Students in Durham College’s Music Business Management (MBM) program filled the Pit with music and baked good recently as they launched their fundraising push for this year’s Oshawa Music Week.
The fundraiser, run entirely by first- and second‑year students, featured live performances, a bake sale, a photo booth and a doodle station. All proceeds from the Feb. 27 event will support the five‑day festival, which runs April 7 to 11.
Oshawa Music Week is the first time many students get to apply their skills outside the classroom.
Second‑year student and artist Deborah Mossah, who performs as Dess Jour, says the fundraiser reflects the hands-on nature of the program
“It’s our first real event in the outside world,” she said. “It’s a bonding experience because all of us are working together to achieve a goal. Even though we’re just students, we’re still able to create something awesome.”
For second‑year student Ron Mishra the experience matters more on a personal level.
“It impacts me more as a person than a student,” he said. “It’s great just to be with my friends and do something I’m passionate about.”
Others say the program helps them understand how the industry works. Second‑year student Caleb Arculus says the coursework and events give him a clearer sense of how to build a career as a musician.
“It’s been great learning the ins and outs of the industry, just finding out what exactly how you make a living out of this,” he said. “It can definitely help you learn what you need to do to market yourself and apply to venues and get the gigs.”
Students also see the festival as a way to highlight Oshawa’s creative community. MBM student Nicholas Karli says the week showcases talent that often goes unnoticed.
“It shows the underground work people in Oshawa’s creative sector are able to pull off,” he said. “MBM hosts the event, and it teaches you a very niche skill set, how to actually make money in the music industry.”
Professor Linda Noel Bush says the fundraiser is part of the program’s Events II course, where students take on roles in marketing, production and finance.
“It gives them real‑world experience — what it’s like to put on an event, what to anticipate, how to pivot when things change,” she said. “And we’re learning what works for fundraising and what doesn’t.”
This year’s festival will feature eight events, including World Music Day, Songs Revealed, an indie showcase, Moshawa and a genre‑swap night.
Oshawa Music Week runs at venues on campus and downtown.