SOCAN was pleased and proud to host a reception for six of our aspiring SOCAN #ComposersWhoScore participating in the Canadian Film Centre’s (CFC’s) 2019 Slaight Music Residency program. The residents, their program mentor, CFC staff, several established screen composers, members of the Screen Composers Guild of Canada (SCGC), and various SOCAN Board members, executives, and staff all gathered in the Harmony Lounge of our Toronto offices in the early evening of Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019, to mingle, connect, network, and enjoy some food and drink.
Left to right: SOCAN’s Aidan D’Aoust and Rodney Murphy; Hagler; and residency participant Kat Burns.
The Slaight Music Residency is a creative and business initiative for screen composers and songwriters. It encourages the complete integration of music creators into the onscreen process, while offering unique business opportunities to increase the use of Canadian music in film and TV. By providing participants with advanced knowledge on how to effectively translate their musical talent to onscreen applications, the program helps develop, package and launch their unique musical vision.
The six attending residents were Anthony Wallace, Casey Laforet, Iva Delic, Kat Burns, Simon Poole, and Tika Cato. They were joined by their CFC Slaight Music Residency mentor, screen composer Darren Fung, as well as CFC staff Erica Proudlock and Nancy Hu. Zoe Cunningham attended on behalf of the Songwriters Association of Canada, as did Tonya Dedrick of the SCGC. Established SOCAN #ComposersWhoScore Victor Davies, Glenn Morley (both members of SOCAN’s Board of Directors), Marvin Dolgay, John Rowley, and Janal Bechthold were there as well, as were Hagler and YM.
SOCAN was represented by CEO Eric Baptiste, Director of A&R Rodney Murphy, and the Membership Department’s Paul Stillo, Kathryn Hamilton, Melissa Cameron-Passley, Aidan D’Aoust, Racquel Villagante, and Olivia Cummings.
Eric Baptiste thanked everyone for attending; Rodney Murphy spoke about the importance of our screen composer community, and acknowledged all those in attendance; and mentor Darren Fung encouraged all the residents to mix and mingle with the music-industry people in attendance, at one point joking that they weren’t allowed to talk to each other, only new contacts.