The SING! Music Business Summit presents free seminars on a variety of topics related to the music industry. This seminar provides a balanced look at fringe festivals as performance opportunities, considering the potential benefits, challenges, and strategic value of taking part in these creative spaces.

Sponsored by Canadian Music Spotlight, Long and McQuade Musical Instruments, and Ontario Creates

Clinician Bios:

Derrick Chua is an entertainment lawyer and independent theatre producer. Recent productions include Haley McGee’s Age Is A Feeling (Soho Theatre and Soulpepper), The Ex-Boyfriend Yard Sale (Soulpepper) and Jake Epstein’s Boy Falls From The Sky (Royal Alexandra Theatre with Mirvish Productions). He is the founder and Executive Director of Alliance for Canadian Musicals which launches at Toronto Fringe this summer, co-founder and original Producer of Studio 180 Theatre, co-founder and Executive Producer of Groundling Theatre, and co-producer of the Toronto Sunday Night Cabaret Series.Derrick was a Consulting Producer for CanadaHub at Edinburgh Fringe, President of the Toronto Fringe Festival for over 10 years, President of the Toronto Theatre Alliance (now Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts) and chaired Theatre Ontario’s Professional Theatre Training Program Committee. He is the proud recipient of a Dora Award, Harold Award, Now Magazine Award as Toronto’s Best Indie Producer and Canadian Actors’ Equity Association Honorary Membership for his Outstanding Contribution to the Performing Arts. He can be contacted at derrick@derrickchua.com.

Justine Cargo is one who wears many hats, both fashionably and creatively, Some of her work includes; Tita Collective since 2019 (Lighting Designer/Technical Director) and was nominated for her Lighting Design with Broadway World Awards for her work on Titaverse 2023. Some of her other Theatre Production credits include: Stage Manager of Dora Award winning show, Tough Jews, A Whole New World: Musical Magic of Alan Menken, Angelwalk Theatre; Beauty and The Beast, and Toronto Musical Concerts (3 seasons). Justine is no stranger to the Fringe circuit. She has participated with Toronto Fringe every year since 2011. She has stage managed, performed, designed, produced shows for Edinburgh Festival, Fringe stages across Canada, UK and the U.S.A. She knows the ins and outs to what makes a show at any Fringe successful. 

Rachel Kennedy (she/they) is the Executive Director & Co-Lead at the Toronto Fringe Festival. For the last decade, they have had the pleasure of supporting local indie theatre and dance productions as a producer, director and stage manager and arts administrator. Rachel’s love for the arts centres around a passion for advocacy, equity, and bringing communities together through storytelling. Thanks to wonderful collaborators throughout her career, Rachel has learned much about the unique needs of Toronto’s artists and how essential their impact is across the City and beyond. Rachel is thrilled to serve the Toronto Fringe community and can't wait for this summer's Festival (join us July 2-15th!).

Pat Silver is Founder of Sphere Entertainment Agency award-winning event planner; an ward-winning composer and recording artist and international performing artist; humanitarian (Toronto) Beach Citizen of the Year 2010. Pat built the Sphere Entertainment Agency. In its 32 years, it coordinated events in Canada, the US, Europe, the UK and Asia, including major festivals. As co-founder and Chair of the Danforth Mosaic Business Improvement Association (BIA), she is highly knowledgeable in working with local business groups. As an event planner, she has detailed knowledge of the intricacies of festival organization. She stewarded Sphere to several awards, including Best Entertainment Supplier to Ontario Festivals, Best Children’s Entertainment in Ontario, and People’s Choice as Best Children’s Entertainment provider in East Toronto. As a Gold Record recipient and Juno Award nominee, she has strong roots in the music industry. Her vast network of suppliers and “influencers” ensures that this festival will have broad based support. She has chaired and been a member of a number of Boards of Directors in both the music and community sectors, including a current position as the International Representative to the US-based Children’s Entertainment Association.