Two special award presentations to industry leaders Gary Slaight (MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award Presented by Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation and Pegi Cecconi (Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award)
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) paid tribute to the artists and industry veterans at the forefront of Canada’s music scene this evening at the 2021 JUNO Opening Night Awards Presented by Music Canada. Hosted byAngeline Tetteh-Wayoe from CBC Music’s The Block, the virtual version of the renowned industry event unveiled the recipients of 37 JUNO Awards, The Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award and the MusiCounts Inspired Minds Ambassador Award Presented by Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation.
This year’s heavy-hitter was The Weeknd, who took home three awards including Single of the Year, Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN and Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year. The Weeknd is also nominated for Album of the Year Presented by Music Canada, Artist of the Year Presented by SiriusXM Canada and JUNO Fan Choice Presented by Freedom Mobile, which will all be presented at the 50th Annual JUNO Awards Broadcast this Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, globally on CBCMusic.ca/junos and live-streamed on CBC Music’s TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter pages.
Much of the evening’s festivities highlighted current and rising talent, with many of the awards going to first-time winners. The list includes Crown Lands (Breakthrough Group of the Year Presented By FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters), Jason “DaHeala” Quenneville (Songwriter of the Year Presented by SOCAN), Tenille Townes (Country Album of the Year), JJ Wilde (Rock Album of the Year), Sammy Jackson (Vocal Jazz Album of the Year), Jocelyn Gould (Jazz Album of the Year: Solo), Blitz//Berlin (Instrumental Album of the Year), Ensemble Made In Canada (Classical Album of the Year: Solo Or Chamber), Erin Wall, Joshua Hopkins, and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (Classical Album of the Year: Vocal Or Choral), Samy Moussa (Classical Composition of the Year), TOBi (Rap Recording of the Year), TÖME (Reggae Recording of the Year), Shawna Cain (Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year), WondaGurl (Jack Richardson Producer of the Year), Serban Ghenea (Recording Engineer of the Year), Julien Hébert, David Beauchemin, and Marc-Étienne Mongrain (Album Artwork of the Year), Emma Higgins (Music Video of the Year), Unleash the Archers (Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year), and Jacob Samuel (Comedy Album of the Year Presented By SiriusXM Canada), and Harry Styles (International Album of the Year).
Quebec talent also stole the spotlight including winners Louis-Jean Cormier (Francophone Album of the Year), KAYTRANADA (Dance Recording of the Year) and Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal, conducted by Kent Nagano, feat. Andrew Wan (Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble).
Six powerful performances commemorated the evening including from 2021 Reggae Recording of the Year nominees, Ammoye, Kirk Diamond and this year’s winner TÖME, 2021 Breakthrough Group of the Year (Presented by FACTOR, The Government of Canada and Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters) winners Crown Lands; 2021 Francophone Album of the Year nominee Klô Pelgag; A special collaboration by Country Album of the Year nominees Lindsay Ell and MacKenzie Porter; 2021 Rap Recording of the Year winner TOBi. MONOWHALES, from the 2020/2021 Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class shortlist also wowed audiences with an electrifying performance of “Out With The Old”.
In response to Canada’s evolving music landscape, CARAS announced the creation of three new categories for 2022. Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year will now be split into two awards: Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year and Traditional Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year. Rap Recording of the Year will break into two categories: Rap Single of the Year and Rap Album/EP of the Year. Underground Dance Single of the Year has also been added to the list of categories. Submissions for the 2022 JUNO Awards will open later this year.
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