Skip Navigation
The Royal Conservatory Navigate to homepage
Search Event Calendar

RCM Strongly Represented in 2026 JUNO Nominations

RCM Strongly Represented in 2026 JUNO Nominations

Published on March 18, 2026

Nominees include RCM Faculty, Honorary Fellows, Alumni, and Koerner Hall Artists

The 2026 JUNO Awards, set to take place on March 29, marks another exciting year for the greater RCM community. This year, 51 musicians ranging from faculty members, alumni, Koerner Hall artists, and Honorary Fellows received nominations across 21 categories, highlighting the depth and diversity of talent nurtured at The Royal Conservatory.
 
The RCM community has earned nominations across a diverse range of classical, jazz, pop, and contemporary categories, reflecting the Conservatory’s enduring role in cultivating artists who continue to shape Canada’s dynamic musical landscape.

Juno nominee 2026

RCM Community Nominees

  • Aysanabee (Koerner Hall artist) - Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year
  • Artists of the Opera Missing (ATOM) (Koerner Hall artists) - Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble)
  • Mariko Anraku (ADP ’95, harp) - Classical Album of the Year (small ensemble)
  • Conrad Chow (RCM alumnus and RCM faculty) - Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble)
  • Alex Cuba (Koerner Hall artist) - Latin Music Recording for the Year
  • Brian Current (GGS faculty, New Music Ensemble), member of ATOM and The Continuum Ensemble - Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble)
  • Anthony D’Alessadro (Koerner Hall artist) - Jazz Album of the Year (Solo) 
  • Shuffle Demons (Koerner Hall artist) - Jazz Album of the Year (Group)
  • Katherine Dowling (RCM alumna) - Classical Album of the Year (Solo Artist)
  • Leandra Earl (RCM alumna), member of The Beaches - Rock Album of the Year
  • Justin Gray (Koerner Hall artist) - Jazz Album of the Year (Solo) 
  • Caity Gyorgy (Koerner Hall artist) - Vocal Jazz Album of the Year
  • Patrick Jordan (RCM faculty), member of Tafelmusik - Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble)
  • Shwanee Kish (Koerner Hall artist) - Contemporary Indigenous Artist 
  • Ron Korb (RCM alumnus) - Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble)
  • Kevin Lau (Koerner Hall artist) - Classical Composition of the Year
  • Jan Lisiecki (PDP ’18, piano and Koerner Hall artist) - Classical Album of the Year (Solo Artist)
  • Bruce (Xiaoyu) Liu (Koerner Hall artist) - Classical Album of the Year (Solo Artist)
  • Nicole Lizée (Koerner Hall artist) - Classical Composition of the Year
  • Chris McKhool (Koerner Hall artist) - Children's Album of the Year
  • Tate McRae (RCM alumna) - Artist of the Year, TD Juno Fan Choice Award, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year
  • Rachel Mercer (RCM alumna) - Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble)
  • Jean-Michel Blais (Koerner Hall artist) - Instrumental Album of the Year
  • Manitou Mkwa Singers (Koerner Hall artist) - Traditional Indigenous Artist of the Year
  • Lido Pimienta (Koerner Hall artist) - Latin Music Recording for the Year
  • Katya Poplyansky (Rebanks ’19, violin), member of Les Violons du Roy - Classical Album of the Year (Large Ensemble)
  • Renee Rosnes (Koerner Hall artist) - Jazz Album of the Year (Solo)
  • Andrew Staniland (Koerner Hall artist) - Classical Composition of the Year
  • Asitha Tennekoon (ADP ‘16, tenor), member of ATOM and The Continuum Ensemble - Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble)
  • Toronto Symphony Orchestra for Stravinsky: Pulcinella, Le Baiser de la fée (Classical Album of the Year: Large Ensemble). Featured on the recording are numerous faculty of The Glenn Gould School and The Taylor Academy, including: Jonathan Crow (Director of the Temerty Orchestral Program), Luri Lee (Rebanks ’14, violin), Atis Bankas (GGS Faculty, violin), Ah Young Kim (ADP ’21, violin), Hezekiah Leung (Rebanks ’21, viola), Theresa Rudolph (RCM Faculty, viola), Jeffrey Beecher (GGS Faculty, double bass), Kelly Zimba Lukić (GGS Faculty, flute), Sarah Jeffrey (GGS Faculty, oboe), Christopher Gongos (GGS Faculty, horn), Nicholas Hartman (RCM Faculty, horn), Gabriel Radford (GGS Faculty, horn), Steven Woomert (GGS Faculty, trumpet), Gordon Wolfe (GGS Faculty, trombone), Charles Settle (GGS Faculty, percussion), Nicholas Matthiesen (ADP ’23, percussion) and Heidi Elise Bearcroft (GGS Faculty, harp).
  • Paul Widner (RCM faculty), member of The Continuum Ensemble - Classical Album of the Year (Small Ensemble)
  • Tia Wood (Koerner Hall artist) - Contemporary Indigenous Artist
Congratulations to all the nominees. Your artistry and dedication inspire the next generation of musicians and strengthen Canada’s vibrant music community.
 
See the full list of 2026 JUNO nominees here.