About The Pre-Professional Program:
The Pre-Professional Program is a full-time, paid summer opportunity for early-career musicians to level up their artist business in preparation for the Emerging Artist Program and careers in the music industry. We have roles for singer-songwriters, self-accompanied vocalists, and instrumentalists in all genres.
Pre-Professional Artists deliver Community Engaged Performances (CEPs) multiple times each week in their program location (approx. 50% of program time), and engage in interdisciplinary music business, performance training and workshops (approx. 50% of program time), building a foundational understanding of the Canadian Music Industry at large.
You are currently applying for the Pre-Professional Program.
Please note:
Pre-Professional applications will only be considered for the Pre-Professional Program.
Pre-Professional Program Artist Eligibility:
Must have their own portable solo performance setup for in-person performance opportunities (amplification optional, but recommended)
Must have a minimum of 60 minutes of material suitable for performance in public spaces, and be prepared to engage with and entertain the public.
Must be prepared to perform for 2-3 hours in length in-person.
Must be able to perform regularly in any of the locations you indicate in your application.
Pre-Professional Program Artist Duties and Responsibilities:
Perform music and provide engaging and high-quality entertainment at summer events such as festivals, community celebrations, tourism initiatives, and agricultural fairs taking place in public and quasi-public spaces within municipalities partnered with the Co-op.
Participate in career-related skill-development programs, workshops, rehearsals and training programs to develop the highest caliber of professional skills and attitudes that will transcend the summer job period.
Develop and work on a professional artist website, bio, electronic press kit (EPK), etc., that authentically supports your career and publish them to the public.
Respond to inquiries and interactions via electronic means (i.e., email, Slack, etc.) in a timely and professional manner.
Maintain professional workplace behavior and confidentiality in all workplace interactions.
Providing support for company programs (No More Starving Artists Program, Wellness, etc).
Complete administrative tasks on time and with accuracy, as assigned.
Attend functions such as job fairs, networking events, schools, and other approved locations to promote Co-op programs.
Clock in and out and provide daily shift reports using Employee Self-Service in the HRIS, Payworks.
Effectively use assigned PPE and follow Health and Safety protocols.
Wear a clean Co-op program shirt and employee ID during all in-person performances.
Complete SOCAN Notification of Live Music Performance and other reports as needed.
Complete other tasks as assigned.
Pre-Professional Program Work Hours:
Professional Development: Tuesday-Friday
Performance: Wednesday-Friday evenings, weekends, as scheduled by your Artist Coordinator
- Please note, performance slots are typically 2 hours long and take up approximately 16 hours each week.
No program activities scheduled for artists on Mondays
The Pre-Professional Program is approximately 8-10 weeks in length, commencing in late June and ending near the end of August.
Summer Contracts are typically 280 hours, 30-35 hours per week.
Application Requirements:
Upload your artistic resume and cover letter, and include a professional headshot specific to your artist-business, if you have one.
Submit a link in the pre-screening questions to a YouTube video (2-3 minutes) of yourself performing one or more songs that you feel best represent your musical ability.
Original material is preferred.
Video must be unedited (i.e., no vocal tuning, audio processing, or video editing of any kind).
Links to public performances are permitted as long as they follow these guidelines and we can clearly hear and identify your performance.
We will review a maximum of three minutes of content. You can provide a link that starts at a specified timestamp of your choice.
Video may be uploaded as “unlisted” on YouTube if preferred. Please ensure that your video link is NOT private, as the audition jurors will not be able to view it and your application will not be considered.
Attendance at a local Round One Audition may be substituted for the online video.
**Note: Bands or ensembles are encouraged to apply, however members must each apply and audition individually.**
***RETURNING PARTICIPANTS***
Pre-Professional Program Artists or Emerging Artists from prior seasons are required to submit a cover letter detailing:
Their growth since their last season,
Why they would like to return, and
What they hope to get out of the program if selected for 2026.
Please be sure to check the box indicating you are a returning participant in the pre-screening questions and keep in mind that you will not necessarily return to the same position that you held last year.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
To have your application successfully advance to screening, please ensure you complete all pre-interview questions.
Following our initial screening, applicants may be invited to a virtual callback audition that will include a live audition in front of a jury, a short media interview, and a formal job interview. Interviews typically take place in March/April onwards until positions are filled.
We thank you for your interest in Canadian Musicians Co-operative and submitting your application. Only those candidates selected for further consideration will be contacted.
The Canadian Musicians Co-operative does not use AI tools in the screening of candidates.
