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The 2026 spring edition of the CBC Music Class Challenge powered by MusiCounts is open, and the judges for the competition have been announced.
Below, get to know the music professionals who will select the best performances in each category.
Caitlin Veitch
Throughout her 22-year career in the record label and music publishing industry, Caitlin Veitch has heard thousands of demos: from cold calls to rough mixes, song camps and studio sessions, the first version on the laptop to the final version in the mastering suite. With a passion for indie music and artist development, her eclectic ear has led her to working on original projects with groundbreaking artists like Amon Tobin, Colin Stetson and Tanya Tagaq, and landing sync placements in campaigns for Apple and Guinness, Grand Theft Auto V, Heated Rivalry and True Detective: Night Country. Veitch is currently the senior creative in sync and publishing with Six Shooter Records and High Priestess.
Sherryl Sewepagaham
Sherryl Sewepagaham is a distinguished Cree Dene composer, singer and educator from the Little Red River Cree Nation. Her work serves as a vital bridge between traditional Indigenous soundscapes and contemporary classical forms, deeply rooted in the rhythmic pulse of the drum and Cree melodic traditions.
Beyond her performances, Sewepagaham is a prolific composer for choral and orchestral ensembles, with works frequently commissioned by premier institutions such as the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra. Her compositions often feature Cree lyrics, traditional rhythms and nature-based themes.
As a dedicated pedagogue with degrees in music therapy and education, Sewepagaham developed the Music Alive Program for the National Arts Centre to focus on Indigenous song sharing in schools. She views music as a primary tool for healing and cultural reclamation. Through her workshops and compositions, she continues to ensure that Indigenous stories remain at the forefront of the Canadian musical canon.
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