91福利 students behind the scenes at the JUNOs
Home-grown stars and musical talent took home Juno Awards in Hamilton, Ont., last month, but those weren't the only winners.
Professional Music and Creative Industries students from 91福利 got front-row seats to the Junos this year. Invited to attend the rehearsals, these students saw firsthand what it takes to produce Canada鈥檚 biggest night in music.
The pre-show dry-run set the stage for a high-energy evening. For these aspiring creatives, the experience was a rare bridge between their studies and some of the nation鈥檚 best in the music business.
Students from The Creative School at 91福利 were front row at the 2026 JUNO Awards rehearsal as part of an experiential opportunity to engage with the Canadian music industry. (Photo credit: Connor Tadao/Flee Normality)
鈥淭he Junos are a vital celebration of Canadian music, and providing 91福利 students with behind-the-scenes access to the broadcast rehearsal offers an invaluable learning experience that helps nurture the next generation of our industry,鈥� says Creative Industries Professor Charlie Wall-Andrews. 鈥淭his is the kind of learning 91福利 is all about: bridging theory and practice in meaningful ways. It gives students the opportunity to experience firsthand the collaboration, creativity and professionalism that fuel our industry.鈥�
Professor Charlie Wall-Andrews and Allan Reid, President & CEO of the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS), the Juno Awards and MusiCounts. (Photo credit: Connor Tadao/Flee Normality)
Learning in action
Prescela Jeevaratnam, a third-year Creative Industries student and vice-president, events for The Society of The Creative School, represents and advocates for undergraduate students within the faculty while helping lead student engagement opportunities.
Third-year Creative Industries student Prescela Jeevaratnam says that the Juno Awards rehearsal offered her a rare glimpse into the tight-knit world of Canadian music.
As vice-president of events for The Society of The Creative School, she regularly engages with the creative community on campus, but attending the rehearsal gave her a deeper sense of the industry she hopes to shape.
鈥淭his experience made me realize that my goals in the music industry are more attainable than I thought.鈥�
The experience also strengthened her confidence in pursuing a career in Canada.
There was a time I contemplated moving to New York to work in music,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut the Junos, along with other recent experiences in Canada, have filled me with immense civic pride. Canadian talent is making waves in the music industry, and I鈥檓 eager to continue growing my career as a Canadian music professional.鈥�
Outside the classroom, Jeevaratnam is building her own marketing agency, Passing Notes, offering strategy, branding, creative production and experiential marketing services to artists and organizations in the music industry.
She is also a student in the 21st cohort of The Remix Project 鈥� a mentorship program that supports creatives across music, visual arts, and business.
鈥淭his event showed me that someone you met might already be in the room you're trying to get into -- and that connection can open the door.鈥�
By the end of the night, Jeevaratnam had already made new connections, joining friends and collaborators at a Cardi B karaoke event hosted by Black Canadian Women in Music, a reminder of the opportunities that open up when students immerse themselves in the industry.
Third-year Professional Music students Fiona Jones, Ramya Ramnath and Nadia Plumb were excited to participate in a major music and culture event and learn more about the Canadian music industry. (Photo credit: Connor Tadao/Flee Normality)
For third-year Professional Music student Nadia Plumb, the chance to gain direct industry experience was too good to pass up. An electronic music producer, DJ and drummer, she鈥檚 deeply passionate about live performance and entertainment.
Going to the Junos rehearsal gave her a new appreciation for the complexity of producing an awards show that audiences rarely see.
鈥淐onnecting students to events, experiences and industry leaders helps bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world practice, allowing us to gain professional exposure and build our networks.鈥�
鈥淚 wanted a behind-the-scenes look at how a large-scale production comes together,鈥� she says. 鈥淲atching the rehearsal showed me how teams collaborate, how roles are divided and the level of coordination required for a live broadcast.鈥�
The opportunity allowed her to meaningfully engage with the music industry beyond the classroom.
Where the music can take you
The Junos recognize outstanding achievements across various genres in the Canadian music industry and are hosted annually by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS).
The event celebrates Canadian cultural identity and diversity through performances and awards that reflect the nation's evolving cultural mosaic, including Indigenous, Black and francophone artists. This year saw the first distinct Latin American category, while the South Asian category was introduced in 2025. Research led by Creative Industries Professor and Professional Music Program Director Charlie Wall-Andrews helped push forward the new Latin category at the Juno Awards.
A Ted Rogers School of Management alum who completed her PhD in management in 2023, Wall-Andrew鈥檚 research sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship and equity in the music industry.
鈥淔or me, it鈥檚 important to teach, mentor and collaborate on global initiatives, while also contributing to policy and advocacy efforts that shape a more inclusive and sustainable creative economy,鈥� says Wall-Andrews.
As a professor, she strives to create experiential learning opportunities and meaningful engagement in the field to support students鈥� academic and personal growth.
That commitment led Wall-Andrews to give Creative Industries and Professional Music students the chance to attend the Junos rehearsal.
The experience led to exposure to multiple facets of the music industry, networking opportunities and experience of a run of show for a major arts and culture event that was broadcast live across the nation.
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