Organizer Information
The National accessArts Centre (NaAC), proudly presented by TD, is Canada’s first and largest multidisciplinary disability arts company. The organization provides world-class artistic training, creation resources, and high-profile presenting opportunities for artists with disabilities. By sharing the power of their creativity through local and global institutional partnerships, the NaAC champions systemic advocacy to cultivate an arts and culture ecosystem that proactively includes, recognizes, and celebrates the talents of disabled creators across Canada.
Title & Description
SoundBridge 2026: Online Youth Music Mentorship Intensive
SoundBridge is a fully funded, two-week online music mentorship program designed to support young neurodivergent and disabled creatives across Canada. Spanning 10 distinct digital studio sessions, this intensive laboratory offers an accessible space for participants to build technical skills in digital audio production, explore songwriting frameworks, and boost their creative confidence. The curriculum balances independent composition with remote collaborative experiments, guiding youth through the technical mechanics of audio/MIDI recording, structural arrangement, self-publishing, and early career development steps. Supported by adaptive teaching methods, peer reviews, and one-on-one professional feedback, every participant will work toward completing an original musical piece, song, or demo track.
Categories
This specialized laboratory focuses explicitly on Music Production, Digital Audio Engineering, Songwriting, Composition, and Electronic Music/MIDI Arranging.
Eligibility
- Age Bracket: Open to young people aged 16 to 29.
- Identity Context: Designed specifically for youth who identify as having a disability or other distinct access needs.
- Geographic Scope: Open to eligible applicants residing anywhere across Canada.
- Skill Prerequisites: Welcomes various skill levels; the program structure utilizes adaptive instruction tailored to support individual experience baselines.
Program Benefits & Awards
- Professional Mentorship: Direct instruction and artistic guidance from industry-active filmmakers, composers, pop producers, and synth-pop recording artists.
- Technical Skill Building: Practical studio training in digital audio workspaces, remote audio collaboration tools, and independent streaming self-publishing techniques.
- Portfolio Development: Creation and completion of a polished, original musical composition or demo track.
- Inclusive Creative Community: Safe peer-to-peer exchange networks and structured group discussion circles with fellow Canadian artists.
Application Fee
This program is 100% free of charge for all selected participants. General tuition, administrative, and instructional costs are entirely covered through the funding support of the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation.
Application Requirements
Interested youth must complete the centralized online intake profile. The registration form captures:
- Contact & Demographic Profiles: Standard legal and preferred name markers, age verification (16–29), and Canadian regional location.
- Access & Accommodation Notes: Details regarding individual access preferences or structural learning styles to help facilitators prepare adaptive teaching adjustments.
- Creative Interest Context: Brief declarations of what the applicant hopes to achieve, explore, or build throughout the 10-day musical track.
How to Apply?
All eligible candidates must submit their application digital profile directly through the authorized Activity Messenger registration portal. Applications handled through alternative social media messaging or unverified links will not be synchronized into the cohort setup.
- Registration Link: SoundBridge Official Activity Messenger Portal
Key Dates
- Registration Deadline: August 7, 2026, at 5:00 PM MST (Strict)
- Program Run Dates: August 10 – August 21, 2026 (Weekdays only; 10 total sessions)
- Daily Session Schedule: 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM MST (Includes a built-in 30-minute sensory rest break)
Location
This program takes place Online via an accessible digital video platform, allowing participants from any territory or province across Canada to participate safely from their home setups.
Additional Details
The instructional team features highly accomplished disabled and allied professionals, including Lead Facilitator Dani Saldo (a Filipino-Canadian composer whose sync work features on Netflix and MTV), pop producer Ming Gao (engineer for Drag Race UK talent), and Calgary-based synth-pop artist Ty Vanden Dool. Because registration blocks are carefully curated to maintain a supportive student-to-mentor ratio, interested applicants are encouraged to lock in their profiles well before the August deadline.