More Conference Speakers Announced for BreakOut West 2017

Posted On: Aug. 1, 2017

7TH batch speakers rectangle_Aug 1 RESIZED.jpg from top left: Andy Jones, Chris Wynters, Carly Rockett, Jeremy Giacomin, Andy McLean, Mike Schwartz, Magdalena Jensen, Nigel Jenkins, Rosanna Burrill, Stephanie Hutchinson

More Speakers Announced for BreakOut West 2017

Stay tuned for more!

Andy Jones has worked within the music industry for over 15 years; as an artist, label music director, and promoter. He's delivered work for a variety of labels, including dedicated releases in the UK, Germany, Italy and Canada. Through these projects and his other work, Andy has gained extensive experience in the various sectors, providing his team with a depth of expertise which underpins the delivery of the FOCUS Wales festival. FOCUS Wales is the annual showcase festival for the Welsh music industry, and takes place in Wrexham each May, placing the industry spotlight firmly on the talent that Wales has to offer the world. 2018 marks the festival’s 8th edition, and will welcome over 8,000 festival goers, with over 200+ bands from around the world performing across 20 stages. Andy has been a guest speaker at events around the world, including BreakOut West, Indie Week (Toronto), and Zandari Festa (Korea).

Chris Wynters is the Director of Festival Marketing and Partnerships at Six Shooter Records, a position he started in January 2017. Previously, Chris served as the Executive Director of Alberta Music (2012-2017). He has much experience in the music business as a songwriter, producer, studio owner and as a road weathered touring musician from his over 20 years of fronting Captain Tractor, one of Alberta’s most successful indie bands ever. Chris has also done a lot of work as a theatre artist: as an actor, an award-winning music director and composer, and as the creator/composer/lyricist of a number of original musicals. He continues to serve on the board of the WCMA.

Carly Rockett is the Ticketing & Operations Manager for Communion Presents, the live arm of Communion Music Group, based in the UK. Joining Communion in 2013, Carly brought her experience from working at a number of festivals and events such as Larmer Tree Festival and Cambridge Folk Festival. Communion Presents promotes 200+ live shows a year in venues across London with capacities ranging from 200-10,000. Carly has worked on live campaigns for Ben Howard, James Bay, Michael Kiwanuka, Bear’s Den, Daughter and many more, and she also manages the ticketing for Bushstock Festival, a 2500 capacity one day festival taking place in Shepherds Bush, booked by Communion Presents.

One of the newest additions to the team, Jeremy Giacomin joined Paquin Artists Agency (PAA) in August 2013 as an assistant and has since risen through the ranks as an associate, and is currently an agent/talent buyer with a focus on booking the West. Jeremy has had the pleasure of working with artists like The Strumbellas, Corb Lund, Fred Penner and many more. With a love for live music and previous experience in advertising and film, Jeremy brings a passion for the entertainment industry in all of its various forms. Under the mentorship of PAA’s Julien Paquin and Todd Jordan, Jeremy is currently building an impressive roster of talent consisting of William Prince, The Dead South, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald, Scenic Route to Alaska, Closetalker, Leonard Sumner and many more.

Andy McLean has been the Executive Director of the East Coast Music Association (ECMA) based in Halifax Nova Scotia since April 2014. As the East Coast’s most prodigious music event, he is responsible for delivering a music awards show televised world-wide, a 5–day music festival and industry conference as well as a world-renowned international export buyers program. Although the ECMA is traditionally renowned for its acoustic based genres, today, it represents the full spectrum including rock, pop, hip hop, metal, electronic, R&B and more.

He is a strong advocate for the Atlantic region’s music industry and is mandated to fulfill the ECMA’s mission statement to develop, advance and celebrate East Coast Canadian music, its artists and industry professionals throughout the region and around the world. Andy is committed to building new strategic partnerships and developing career-enhancing opportunities for ECMA members as well as reciprocal initiatives for our international partners.

When he’s not watching his beloved Manchester United, Andy’s other varied interests include sampling real ales, playing real football and his telecaster loudly.

With over ten years of professional experience in both the music business and in the fitness industry as a Certified Holistic Lifestyle and Nutrition Coach and Personal Trainer, Mike Schwartz, the expert of movement, nutrition and mindset wrote the book on how to survive the rock star lifestyle. Literally. Join Mike as he discusses strategies from his book "The Musician's Guide To Surviving The Rock Star Lifestyle" to better handle the physical and psychological demands experienced on the road, in studio and off stage.

Magdalena Jensen, the co-founder of Chimes Agency - an independent music agency, worked as a journalist for Polish Radio for several years before stepping into the music industry as band manager for Paula & Karol. She has since worked and consulted with Ulfur Ulfur, Axel Flovent, BRODKA, Kamp! and more. Magdalena currently manages Ifi Ude. Additionally, she is the co-founder and chair of the newly-formed Music Managers Forum Polska.

Magdalena organized the European Music Fair for four years (responsible for international relations and conference) and produced numerous events such as Niewidzialny Dizajn or Media Meets Literacy. She served on the Advisory Board for Bitspiration Festival, providing insight on the music industry.
Magdalena is a Polish-American living in Warsaw for 8 years now, a graduate of European Studies and Political Science from the University of Vermont, followed by studies in International Relations at the University of Warsaw. Magdalena is a certified non-violent communication mediator.

Laughing Hear Music’s Nigel Jenkins is an artist manager and entertainment lawyer based in Halifax, NS. He currently manages Hillsburn, has worked with Classified, Heather Rankin, and Ben Caplan, and sits on the boards of the Halifax Pop Explosion Music Festival and Halifax Urban Folk Festival. Nigel was nominated for the 2017 East Coast Music Award for Artist Manager of the Year, and the 2016 Nova Scotia Music Week Award for Artist Manager of the Year.

Rosanna Burrill sings and plays violin in Hillsburn, who had a big year in 2016, releasing their debut full-length album, In The Battle Years, and winning a Canadian Folk Music Award for “New/Emerging Artist of the Year.” The Halifax-based quintet plans to unveil a follow-up album in 2018 and will be touring across the country in April and May of 2018 with performances at venues and festivals from coast to coast.

Stephanie Hutchinson is the Vice President and co-founder of WCMA-nominated independent label Chronograph Records. She is an award-nominated artist manager and music industry mentor.

Stephanie is also the principal at Roseway Communications, a firm specializing in proposal and grant writing where she has successfully won hundreds of thousands of dollars from funders such as FACTOR, Canada Council for the Arts, and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts.