Achi news desk-
The 36th annual East Coast Music Awards: Festival and Conference kicks off Wednesday in Charlottetown. This is the first event for the newest CEO of the East Coast Music Association, Blanche Israël.
Israel is a cultural strategist and professional cellist, originally from Montreal, who has called the Maritimes home for the past four years.
She says she wants to step into her new role because the EMCAs are a “huge organization” on the East Coast.
“Music plays such an important part of who we are on the East Coast, so to be at the head of an organization like this, it’s like the sky’s the limit with what we could do for music on the East Coast the East, as musicians and music professionals here,” he said.
Israel says people can expect plenty of live music throughout Charlottetown this week.
“You’re walking down the main drag in Charlottetown, you might be sampling some amazing food, and you’re getting amazing performances in all kinds of venues across the city,” he said.
ECMAs 2024 also features conference sessions, family-friendly programming and more.
“Whatever you get into, you’re going to have a great time,” Israel said. “But I recommend getting a great deal on everything that’s available because you won’t be able to catch it all.”
The biggest night of the week is the East Coast Music Awards ceremony, which takes place on Thursday night at the Delta Hotels Prince Edward.
The event will also be streamed online for anyone unable to attend in person.
“(It’s) a great thing to take in, to see your peers or your friends up for awards, see if they win their awards and also lots of great music throughout the night as well,” says Israel.
To watch the live stream, and to view a full list of events, people can visit ECMA.com or download the ECMA app.
“The ECMA app has every last detail of all our conference sessions, all of the showcases going on, often at the same time, so if you want to know where you’re going, what location, and all of our shows, you can get your tickets there,” said Israel. “One stop shop for all things ECMA.”
