Organized by the Western Canadian Music Alliance, BreakOut West is a yearly music gathering comprised of an immersive music development conference, music festival and award ceremonies. The 2024 edition of the BreakOut West Festival is taking place from September 25-29 in Saskatoon, SK.
During the event, industry professionals and artists from across Western Canada are honoured for their tremendous achievements as part of the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA). Below is a list of nominees from British Columbia.
Blues Artist of the Year
Blue Moon Marquee
Brandon Isaak
Garret T. Willie
Paul Black
Children’s Artist of the Year
Mom Bop
The Zing Zangs
Classical Artist or Ensemble of the Year (Sponsored By Canadian Music Centre (CMC))
Allegra Chamber Orchestra
Emily Carr String Quartet
Suzie LeBlanc
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Classical Composer of the Year
Dorothy Chang – “Fifteen feet Closer to the Sky ‘All That Glitters'”
Farshid Samandari – “Light of Lights ‘Light of Lights'”
Jeffrey Ryan – “A Left Coast ‘Everything Already Lost'”
Electronic & Dance Artist of the Year
Kelland
Rose Motion
Ruby Singh
RUMPUS
Francophone Artist of the Year (Sponsored by APCM)
Missy D
Suzie LeBlanc
Global Artist of the Year
Jocelyn Pettit
Rumba Calzada
Indigenous Artist of the Year
Garret T. Willie
Logan Staats
PIQSIQ
Instrumental Artist of the Year
Jocelyn Pettit & Ellen Gira
Merrie Klazek
Jazz Artist of the Year
Angela Verbrugge
Daniel Hersog Jazz Orchestra
Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year
FKA Rayne
Pop Artist of the Year
Haley Blais
Michaela Slinger
Producer of the Year
Andy Schichter – Park Sound Studio
Liam Moes & Shane Stephenson
Ryan Dahle
Ryan Worsley – Echoplant Sound
R&B Artist of the Year
Emerald Osagie
JJ Adrian
NADUH
Sadé Awele
ZADA
Rap & Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Junk & Massiah
Terell Safadi
Recording of the Year
Michael Kaeshammer
Rock Artist of the Year
Shred Kelly
Songwriter(s) of the Year (Sponsored By SOCAN)
Logan Staats – “A Light In The Attic”
Spiritual Artist of the Year
Anastasya Lea
Brian Doerksen
Cynthia Lok
Marika Siewert
Video Director of the Year (Sponsored by Manitoba Film & Music)
Sandy Rossignol – Blue Moon Marquee “Hound Dog On a Chain”
Steve Bays – The Matinee “Cut to Pieces”
2024 Western Canadian Music Industry Award Nominees
Audio Engineering Award
Andy Schichter – Park Sound Studio
David Ziehr – Echoplant Sound
Neil Cooke-Dallin – Burning Rainbow Studio
Ryan Worsley – Echoplant Sound
Steve Bays – Trophy Club Mgmt
Excellence in Visual Design
Bronwin Parks – Feisty Creative
Mark Mushet – Mark Mushet Photography
Megan Kwan – Super Sensitive Studios
Impact in Live Music (Sponsored by Canadian Live Music Association)
Midnight Agency
Impact in Music Marketing
Phase Management Inc.
Featured photo credit: Kaz Vogel