A celebration of music technology is coming to Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) to recognize the Greater Toronto Area’s vibrant song making community.
IMSTA FESTA, a collection of panels, workshops and masterclasses about hit making, has something for all musicians, songwriters, producers, audio engineers and students within the music industry, organizers said in a press release.
The event is held in major cities around the world but will soon arrive downtown Toronto on Nov. 23.
IMSTA, a nonprofit with the goal of ending piracy by encouraging the legal use of musical software, has announced the preliminary lineup of presenters for its event at TMU's Rogers Communication Centre on Gould Street.
Among the highlights, the music management company SOCAN will host its popular master class called "Cookin' Beats," to be moderated by producer Lord Quest. The event will feature Yogi The Producer, who has worked with major artists including Drake, Nicki Minaj, Camila Cabello and Chris Brown.
Confirmed among the event's lineup is entertainment lawyer Paul Sanderson, who will break break down the complexities of music law in the digital era.
Mixing engineer Jay Dufour, who has has created 16 Billboard number ones, will conduct a master class on the secrets of how to mix a hit record.
The one-day event will also host a class on home studio acoustic design, led by studio designer and acoustician Martin Pilchner.
Another master class with composers Orin Isaacs and Neil Parfitt will dive into the challenges of composing for on-screen projects.
For those interested in immersive audio, veteran mixing engineer Jeff Wolpert will lead a session covering the what, why and how of the latest technology.
Music business professional Melissa Johnston will present a crash course on song publishing.
Visitors to the event are encouraged to bring their own songs on a headphone-compatible device to have them reviewed by industry experts who will provide feedback.
Exceptional songs will be awarded a wild card granting automatic entry to the final round of the IMSTA Songwriting Competition and a chance to win $5,000 in music software, organizers said.
There will also be a career development session where visitors can receive one-on-one advice from music industry professionals.
The first 100 visitors to the Nov. 23 gathering will enjoy a free breakfast at 10:30 a.m.
The day's events run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission to IMSTA is free with registration at the group's official website.
