CHANGES
MARK YOUR
CALENDAR...
MARK HOLCOMB
MARCO MENDOZA
Mark Holcomb & Marco Mendoza to Guest at Guitar Workshop Plus
Toronto Session
Canadian Music Week’s 2020
Conference Schedule Taking
Shape
Canadian Music Week 2020 has released
the preliminary schedule for its three-day
Music Summit. Taking place once again at
the Sheraton Centre Hotel in Toronto, it will
run from May 20-22.
Mental health and wellness is a notice-
able theme throughout the conference this
year. The Unison Benevolent Fund is spon-
soring a keynote session on “Mental Health
in the Music Community” with musician
and recreation therapist Zac Crouse. As
well, there are panels on “Health & Fitness,
The New Sex & Drugs of Rock n’ Roll" and
“Are You Ready to Rock...Responsibly? Live
Music’s Social Challenge.”
Canadian Musician will again be active-
ly involved in the conference. Senior Editor
Michael Raine is moderating the panel,
“How Streaming Playlists Really Work... & Do
They Even Matter?” As well, Editor-in-Chief
Andrew King is moderating a Q&A with
famed producer David Bottrill, a producer’s
panel with top studio pros, and “Meet the
Brands: The Mutual Benefits of Music Part-
nerships.” As well, the Canadian Musician
Recording Academy will feature top record-
ing engineers and producers presenting a
hands-on workshop.
For the full schedule, go to
www.cmw.net.
16 CANADIAN MUSICIAN
Guitar Workshop Plus has revealed that Periphery guitarist Mark Holcomb and acclaimed
bassist Marco Mendoza will be the guest artists for its Toronto session, running from July
26-31, 2020, at the Kingbridge Conference Centre.
Holcomb is a guitarist for acclaimed progressive metal band Periphery, whose latest
album, Periphery IV: Hail Stan, reached number one on the U.S. Independent Albums chart.
Mendoza has been the session and touring bassist for many big names in rock, including
Whitesnake, Thin Lizzy, The Dead Daisies, Neal Schon, Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries,
and more.
The Guitar Workshop Plus program offers students a setting for intense musical and personal
growth as well as group development. Courses are offered for all levels (beginner to advanced),
ages (12 through adult), and styles including blues, jazz, rock, acoustic, and classical. There are
also intensive bass, drum, keyboard, vocal, and songwriting courses.
For more information, contact Guitar Workshop Plus: 905-567-8000,
[email protected], www.guitarworkshopplus.com.
Sing! Festival
Returning for 2
Weeks of
Concerts &
Workshops
Sing! The Toronto Vocal
Arts Festival is returning
from May 19-31, 2020.
Now heading into its
ninth year, the event
celebrates the best in
a cappella music from
around the world.
Sing! is bringing back the popular Mass Choir event, an opportunity to hone one’s skills
and participate in the joy of singing with many groups. Toronto-based a cappella ensemble
Countermeasure will celebrate its 10 th anniversary with a special show. Among the other head-
liners are vocal jazz group Accent, a cappella pop group Beatsync, and acclaimed singer Micah
Barnes, who will welcome a host of guest artists for his Sing! Salutes Vegas show.
Also, Sing!’s ninth annual School Workshop Day for high-school and middle-school
students will be held on May 22 nd at Young People’s Theatre.
For more information, go to www.singtoronto.com.