CANADA’S NEXT MUSIC STARS NAMED: FIVE EMERGING ARTISTS WIN 2025 CANADA’S WALK OF FAME RBC EMERGING MUSICIAN PROGRAM 

– Laval’s Annabel Oreste wins Grand Prize –

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(Toronto, ON) September 29, 2025 – Canada’s Walk of Fame is turning up the volume on Canada’s next big music stars, today announcing the five winners of the 13th annual RBC Emerging Musician Program, in partnership with Stingray. Celebrated as Canada’s premier platform for discovering and supporting the next generation of musical artists, the program offers career-changing mentorship, development, and performance opportunities.

Taking the spotlight this year are: Third Prize Winners John Fellner (London, ON), Braden Lam (Halifax, NS), and Andie Therio (Montreal, QC); Second Prize Winner Jennarie (Toronto, ON); and  Grand Prize Winner Annabel Oreste (Laval, QC).

“I’m so thankful to God for opening this door in my life,” said Oreste. “I feel like the wind is finally carrying me toward new horizons. I make music to empower and to remind others of their worth. I’m deeply grateful to Canada’s Walk of Fame, RBC, and Stingray for believing in me and broadening my horizons. I’m so excited to share more of my world and my music on a national scale.”

This year’s submissions poured in from across the country, underscoring the strength and diversity of Canada’s musical landscape. A panel of over 20 industry judges reviewed each entry for originality, creativity, and talent, ultimately selecting five recipients whose music spans genres from country and folk to pop and R&B.

“What excites me most about this year’s winners is the individuality and honesty in their music,” said Griffin Sokal, Director of Marketing and Emerging Musician Program Manager, Canada’s Walk of Fame. “Each are at a pivotal moment where talent and drive meet opportunity, and it’s a privilege to help amplify their artistry. Their music is raw, real, and resonant – a reminder of why championing emerging voices matters.”

“At RBC, we’re inspired by the passion and determination of these artists,” said Gayle Corcoran, Senior Director, Social Impact, RBC. “Supporting programs that help early career musicians launch, means investing in the future of culture, creativity and community. That’s why RBC has been a long-standing supporter of Canada’s Walk of Fame and is proud to champion the next generation of Canadian talent.”

“Collaborating with Canada’s Walk of Fame on this program is an incredible opportunity to spotlight homegrown voices,” said David Purdy, Chief Revenue Officer of Stingray. “We believe Canadian music deserves to be heard everywhere. Throughout October, the new Canada’s Walk of Fame channel on Stingray Music will introduce this year’s winners, past alumni, and Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductees to audiences across the country and beyond.”

This year’s Grand Prize Winner is Annabel Oreste of Laval, Quebec, a Canadian-Haitian pop and R&B artist whose music embodies empowerment, resilience, and soul. Known nationally from her run on Star Académie (2021) as Princesse Annabel, she has since built a growing audience with powerful performances and heartfelt songwriting. Her viral cover of Anita Baker’s Body and Soul has surpassed 300,000 views on YouTube, and her singles Trop Jeune—created in partnership with the youth mental health organization Jeune en Tête, where she is an ambassador—and Hero have showcased her artistry on national stages, including Honey Jam 2024 and 2025 (broadcast on CBC Music and CBC Gem). With her debut EP Lovingly set for release in 2026, Annabel is quickly emerging as one of Canada’s most exciting new voices.
Instagram: @annabelorestemusic

The Second Prize Winner is Jennarie of Toronto, Ontario, an independent artist who blends pop, R&B, and jazz into a sound that is soulful, bold, and rooted in emotional truth. Proudly queer, plus-size, and neurodivergent, she creates music that uplifts underrepresented communities and celebrates self-love. In 2024, her empowering track Never Been Small went viral in response to online body-shaming, catching the attention of SZA and Meghan Trainor, amassing millions of views, and surpassing 2 million streams on Spotify. The song was recently featured in Rosebud Baker’s 2025 Netflix comedy special The Motherlode. Jennarie has performed at the TD Toronto Jazz Festival and Pride Toronto, was selected for the RBC x MusiCounts First Up program, and has received support from FACTOR, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Chalmers Foundation.
Instagram: @jennariemusic

The Third Prize Winners:

