Durham College (DC), Ontario Tech University (UOIT) and its student community need to make a louder noise for students who are musicians.
Budding artists need sustained exposure, meet-ups, industry guidance and regular performance opportunities on and around the campus to come into their own and receive the recognition they deserve.
One thing is clear: the community loves music.
The footfall at the three stages at Convergence 2025 on Sept. 19 and 20, and at the many students who show up to college in their favourite band merch, proves this. The pianos on campus that attract players like an oasis show us that all they need is a stage and a little boost.
Music is a major part of the identity and aesthetic of today’s youth, and this is clear from a glance at almost any social media or dating profile.
Imagine if the next artist to make it big started right here at DC and proudly claimed a local identity, carving out a name in the national and global music industry.
Far-fetched? Maybe, but remember that Shawn Mendes is from Pickering and Daniel Caesar is from Oshawa. Similar names and stories are found across the world.
There may be musicians and creators at Durham College (DC) and Ontario Tech University (UOIT) that we don’t even know about. It shouldn’t be that way.
Yes, there are events like the annual Oshawa Music Week (OMW) and the upcoming ‘Unplugged’ series of performances held by the DCSA to platform student artists.
Graduates like Thao Nghiem from Durham College’s Music Business Management (MBM) program went on to start the Oshawa Music Awards (OMA), now rebranded as ‘DREAMS!’.
How do we go beyond this?
To start, the DCSA can organize small open mics. This encourages undiscovered musicians while keeping a check on costs. Durham College students should breathe fresh life into the music club, which mostly exists online as of now.
Individuals have to stumble upon other musicians on campuses, whereas even simple efforts like regular meetups, jam sessions or workshops by MBM students can foster a lasting creative community.
The Media Hub can be used to hold sessions like NPR’s ‘Tiny Desk’ concerts. Riot Radio already has podcasts about music and can provide a space for students to host a show featuring the stories and music of local artists, especially from campus.
Think of student-produced music videos, album artwork, photoshoots, online content and community journalism all coalescing around a growing music scene. This enhances many aspects of college for students, such as building a portfolio or just making new friends.
The more we support campus musicians, the more students are inspired to come forward with their music or even start creating for the first time. By doing this, Durham College and Ontario Tech University will support the budding yet vibrant music culture of Durham Region.
Is it feasible to demand greater attention to student musicians when there are picket lines at the gates decrying funding cuts to public colleges? Some might say no, pointing to other priorities.
But that merely points out yet another casualty of austerity. It proves nothing against the value of music and the arts on campus. We must ask, what all are we willing to lose if higher education is reduced to providing labour for the market?
Platforms like Invest Durham and the DREAMS! Summit and Awards want to tap into the business and tourism potential of the region’s music culture. This has many stakeholders, of which college students are no small part.
Promoting campus musicians makes people turn out for shows at small and mid-sized venues. A sustained grassroots shift can increase the scope for grant funding and attract sponsorship and support from the nonprofit and private sectors.
With all these reasons for students and administrators to support campus musicians, it’s time to get started. Are you listening? Put it on loop.