York’s Faculty of Fine Arts shares in three Juno Awards

A Capella quartet Cadence, featuring three graduates from the Music Department, led the way in York nominations at the 2006 Juno Awards but was shut out in the awards ceremony, held Sunday in Halifax. This year’s nominees included four graduates, two faculty members, three former students and an honorary doctorate recipient.


Cadence was nominated for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. The group features Dylan Bell (BFA ’95), Ross Lynde (BFA ‘00) and Carl Berger (BFA ‘99) along with director-producer Kevin Fox. Bell was also nominated for Recording Engineer of the Year.


Right: From left, Cadence members Lynde, Berger, Fox and Bell


The news for York was not all bad, however, as alumnus Shawn Marino (BFA ‘94) was one of a group of people who won a Juno for Music DVD of the Year. Marino, international marketing director for Universal Music Canada, helped produce Hipeponymous featuring Canadian rock group The Tragically Hip.


Jeanne LamonClassical violinist and honorary degree recipient Jeanne Lamon (left) (DLitt ‘94), musical director of the Canadian-based chamber orchestra,Tafelmusik, won for Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble or Soloist(s) with Large Ensemble Accompaniment (Concerti Virtuosi) and for Children’s Album of the Year, the same category that included York nominee and part-time instructor, violinist Peggy Hills McGuire. Pianist/composer Nancy Walker, who is also a part-time instructor in York’s Music Department, was nominated for Instrumental Album of the Year.


Jane BunnettPerennial nominee and award winner Jane Bunnett (right), one of Canada’s best-known jazz artists and a former York music student, won a Juno for her album Radio Guantánamo (Guantánamo Blues Project ,Vol. 1) in the category of Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year.


Former York students and rappers Kardinal Offishal (Jason Harrow) and k-os (Kevin Bereton) were also nominated this year.


For more information on the 2006 Juno award winners, including a full list of nominees and their biographies, visit the Juno Awards Web site. For more information on the York nominees, see the story in the Feb. 20 issue of YFile.