  • John Fellner (London, Ontario), a singer-songwriter who blends indie folk and R&B into a sound that is both intimate and contemporary. Starting out as a JUNO-nominated producer with over 80 million streams to his credit, John discovered a deeper resonance when writing from his own experiences. His thoughtful lyricism and emotional honesty earned him both the Aeolian Hall Songwriting Contest and Slaight Music’s It’s Your Shot Contest in 2023. With a growing presence as a performer, John is now stepping fully into his artistry, crafting songs that connect through vulnerability and depth. Instagram: @johnfellner
  • Braden Lam (Halifax, Nova Scotia) blends authentic songwriting with modern indie flair, forging a 21st-century sound rooted in folk tradition. His debut album The Cloudmaker’s Cry earned praise from Billboard, Exclaim!, and Range Magazine, with the single Beautiful Neighbourhoods reaching #7 on the CBC Top 20 and placing in the Top 8 of SiriusXM’s Top of the Country program in 2025. He has performed internationally at The Great Escape (UK), Reeperbahn (Germany), and across Ireland, Scotland, the U.S., and Canada, building a reputation as one of Atlantic Canada’s most compelling young voices.
    Instagram: @bradenlamusic
  • Andie Therio (Montreal, Quebec) is a singer-songwriter blending country, pop-rock, and folk into heartfelt songs drawn from her own experiences. She made her official debut in 2022 with She’s Good, a self-written EP that launched her career, followed by her first full-length album Back To You (2023), which earned airplay on SiriusXM Canada and a sold-out release show in Montréal. Since then, she has performed on major stages across Quebec, including Festival Country de Lotbinière, Lasso Montréal, and the Festival Western de St-Tite. After releasing the acoustic mini-album Home Sessions in 2025, Andie is preparing her next chapter with Nomade, the title track of her forthcoming French-language album set for 2026. Instagram: @andietherio

PRIZING DETAILS

The Grand Prize winner receives $20,000 cash, a private studio session at Metalworks Studios, and exclusive performance opportunities at Canada’s Walk of Fame events, including the 2025 Canada’s Walk of Fame Rock the Halls charity concert at El Mocambo on December 20th, in support of Daily Bread Food Bank.

The Second Prize winner receives $10,000 cash, and each of the three Third Prize winners receives $5,000 cash.

All five winners will also receive:

  • Exposure on the dedicated Canada’s Walk of Fame music channel launching this October on Stingray
  • A performance at Festival du Voyageur 2026 in Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • A showcase slot at Departure Fest in May 2026 in Toronto
  • A creative workshop and mentorship panel at Toronto’s Arthaus
  • One (1) group mentorship session with a Canada’s Walk of Fame Inductee, Allan Slaight Music Impact Honouree, or established artist
  • $2,000 toward the production of a performance video
  • A personalized artist page on ca

For more information about the winners and to hear their music, visit emergingmusician.ca.

Canada’s Walk of Fame Socials
Instagram: @CWOFame | Twitter: @CWOFame | YouTube: @canadaswalkoffame | Facebook: @CWOFame
Emerging Musician Program Instagram: @emerging.musician
Hashtags: #CanadaThrives #EMP2025

About Canada’s Walk of Fame
Canada’s Walk of Fame is an award-winning national not-for-profit charitable organization that inspires Canadians by proudly shining a light on the journeys of Canada’s most extraordinary achievers. Canada’s Walk of Fame recognizes the significant impact of Canadian accomplishments and provides the foremost national platform to celebrate achievement in the fields of Arts & Entertainment, Sports & Athletics, Entrepreneurship & Philanthropy, Humanitarianism, and Science, Technology & Innovation. Current honours and programs include the Allan Slaight Music Impact Honour, RBC Emerging Musician Program in partnership with Stingray, Future Storytellers, the Community Hero and National Hero Programs, the Hometown Stars initiative, including charitable donations to our Inductees’ causes, and the nationally televised broadcast designated by the CRTC as a program of national interest. Canada’s Walk of Fame has over 230 inductions to date, with stars having a permanent place of tribute on the streets of Toronto’s Entertainment District. For a complete list of Inductees and Honourees along with more information on Canada’s Walk of Fame, visit: www.canadaswalkoffame.com.

Canada’s Walk of Fame was established in 1998 by founders Bill Ballard, Dusty Cohl and Peter Soumalias, with Dianne Schwalm and in partnership with Gary Slaight.

Canada’s Walk of Fame gratefully acknowledges the support of its 2025 Partners: Seeing Red, Cineplex Entertainment, The Slaight Family Foundation, RBC, Air Canada, MLSE, NBCUniversal, Stingray, VIA Rail Canada, The Printing House, and Roots.

Canada’s Walk of Fame is a registered charity. Charitable Registration Number 889896924RR0001.

About Stingray
Stingray (TSX: RAY.A; RAY.B), a global music, media, and technology company, is an industry leader in TV broadcasting, streaming, radio, business services, and advertising. Stingray provides an array of global music, digital, and advertising services to enterprise brands worldwide, including audio and video channels, 97 radio stations, subscription video-on-demand content, FAST channels, karaoke products and music apps, and in-car and on-board infotainment content. Stingray Business, a division of Stingray, provides commercial solutions in music, in-store advertising solutions, digital signage, and AI-driven consumer insights and feedback. Stingray Advertising is North America’s largest retail audio advertising network, delivering digital audio messaging to more than 30,000 major retail locations. Stingray has close to 1,000 employees worldwide and reaches 540 million consumers in 160 countries. For more information, visit www.stingray.com

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Media contact:
Adrienne Kakoullis, 416-450-6637 / akakoullis@risepr.ca