Photo by Brad Ardley. Left to right: Nick Fedor (CSHF), Andy Kim, Nemahsis, A. Harmony (Amazon Music), Julia Lennox (CSHF)

Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame holds inaugural Song & Score Day

Story by Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame | October 23, 2025

PHOTO GALLERY BELOW

The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (CSHF) presented Nemahsis with its 2025 Breakthrough Songwriter Award (Anglophone) during a Masterclass with her and legendary songwriter Andy Kim, held during its inaugural Song & Score Day – a one-day, summit-style event inspired by its biennial Song & Score Week – on Oct. 16, 2025, at the Meridian Arts Centre in the Toronto borough of North York.

Song & Score Day gathered together 2025 CSHF inductees; music publishers; emerging and hit-making songwriters; screen composers; and music industry professionals, for a full day of learning, connection, and inspiration. It featured professional development panels that offered insights from industry leaders navigating today’s evolving music landscape. These were held alongside artist-led conversations: honest, dynamic, and inspiring discussions with creators shaping the future of music.

The day also included networking opportunities for music-makers to connect with peers and mentors across the industry, as well as the return of the aforementioned CSHF Masterclass – an intimate, deep-dive session with Nemahsis and Andy Kim. SOCAN Legal Counsel Adam Jacobs participated in an educational panel discussing AI, while Claire Boué, SOCAN’s Creative Programs & Partnerships Coordinator, Membership, answered questions in a session about royalties.

The Song & Score Day sessions were:

AI Overview: What You Need To Know
Moderated by Tia Gordon (Founder, West Facing), with Adam Jacobs (Legal Counsel, SOCAN), Arun Chaturvedi (President, SAC), and John Rowley (President, SCGC)

Storytelling: A Journey from Song to Score with Ian Thomas
Moderated by Greg Johnston (songwriter, producer), with Ian Thomas (2025 CSHF inductee), Alexandra Petkovski (composer, producer, multi-Instrumentalist), and  Rebecca Everett (film composer, multi-Instrumentalist songwriter)

CSHF Masterclass
Moderated by Elamin Abdelmahmoud (CBC Music Host), with Andy Kim (2025 CSHF inductee), Nemahsis (2025 CSHF Breakthrough Songwriter Award winner)

Publishing Rapid Fire
Moderated by Margaret McGuffin (CEO, Music Publishers Canada), with Dante Beradi Jr. and Steve Molella (Anthem Music Group); Melissa Cameron-Passley and Chris LaRocca (Kilometre Music Group); and Mishelle Pack and John Mavro (Sony Music Publishing Canada).

JUNOs Info Session: Songwriter Submissions
Liz Morgante (Director of Academy Operations, CARAS/The JUNO Awards) and Catie Seeley (Manager, Academy Operations, CARAS/The JUNO Awards)

Royalties Q&A
Andrea England (Publisher Engagement and Strategy, CMRRA); Claire Boué (Creative Programs & Partnerships Coordinator, Membership, SOCAN); and Alexis Chubb (Manager of Membership Operations, CONNECT Music Licensing)