The Royal Occasion

The Royal Occasion
April 22, 2026

The Royal Conservatory of Music
TELUS Centre for Performing and Learning
273 Bloor St. West, Toronto, ON

Jann Arden is a multi-platinum award-winning Canadian icon, a celebrated member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, and an Officer of the Order of Canada. Renowned for her signature wit and heartfelt storytelling, Arden has spent decades captivating audiences with a prolific body of work that includes eight JUNO Awards, sixteen albums, and nineteen top-ten singles.   

We are thrilled for Jann Arden to make her Koerner Hall debut at The Royal Occasion, and are delighted to award her with an Honorary Fellowship from The Royal Conservatory in recognition of her extraordinary legacy as a songwriter, author, and performer. A true Canadian original, her artistry continues to shape our national cultural fabric and inspire the next generation of talent.  

Multi-award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist Laila Biali is internationally celebrated for her genre-transcending artistry and virtuosity. An alumna of The Royal Conservatory of Music, she has headlined major venues on five continents—from Carnegie Hall to Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts—and earned a JUNO Award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. Her acclaimed recordings include multiple JUNO nominated releases, most recently Wintersongs (2025). She is also known nationwide as the host of CBC Music’s Saturday Night Jazz. 

Donovan Woods is a JUNO Award–winning Canadian singer‑songwriter celebrated for his emotionally resonant folk and roots music. He has released a critically acclaimed catalogue including Both Ways, winner of the 2019 JUNO Award for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year, and continues to earn national and international recognition for his songwriting. Woods has a longstanding connection to The Royal Conservatory of Music, having performed at Koerner Hall, and previously working as staff at the RCM. His songs have been recorded by artists including Tim McGraw and have reached audiences worldwide. 

The Royal Occasion is The Royal Conservatory of Music’s (RCM) marquee fundraising event, bringing together exceptional artists for a dazzling evening of world-class performances, gourmet experiences and a high-energy after party. 

Over the past decade the event has raised $3.6 million in support of music education and performance programs which foster intellectual, creative, and community development across our nation. 
 

From the Oscar Peterson School of Music to the RCM Certificate Program to The Glenn Gould School, our programs cover a breadth and depth of learning and performance unlike any other arts organization in Canada. The Royal Occasion raises funds for these programs and more, all to support the RCM’s mission of developing human potential through leadership in music and the arts.

Thank You Our Sponsors

 

Our work is made possible through the steadfast support of our partners. Thank you for your generosity. 

Presenting Sponsor

 

 

Main Stage Sponsor

Cocktail Sponsor

Raffle Sponsor

Travel Partner

Wine Partner

Auctioneer

Special thanks to our incredible committee:  

Contact

 Berat Barzanjee  

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