Musician and songwriter Andy Sheppard is the recipient of the fourth annual Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award for his song Until Next Time.
Andy Sheppard was chosen by an Ontario Arts Council (OAC) selection panel from nominations put forward by the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals’ Songs from the Heart competition. He will perform his winning song at the Songs from the Heart showcase on October 14, 2006 at this, the 20th anniversary of the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals’ conference in Ottawa.
The annual $1,000 Colleen Peterson Songwriting Award supports and promotes the work of Ontario-resident emerging singer/songwriters in the genres of roots, traditional, folk and country music. The jury for this year’s competition included last year’s co-winner, songwriter Lori Cullen, musician and producer Danny Greenspoon, music administrator Jeanine Hollingshead, and Laura Bird and Shirley Richardson, both Colleen Peterson Committee members.
Singer/songwriter and guitarist Andy Sheppard was born in 1972 in Simcoe, Ontario, and grew up in the nearby community of Lynedoch. While studying music at Montreal’s McGill University, he made his first album, the critically acclaimed Eclectic Guitar. Andy has since traveled extensively, searching out musical experiences in the South Pacific, Europe, South East Asia, and North Africa. Several of those adventures led to new recordings, including 1999's Swimming In Realtime, as well as work as a correspondent, music producer, and host on CBC Radio.
He studied with two legendary guitarists, Don Ross and Pierre Bensusan, eventually opening for both musicians in concert. In 2006, Andy released his latest self-titled recording, which is establishing him as an important voice in Canadian music, not just as a guitarist, but as a songwriter and composer as well. Most recently he appeared on CBC’s Sounds Like Canada program playing the inaugural radio performance of the new Six String Nation Guitar. The guitar is made of pieces from symbolic sites and items from across Canada, including the famous Haida Gwaii spruce, Pierre Trudeau's canoe paddle, and part of Maurice Richard’s 1955-56 Stanley Cup ring. For more information about Andy, go to www.andysheppard.com.
The award honouring the late singer-songwriter Colleen Peterson was established at the Ontario Arts Council in 2003 by her sister, Shirley Richardson and singer-songwriter Laura Bird. The Ontario Arts Council administers The Colleen Peterson Songwriting Fund and the selection process.
- 30 -
For more information, please contact:
Kirsten Gunter, OAC Communications
(416) 969-7403 or toll free in Ontario at 1-800-387-0058 ext.7403
kgunter@arts.on.ca
Ce document existe également en français.