Amplifying the Future of Canadian Live Music
Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall have launched a new Artist Development fundraising campaign that aims to support Canadian artists and their teams by providing access to world‑class facilities, mentorship, and creative collaboration opportunities at Allied Music Centre.
Located in the heart of Toronto’s music community, Allied Music Centre is a state‑of‑the‑art creative hub featuring the Deane Cameron Recording Studio, professional edit and songwriting suites, and access to multiple performance spaces including the Allied Music Centre Theatre, TD Music Hall, and ultimately the legendary Allan Slaight Stage at Massey Hall.
As a registered charity, The Corporation of Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall owns and operates Massey Hall, Roy Thomson Hall, and Allied Music Centre. Guided by a commitment to serve as a home for every artist and every fan, the organization has long championed Canadian talent at every stage of their careers.
Donations to the Artist Development Program directly support this mission by helping artists build sustainable careers on some of the country’s most iconic stages.
HEAR FROM OUR ARTIST DEVELOPMENT AMBASSADORS
DEBBY FRIDAY
"I have so much gratitude for the whole team at Massey Hall and their Artist Development program. They've helped me achieve so many of my creative goals and working with them has been such a pleasure. I can tell that everyone there really cares about art and about the artists as well. It's so important to have the right kind of support around you and the Massey Hall team has been that for me."
ABOUT
Debby Friday is a Nigerian-born, Toronto-based artist working across electronic music, production, DJing, and film. Following the Polaris Music Prize–winning success of her debut album Good Luck (2023), she earned a JUNO Award in 2026 for Dance Recording of the Year for “Bet On Me” from her sophomore release The Starrr Of The Queen Of Life.
Sebastian Gaskin
"Being an inaugural resident at Massey Hall has helped my career in ways I couldn’t have imagined. The connections I’ve made, the creative development I’ve experienced, and the resources I’ve had access to have all pushed my work forward in ways that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise."
ABOUT
Sebastian Gaskin is an award-winning, Toronto-based, Tataskweyak Cree Nation multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and producer whose genre-blurring work has earned growing national attention. His debut album LOVECHILD (2025, Ishkōdé Records/Universal Music Canada) marked a breakout moment, followed by a Ghost Light performance at Massey Hall where he was named among the inaugural Artists in Residence.
William Prince
"To have people believing in you, and to have access to resources that can make a difference, all while being under the caring, watchful eye of this institution that wants to keep making sure we have an abundance of diverse talent — you don’t see that anywhere else."
ABOUT
William Prince is a two-time JUNO Award–winning songwriter whose acclaimed body of work includes honours such as the John Prine Songwriter Fellowship and an Americana Music Honors & Awards nomination. A celebrated live performer, he has recorded Live at Massey Hall and headlined the venue twice—most recently in 2026—cementing his place as one of Canada’s most compelling voices.
