After over three decades as one of Canada’s foremost provincial music associations, Music Nova Scotia is seeing its very first female president in Meghan Scott.
The organization announced its incumbent members for their Board of Directors on June 24th, alongside a “New Strategic Plan” moving forward. With the appointment of Scott as president as well as a three-year action plan outlining progressive, community-oriented measures, it is clear that Music Nova Scotia is looking to cultivate a valuable future for the province’s industry — most of whom are still recovering from the influence of the pandemic.
Meghan Scott brings to the table a wealth of experience across her career, from heading the Halifax Urban Folk Festival to managing musicians, producers, and a recording studio.
“I am extremely honoured to be elected the organization’s first female President,” Scott states. “I’m eager to get to work leading this fantastic new Board of Directors in advocating for and supporting Nova Scotia’s incredible artists and music industry.”
Her appointment sees the departure of sixteen-year president Brian Doherty. Former executive director Scott Long describes that under Doherty’s leadership, “the organization went from strength-to-strength” as well as seeing an “explosive growth in membership.”
The elected members in full that will be joining existing members Kyle Cunjak, Owen Lee, and Dena Williams are:
Sarah Atkinson (Treasurer)
Barbara Cameron (Secretary)
Israel Ekanem
Matt Gorman
Sarah Jamer (Third Vice President)
Trevor Murphy (Second Vice President)
Matthew Sampson
Meghan Scott (President)
Tracey Williams
Along with this shuffling of the board, Music Nova Scotia’s 2021-2024 Strategic Plan illustrates the current scope of its vision and approach. It details goals of honouring equity-seeking groups and finding footing for members post-Covid-19, actions of pushing for advocacy and education alongside growth, and measures of demonstrating leadership and keying in the board’s Diversity Committee. The plan can be viewed in full here.
Music Nova Scotia has been an institution of the province’s creative industries since 1989, serving music professionals and the community all the while. With Brian Doherty having served for half of the organization’s lifespan, it’s the close of an era in some ways. But with Meghan Scott’s leadership and the board’s keen plan that looks toward rejuvenating the sector, this will doubtlessly be a new chapter just as fruitful.