Seven Capilano University alumni up for Juno Awards (plus two instructors)

NORTH VANCOUVER B.C. – Seven Capilano University jazz alumni and two faculty members have been nominated for 2017 Juno Awards. 

Bria Skonberg and Amanda Tosoff are nominated for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, with drummer Morgan Childs playing on Tosoff’s album, Words, and saxophonist Evan Arntzen, on Bria. The album Everyone Knows Everyone by Pugs & Crows, which includes CapU alumni Cole Schmidt, Russell Sholberg and Catherine Toren, is nominated for Instrumental Album of the Year. Jazz instructor Brad Turner is nominated as a member of Metalwood for Jazz Album of the Year: Group for Twenty. Warren Dean Flandez, Arts & Entertainment Management instructor, is nominated for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.

The nominees were announced earlier this month and the awards will be handed out during Juno Week, March 27 to April 2, in Ottawa, with the award show airing April 2. 

Jared Burrows, Jazz Studies coordinator and instructor, says the news of the multiple nominations for members of CapU’s community inspires and motivates current students to pursue their dreams.

“It’s evidence that we’re preparing people to contribute artistically to music at the highest levels,” Burrows says. 

About Jazz Studies at Capilano University
Recognized nation-wide as one of Canada's top jazz schools, Capilano University’s Jazz Studies department offers a two-year diploma and a four-year bachelor of music degree in Jazz Studies. Alumni include award-winning musicians such as Gordon Grdina (guitarist with Dan Mangan + Blacksmith), Jesse Zubot (Polaris Prize winner with Tanya Tagaq), Neelamjit Dhillon, Cory Weeds (Cellar Live record label owner and producer) and choral conductor Graeme Langager.

About Capilano University
Capilano University is a teaching-focused university based in North Vancouver, with programming serving the Sunshine Coast and the Sea-to-Sky corridor. The University offers 99 programs, including bachelor’s degrees in areas as diverse as film, jazz, early childhood education and tourism management. Capilano University enrols approximately 11,600 students each year, 8,300 in for-credit programs and 3,300 in non-credit courses. Capilano University is named after Chief Joe Capilano, an important leader of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) Nation of the Coast Salish people. Our campuses are located on the territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, Musqueam, Lil’wat and Sechelt (shíshálh) Nations. 

For more information, or to schedule interviews, please contact: 

Cheryl Rossi
Senior Communications Advisor
Capilano University
t: 604 983 7596
c: 778 879 7119
e: cherylrossi@capilanou.ca 
www.capilanou.ca