N.L. Inuk opera singer makes history with big win at 2025 Juno Awards
Deantha Edmunds is first Indigenous woman composer to win Juno for classical composition
An Inuk opera singer has made Canadian music history as the first Indigenous woman to win the Juno Award for classical composition of the year as a composer.
Deantha Edmunds won for her piece titled Angmalukisaa.
"This means so much to me," Edmunds told the Juno audience Sunday in Vancouver.
She thanked her family for their support, including her mother Loretta and her late father Albert Edmunds.
"I would like to thank my husband Darin and our beautiful daughter Annabelle, who are at home cheering me on. I miss you guys," said Edmunds.
The work was commissioned by Mark Fewer, who conducted the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra for the recording.
Edmunds was also nominated for the classical composition of the year in the large ensemble category, alongside Fewer and Aiyun Huang, for the album Alikeness.
Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador. Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
