STINGRAY Young Performers Program

Gracie is an up and coming artist from Winnipeg, Manitoba. She spent her youth honing her voice as a vocal student at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts while taking advantage of numerous opportunities to expand her skills and grow as an artist. 

From a Rainbow Stage production to eight musical theatre shows with a private company, Gracie has performed as a troupe member, often gleaning lead roles with solos. She was part of an advanced, auditioned vocal group that gigged regularly (including radio and TV appearances) and performed concerts backed by high-level orchestras. This group also showcased its talent on a European tour. Gracie spent the first few months of 2019 in Los Angeles. There, she participated in daily songwriting sessions, developing her knack for finding the right melody to pair with unique lyrics. 

She spent time at the Winnipeg-based studio, Stereobus Records, working with producers Paul Yee and Murray Pulver on an original song, Just to Pass the Time. At the beginning of the pandemic, Gracie released her first single, "Dont Make Me Kill You". She hopes to reveal her first EP in the near future, which will encompass a flavour of darker sounds and themes to challenge her creativity.

I'm a 17 year old songwriter born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Music has always played a special role in my life and has been my biggest passion since I was little. My goal is to make listeners feel something when they hear my music. I want to evoke emotion through poetry and song and create lyrics that will reach the ears of those who need to hear them. Aside from my music, I also partake in other hobbies such as drawing, acting, writing, and playing D&D with a great group of friends. I'm an ambitious but soft-hearted person who is dedicated to making the world a better place, by little or by large. One lyric at a time.

He's got the hair, he's got the moves, you know he's got the skills. Who is he...? Jace Bodner! The 20 year-old singer/songwriter/guitar player/bass player/producer is not messing around. He's writing sweet sweet Funk, Soul and Pop music and playing it with two of the hottest bands out there, "The Motherfunk" and "Jace and the Hotties" who play regular shows around Winnipeg. He has a passion for performing and creating music and is working hard on his very first album!

"Watch out! Because you do NOT want to miss this guy!" - Jace Bodner, about himself

Jackson Klippenstein is a 20-year-old guitarist/singer/songwriter from Kenora, Ontario. He recorded his first EP consisting of 4 original songs in February of 2019 with Rusty Matyas at Moonrise Music Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Since then, his single has had air time on different radio stations across Canada including CBC radio. Jacksons style ranges from a mix of old blues, folk, classic rock, and everything in between bringing a bright energetic taste to the table.

My name is Jennifer, I am 24 years old and I am an aspiring singer-songwriter in Winnipeg, MB. I am a member of Manitoba Music, and I have been singing, songwriting and playing the guitar since I was around 12 years old. During the covid lockdowns is when I really started taking my music career seriously. I have been a frequent open-mic performer (among many other things) and when people would ask me if I had any music out that they could listen to, the answer was always no and I began to feel the imposter syndrome sinking in. When I suddenly had so much time to myself, I realized that I cant see myself doing anything else. Music sets my soul on fire (in a good way!) and its my biggest passion in life; which is why I decided that Id like to put my music out for the world to hear. Its not that I want to be a musician, its that I HAVE to. I did some research and got in contact with Adam Fuhr (Yes we Mystic) of House of Wonders, and we started working on my first EP this year. I intend to release The Retrospective Heart EP early next year.

Kael Sauerborn is an emerging singer/songwriter from Gimli, Manitoba. Being a self-taught guitar player and singer, he searches outside the box for connections between his guitar and voice. With an early desire to never write the same song twice, his songs span folk, roots, pop, and the darker side of blues.

In a recent songwriting collaboration with Indigenous chanter and drummer Ray "Coco" Stevenson, Kael had opportunities to play live on CBC Radio, as well as with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. These experiences helped re-light a passion for writing and sharing, that he brings forward today.

Kael plans on his first EP release for mid-late 2022, and plans to enjoy playing his many "pandemic songs" for people in this new age of live music.

Keltie is a trans singer-songwriter whose unique voice and style makes them a young artist
to watch. 2017 proved to be a Year of Firsts for Keltie. Stepping into the studio for the first time
with Juno award-winning producer Russell Broom, Keltie recorded four original songs. Collected together, the four tracks would be released as Keltie's debut EP Everything I Haven't Said on November 4th 2017. The EP would reach #1 on iTunes Top Selling Singer-songwriter Albums in Canada, with the lead single "Someone Tell Her" reaching #2 on iTunes Top Selling Singer-songwriter Singles in Canada.

The momentum would continue for Someone Tell Her, getting nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award in the Young Performer of the Year category, winning the Rising Star Award at the Edmonton Music Awards, reaching semi-finals in CBC Music Searchlight competition, as well as an honourable mention in the Canadian Songwriting Competition. They released another single, "Expect Inhibition" in spring of 2019. The song has been played on radio stations across Canada including CBC Radio.

Keltie continues to pursue his dream of sharing his music with as many folks as possible and will be returning to the recording studio in 2022.

So picture the chatter of a million talkers and then pan sideways to the corner where you notice the sneaky little poet-producer Lev Snowe, who's always observing and scribbling down songs as a curious means of getting closer to the soul. And this prairie kid maybe shows some sonic traces of nostalgiaperhaps that final homestretch after being gone a whileimmured in cosmic synth sways and the glittery sunlight of existence as the drums kick real hard and knock you back again into that familiar fact-consciousnessonly this time there is no turning from the psychedelic hypnosis that now distorts the room and draws you into those lines, those words, the ones that maybe linger on in your mind like Eliotat the still point of the turning world where Lev is too, recording a dazzling scene from his basement studiothat unlikely universe which sparks those future triumphs and freedoms of our time together. And maybe it's at this point you realize that's exactly where you want to bebecause even on that tired road home, there are still dreams to be had. They await you. Lev often describes his songwriting as just playing a part in a greater tradition of writing. To catch perfect words from the sky, combine them with earthly guitars, and instil them into their own point in history doesn't use a formula or algorithm: it requires patience, and restraint, but its outcome is maybe what nabs your attention and sets Lev forth on his journey.

Lilac Jam is a folk/Americana/roots duo comprised of Sofia Friesen and Syd Kurbis. With inspiration taken from the Secret Sisters, Brandi Carlile and Madison Violet, the two cousins offer deeply rich voices, meaningful lyrics, and smooth harmonies. Sofia and Syd have been playing music together their whole lives and write songs about love, loss, and the places they grew up.

We are currently in the process of recording our first album titled: "You Should Ask About The Rain".

Luc Wrigley has been playing music since the age of 3 1/2 and has been playing on stages since the age of 4. Throughout his performing with Winnipeg band band Double the Trouble, Luc has been able to play his fiddle, guitar and sing all across the prairies and Canada. Him and his brother have been features at multiple festivals such as the Winnipeg Folk Fest, Festival du voyageur, and others inside and out of Manitoba and Canada. He now seeks to advance his skills and learn more about the music industry, songwriting and performing in general.