2019 is very quickly drawing to a close and as I look forward to all that 2020 has in store I want to take a moment to pause and reflect on some of the highlights of the past year. Music Runs Through It (MRTI) presented 17 shows on 5 stages through partnership & collaboration with 7 exceptional organizations! There were a lot of firsts in 2019: In January, in collaboration with Paul & Liz McDonnell, we presented Alfie Zappacosta on the Lansdowne Concert Series stage. As part of the official Shivering Songs Festival schedule, MRTI presented Matthew Byrne at Dolan's Pub Dave Gunning & JP Cormier brought their award winning talents to the Fredericton Playhouse stage. Steve Hill and Keith Hallett delivered blistering blues in a Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival event presented in association with STINGRAY. The Tipsy Muse Cafe opened their doors and were awesome partners and we worked together to present 7 shows on their stage throughout the year. And to add to my continuing air time on radio with both CBC & CHSR, I made my television debut en français with Radio-Canada Acadie during the Harvest Jazz & Blues Festival. If curious, you can see the clip at the 40:50 minute mark using the link here. All year through I was able to work with exceptional musicians who brought their best to our stages here in Fredericton from all across Canada and from as far away as Australia. I'm especially appreciative for all the amazing people I'm able to collaborate with to create these special events which provide us an excellent reason to come together. THANK YOU to everyone who bought a ticket to one of our shows, who helped spread the word by sharing Facebook events & posts, who lined up baby sitters so they could join us, who added their voices to our unrehearsed choirs, who gave their attention to the story tellers, and to all who shared in the magical musical moments which can't be replicated outside the live music experience! I have a lot of things in the works to make 2020 a very memorable year with many more 'firsts'. I look forward to us gathering again & again to allow the music to run through us some more! The next MRTI presentation is sure to be a special one as many of our super talented local musicians will come together to celebrate the music of the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan. Click here for more details about the show taking place on January 29th. HAPPY NEW YEAR FRIENDS! Take good care of yourselves and of each other. Yours in music, Emma

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