Career Tracks

Members can meet with SaskMusic staff and team members to discuss career plans, marketing strategies, touring plans, songwriting and copyright, demo critiques, funding, SaskMusic, industry trends, etc. We offer this opportunity to provide you with the tools and information you need to succeed in this ever-changing music business.

Consultations are free with your membership and take place in Regina or Saskatoon, or via phone call. We encourage you to book a meeting as far in advance as possible. Please email derek@saskmusic.org or contact 1-800-347-0676 to request a consultation.

Team Members

	Lorena Kelly has been with SaskMusic since ‘97. (It all started when she innocently answered a desperate phone call for volunteers for the inaugural Flatland Music Festival). She oversees communications and marketing for our various programs; the website; membership consultations and services; advertising; The Session; workshops; outreach; and more. Lorena is a professional singer/songwriter and freelance musician, performing in jazz, rock, pop and country bands in Canada, the U.S. and overseas, on everything from army bases to awards shows.
	Derek Bachman has been involved in the Canadian music industry for the past 12 years as a musician, artist and event manager, and promoter. As co-owner of Rawk Entertainment Group, Derek has been involved in the marketing, promotion, and management of numerous events, including the 2005 Centennial Crop Checking Tour, 2007 JunoFest Saskatoon, and the 2007 WCMA Festival Moose Jaw. Derek has served on numerous industry association boards and committees. Manager of our Saskatoon office, Derek works on our grant and workshop programs, is available for consultations with members, and is our Regional Evaluation Coordinator for FACTOR (The Foundation Assiting Canadian Talent on Recordings).
	Skip Taylor has been involved in the music industry for over 20 years; for the last dozen, he has been the Universal Music Sales and Promotion Representative for Saskatchewan, responsible for promoting, marketing and securing publicity for the entire Universal Music roster in our province, including The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts, Hedley, George Canyon, Hawksley Workman, Buckcherry and many more.
	Jay Semko began his music career in Saskatoon, as singer/songwriter/bassist with Canadian pop icons, the Northern Pikes. The Pikes earned four Gold Awards and one Platinum. Jay received two awards from the Canadian Music Publishers Association for his songwriting, and the Pikes were nominated for eight Juno Awards. In addition to composing for "Due South" (the most successful Canadian TV series ever created), Jay’s songs have been featured in "Men With Brooms", "Trailer Park Boys: The Movie", "Being Erica", and many others. Jay has released six solo albums, including his latest "International Superstar". Jay has co-written with such notables as Willie Mack, Gilles Godard, Andrew Fromm, Roger Springer, Larry Haack, Clint and Bob Moffatt, Tim Taylor and Steve Fox. Jay has recorded with Garth Hudson (The Band), John Sebastian (Lovin' Spoonful), the late Stan Celeste (Jackson Browne, CS&N), Bob Egan (Wilco, Blue Rodeo), Margo Timmins (Cowboy Junkies), Crystal Taliefero (Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen), Ashley MacIsaac and Serena Ryder.
	David j Taylor is an award winning and multiple award nominated record producer, music supervisor, singer/songwriter, re-recording mixer, and composer. He has produced over 70 albums (1993-2008), has worked on countless television series and films and has spoken as a panelist at music conferences all over North America (SXSW, WCMAs, USCAD Songwriting Workshops). David is also a recording artist and songwriter himself, having released 13 albums since 1992 and has toured Canada over 25 times. David currently works for Twisted Pair Productions in Regina and has a cute project studio on his 20 acre horse farm at Milestone called Hazelwood Farm.
	Carrie Catherine is a singer/songwriter based in Saskatoon. She has recorded three albums and toured Canada extensively, recently expanding into the USA. She conducts songwriting workshops in schools throughout Saskatchewan, runs the hugely popular Hayloft House Concert series and is co-owner of The Cherch: Place of Art Worship. Recent performance highlights include a showcase at the International Folk Alliance in Memphis and international television debut on the Food Network’s Fresh. Her songs have been licensed to television’s Joan of Arcadia, Beautiful People, and Middle of Somewhere. She is an Artist Associate for World Vision and is grateful for sponsorship from Déjà vu Salon and Boutique Be-You-Te-Ful. Carrie thanks SaskMusic for the opportunity to share some of her experiences with the music community in Saskatchewan and looks forward to hearing from you!