By Abigail Chippett
St. John’s, NL - The energy in the Delta hotel lobby was electric as volunteers hurried to get stages and equipment set up for East Coast Music Week, which is running from April 8-12 in St. John’s
The festivities officially kicked off Wednesday, April 8 in the capital city. Organizers and volunteers were preparing for Atlantic Canada’s top talents to showcase their skills in the Delta lobby, various hotel ballrooms, and other locations throughout downtown St. John’s. Friends new and old greeted each other and mingled around the hotel, excited in anticipation of celebrating the music and culture of the east coast.
Among the 281 total volunteers are 15 students from College of the North Atlantic's (CNA) Sound Recording & Production, and Music Industry and Performance programs. While helping out during the weeks' events, they are able to get a hands-on experience in their field and make connections and explore opportunities which will benefit them in through the rest of their program and in their future careers.
“I was working as a sound technician for a few of the showcases setting up equipment, making sure the sound was coming through properly,” said Dylan Rose, a Music Industry and Performance graduate who is now enrolled in Sound Recording & Production. “If the sound guy needed any help on the soundboard I would help him out. I would mic up all the instruments and make sure everything was set to the correct level.”
Anthony Haines, another CNA student, compared the experience to volunteering at the Music NL awards last year.
“We’ve gone to Music NL the past two years. We went just for the experience, to talk to people and see how it’s done. But here at the ECMAs, we actually get a chance to work in the field we’re going into, to experience it first-hand.”
“Going to events like this make a huge difference; it helps you make contacts with people in the industry,” Rose added. “I just finished up working with a sound guy, and he told me that he’d keep me in mind for when after I graduate. It’s a great way to line up jobs for after graduation, by working with people and getting to know them.”
Haines added that another advantage to volunteering at the ECMAs is seeing all the performances and getting to meet the acts.
“I’m definitely excited to work my shift at the Rockhouse,” Haines said. “There’s going to be a lot of talented bands and musicians playing there while I’m working and I’m looking forward to seeing them play and getting the opportunity to meet them.”
Besides having volunteers involved in the East Coast Music Awards, many CNA alumni have been nominated for awards and are playing shows during the festivities.
The Secrets, who are all graduates of CNA, were nominated for Country Recording of the Year.
RocketRocketShip, which includes CNA graduate Paul Brake, was nominated for Rising Star of the Year.
The Combine, who has six CNA diplomas between the four members, were up for Loud Recording of the Year. And Scott Hammond, instructional coordinator for the Sound Recording & Production program at the college, was nominated for two awards, Studio Engineer of the Year and Studio of the Year.
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NOTE: Abigail Chippett is a first year Journalism student at CNA’s Bay St. George campus in Stephenville.
Media Contact:
Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca