Sarah Elaine McLay

Fascinated by the music industry since childhood, Sarah graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) with a BA in Creative Industries (Music Industry, Acting & Dance Studies) and Minor in Music and Culture. Sarah learned from top industry professionals, and has experience in talent management, concert and event management, and many other facets of the industry. She has also worked as a project manager, instructor, performer, and creative marketing strategist. Sarah is passionate about promoting Indigenous storytelling and highlighting organic representation of Indigenous people in the creative industries. She loves to help unleash people’s potential and experience how music can help people around the world. Sarah has worked at Hitmakerz since January 2021 and became CEO in April 2023.

Samantha Claire Durrell

Samantha considers her creative path to fall somewhere under the definition of “conceptualist”, which is a term she may or may not have invented. She draws on many different art forms for inspiration, having found music to be of particular importance when it comes to how she navigates her life. Samantha spent the first part of her life performing in theatre, and she later studied musical theatre in New York. Samantha also graduated from the Creative Industries program at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson) in 2023. While in school, Samantha took a deep interest in social media studies, creative writing, and visual storytelling. She is currently the Vice-President of the Creative Industries Alumni Association. Prior to university, Samantha spent several years working with young kids, particularly preschoolers, and was inspired to return to school to help get children a better future.

Kendra Seguin

Kendra Seguin is a “professional fangirl.” Her desire to combine her longtime love for arts and entertainment with her passion for storytelling has led her to pursue a Master of Media in Journalism and Communications at Western University. Previously, she completed a Bachelor of Journalism and English Minor at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she experimented with various forms of media, gaining skills in written, audio, photo, multimedia, and social media storytelling. In her spare time, she enjoys engaging in the arts by doing nail art, making jewelry, and keeping up with her favourite bands.

Myriam “Mimi” Sevigny

Originally from Quebec, Myriam Sevigny moved to Iqaluit for work. Throughout her life, Myriam was surrounded by music. She was enrolled as a music major in university and decided to focus on singing. As part of Hitmakerz, Myriam has worked with many prominent Nunavut artists – including Kelly Fraser, Angela Amarualik, Aasiva, Joey Nowyuk, and Shauna Seeteenak – as music producer, vocal coach, stylist, and photographer. In addition to music, Myriam is also a highly accomplished photographer, makeup artist, and fitness model.

Giuli Saucedo

Lifelong music and live event enthusiast, Giuli has had a passion for the music business since her youth. As a Creative Industries student at Toronto Metropolitan University specializing in the Music Industry and Professional Communications (Minoring in Public Relations), Giuli has dedicated her academic career to understanding the intricacies of project management and media communications in creative fields. Through her experience planning and executing both small intimate events and large live productions, Giuli is passionate about constructing safe creative spaces that bring people together through the unifying power of music.

Chris Vasilakos

Combining his passion for soccer and intrigue by technology, Chris has majored in sport media at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) since 2020. Despite these considerations, his interest in visual design, immersion in an artistically-gifted family and creative childhood collectively guided him to the fascinating world of music. Altogether, Chris’ growing interest in digital graphics and accompanying design skills allow him to delve into a wide range of disciplines.  

Thor Simonsen

Thor Simonsen is a Danish-Canadian artist and entrepreneur. Born in the Faroe Islands, Thor spent his childhood and teenage years in the Canadian Arctic. After graduating from high school, he returned to Scandinavia to work in the music industry and get his bachelor's degree in communication. Thor is an accomplished artist and music producer who has helped produce more than 20 full-length albums. His business and artistic endeavours have earned him many arts and business awards, and his unique, inter-cultural experiences have also allowed him to share his story with audiences across the world. To learn more, go to linktr.ee/thorsimonsen.    

Matt Snell

Matt Snell, a Toronto-based producer, recording engineer, and mixer, has cultivated his expertise through experiences in various studios. His pivotal role at Phase One Studios for five years allowed him to learn from esteemed producers, engineers, and artists globally. As a freelancer, Snell has worked with a diverse array of artists, including big names like Dua Lipa, Dermot Kennedy, Majid Jordan, The Flatliners, Banners, and Shawn Hook. Collaborating with top producers such as The Koz (known for work with Kendrick Lamar, Dua Lipa, and Madonna), he has honed his craft and expanded his repertoire. Snell operates Genesis Sound Inc, his own studio in Toronto, specializing in Indie Rock and Pop. He merges vintage warmth and tones with a contemporary edge, crafting a sound that resonates across genres from indie rock to pop. His work reflects a fusion of past influences with a keen understanding of present-day music dynamics. Snell is also a Grammy award winner for the category of best pop vocal album in 2020 for his work on Dua Lipas Future nostalgia.

Chris Birkett

Chris Birkett is an English/Canadian producer, songwriter, composer, and sound engineer based in Toronto, Canada. His musical collaborations include international megastars like Led Zeppelin, Sinead O’Connor, Sting, Quincy Jones, Buffy Saint Marie, and the list goes on! His albums have sold over 100 million copies, and his work has won him multiple Grammy Awards, Junos, and Canada’s top musical honour, the Polaris Prize. He’s worked extensively with Buffy St. Marie and many other Indigenous artists, including the new album for our very own Angela Amarualik.

Dale Penner

Producer/Engineer/Mixer Dale Penner is the driving force behind Paradise Alley Productions. Countless artists have benefited from Penner's production and engineering work, including Nickelback, The Matthew Good Band, Econoline Crush, and many others. His productions have sold over 13 million copies, gone certified platinum and gold, and been on the Billboard Top Ten. Dale has over 30 years of music industry experience, and his work has received numerous awards and Juno nominations. He was named Producer of the Year at the Western Canada’s Music Awards (twice) as well as the Gospel Music Awards. In 2020, Dale mixed albums for Nunavut artists Joey Nowyuk and Shauna Seeteenak.

Tev Bourque

Being passionate about music and audio, Tev Bourque is a producer, sound engineer, and composer. Tev has studied in the Music Industry arts program at Algonquin College and is currently an instructor there as well. Tev runs an independent audio production company and recording studio in Ottawa, called Tev Sound, which seeks to craft exceptional audio. Being a native to Ottawa, Tev has worked with artists such as John Carroll and Amanda Lowe and is an active member in Ottawa’s music industry. With experience living in West Africa, Tev is well-rounded in the areas of both analogue and digital technologies.

Thomas ‘666god’ Lambe

Thomas Matthew Lambe - known in Nunavut as 666god – is an Iqaluit-based rap artist and up-and-coming music producer and DJ. Originally from Grise Fiord, the northernmost community in Canada (with a population of about 120 people), he spent his childhood in Iqaluit. A self-taught artist and music producer, 666god is always working to improve his technical and artistic skills, mastering the rules of the music industry game in the process. In 2019, his song (with fellow Inuk rapper Hyper-T) won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Song in the feature film, The Grizzlies. 666god’s music blends cutting-edge beats with a unique style of laid-back flows and spitfire rhymes. He seamlessly mixes urban and pop culture with elements of his upbringing in Nunavut. 666god frequently collaborates with other artists from across Canada.

Harishan Kobalasingam

Harishan Kobalasingam is a student specializing in fashion and visual culture within the Creative Industries program at Toronto Metropolitan University. His passion for design spans various creative mediums, with photography being a particular focus. Through his camera lens, Harishan adeptly creates and expresses narratives and captures moments that resonate deeply with viewers, demonstrating an eye for detail and flair for visual storytelling. For Harishan, design is a means of self-expression and fulfillment that extends beyond photography. 

Saghar “Sky” Sheibani

Saghar's journey began in Tehran, the bustling capital of Iran. Growing up in a musical family, her heart was always set on the world of music. Despite her family's deep musical roots, Saghar took a different path during high school, focusing on mathematics. This academic journey continued through her bachelor's degree in mathematics and its applications. But the allure of the piano never faded; she played and even sang with an orchestra. In December 2022, Saghar's adventure led her to Canada, where she started an MBA program at Carleton University. Today, she's a financial management intern at Hitmakerz, where she combines her love for numbers with her passion for music.

Hafeezah “Fee” Mahida

Hafeezah “Fee” Mahida was born and raised in Toronto, Ontario. She is passionate about art, music, fashion, and dance. As a young child, Fee would spend her free time making clothes, remixing music and beatmaking. These hobbies led her to pursue a Bachelor's Degree in Art from Toronto Metropolitan University (previously known as Ryerson University). Her program is called Creative Industries where she is studying marketing and fashion and specializing in business. Fee’s interest in combining marketing, business, and philanthropy is what brought her to Hitzmakerz. She is skilled in Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Photography, Photo and Video editing. In her down time, Fee loves to cook, travel, and play volleyball.

Ethan “Church” Reid

Originally from Glasgow Scotland, Ethan "Church" Reid immigrated to Canada at a young age and quickly gained a strong love for rock and punk music. Since moving to Toronto and enrolling in the Creative Industries program at Toronto Metropolitan University, Ethan has immersed themselves in the local music scene and currently works as a freelance event organizer. Using the skills they have acquired through their program as well as their deep love for the music and community of Toronto, Ethan has been able to form strong connections as an organizer and artist representative. In their free time Ethan plays in a local punk band called CONNIE.

Adesewa Ajomale

Adesewa Ajomale is an international student pursuing her Master's degree in Digital Media at Toronto Metropolitan University. Seamlessly blending a passion for social media with a talent for crafting engaging video content, she tailors her creations to captivate online audiences through platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. Beyond her studies, Adesewa is also a skilled makeup artist. For her, content creation transcends mere hobby; it serves as a powerful medium to inform and educate others about her expertise and skills.

Oshadami Oladotun

Originally Nigerian, Dotun is a computer engineer specializing in UX Design currently pursuing a master's in Digital Media at Toronto Metropolitan University. Now based in Toronto, he is a Graphic Design Intern at Hitmakerz, where he seamlessly integrates creativity and technology to produce visually compelling graphics. Apart from his professional endeavors, Dotun enjoys playing and watching soccer, enjoys gaming, and maintains an active lifestyle through regular workouts. With a passion for creating user-centric designs, he brings a diverse background and unwavering dedication to his role, constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation in the dynamic world of UX Design and Digital Media.

Elisa La Moglie

Elisa La Moglie is currently in her fourth year of Media Production at Toronto Metropolitan University, concentrating in Television and Video. From a young age, she has been passionate about all things creative and constantly explored new mediums of expression. Two years ago, she delved into the world of music by taking up the piano which deepened her appreciation for the arts. Elisa's ability to combine her love for various art forms, including music and digital media, allows her to articulate both personal and collaborative creative visions.

Lei Marie Villanueva

Lei is a dedicated professional originating from Negros Occidental, Philippines. With a background in Fine Arts, and specializing in advertising, Lei demonstrates a strong work ethic and commitment to quality. In her free time, Lei enjoys music, photography, and video editing as continuous learning opportunities and artistic expression. Alongside her creative endeavours, Lei holds a full-time position as administrative assistant, where she applies her world-class organizational skills to excel in her role.