our panel of musicians will discuss the realities of their work behind the music, including the balance of creative time with administration, financial planning, and travel management. This discussion provides an open look at the routines, responsibilities, and dedication required to build and sustain a career in music. From time spent practicing, to securing engagements and managing finances, join us in an exploration of the artistry and business that goes into managing a career.
Whether you’re interested in freelance work, solo performance or other creative avenues, this discussion will provide a candid look at the behind-the-scenes realities that go beyond the practice room.
Panelists: Philip Chiu, Dr. Adam Cicchillitti, Naomi Woo
Special Guest: Tom Allen
In conversation with event hosts, Lara Deutsch, Dr. Amy Hillis and Dr. Cindy Thong
17:00
Virtual Meet & Greet
Meet the Event Organizers
Carleton University,
University of Ottawa
Acadia University
The National Youth Orchestra of Canada (NYO Canada) is one of the country’s leading training institutes for young orchestral musicians. For over 60 years, NYO Canada has prepared young musicians aged 16 to 28 for professional careers through intensive training, mentorship, and performance opportunities.
Internationally recognized for fostering excellence and leadership, NYO Canada empowers young artists to make a lasting impact in the global music community. As a collaborative partner of this event , NYO Canada continues to celebrate learning, collaboration, and the transformative power of music.
In Collaboration With
Schedule Day 1
January 23, 2027
All roundtables will be 90 minutes; workshops will be 75 minutes. Times in EST.
10:00
Roundtable #1
"What is 'success' after a music degree?"
In this roundtable, panelists will discuss what “success” means to them on their respective paths (and how their definitions of success may have changed over time). They will also explore how success encompasses more than just their work, reflecting on how their choices have been shaped by their personal goals as well.
Panelists: Christie Gray, Ben Duinker, Michelle Lynne
11:30
Lunch Break
12:30
Workshop #1
"Building a Sustainable Music Career: A Financial Toolkit for Musicians"
A sustainable career in music involves developing skills both within and beyond your artistic practice. This professional development workshop offers aspiring musicians practical tools for navigating the financial side of a career in the music industry. Topics may include budgeting (yes, even for musicians!), managing variable income, taxes, saving, and financial planning. Participants will leave with greater confidence and practical strategies to support their financial well-being and build a sustainable career in music.
Clinicians: TBA
14:15
Roundtable #2
"Pedagogy V2: Learning to Teach, Not Just to Play"
Most musicians are expected to teach at some point in their careers, yet many enter teaching without formal training in pedagogy, psychology, or human development. This roundtable brings together educators working across private studio settings, academic institutions, and group learning environments to explore what it truly means to become a pedagogue. How do we learn to teach? What skills extend beyond technique? And what makes an impactful, transformative educator – someone who meaningfully shapes not only musical ability, but also a student’s confidence, thinking, and growth beyond the instrument?
Panelists: Evelyne Brancart, Tony Nam-Hai Leong, Jonathan Patterson
Schedule Day 2
January 24, 2027
All roundtables will be 90 minutes; workshops will be 75 minutes. Times in EST.
10:00
Roundtable #3
"Mental Health in the Music Industry"
Recent studies have shown that there are significant mental health challenges in the music industry, especially post-pandemic. Our panelists will discuss how they address some of those challenges, including finding work-life balance, managing irregular schedules, maintaining financial security, and more.
Panelists: Aline Homzy, Sara Brooks, Kellylee Evans
11:30
Lunch Break
12:30
Workshop #2
"Career Fair: Working in the Music Industry"
This year’s Career Fair will feature representatives from a number of Canadian music institutions and organizations. Each panelist will give a short presentation about the types of roles they typically offer within their organization or on their job boards, after which attendees will be able to ask their questions and speak directly with the panelists in breakout rooms. A great opportunity to network and learn about a variety of career possibilities!
Presenters: TBA
14:15
Roundtable #4
"Where Music Lives: Community, Place, and Connection"
Communities are integral to musical life. In particular, smaller communities offer a distinct musical ecosystem – one often shaped by proximity, familiarity, and long-term relationships with audiences. This roundtable explores how musicians can build meaningful careers and artistic identities both within – and outside of – major metropolitan centres. What does audience connection look like when performance is embedded in everyday community life? How does working in smaller settings shape artistic choices, collaboration, and sustainability? And how does this shape artistic practice and the role of the musician in society?
Panelists: Carmen Braden, Gertrude Letourneau, third panelist TBA.
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DAYS
SPEAKERS
ROUNDTABLES
WORKSHOPS
Our Supporters
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