• U22 is a collection of Canada's most exceptionally talented and promising young musicians aged 22 and under.
  

U22 was developed by founder and creator Rhea March, whose passion for mentoring up-coming musicians is surpassed only by her commitment to create credible viable performance opportunities for ‘her kids’. She has been deeply involved with Edmonton's live music scene for many years but her unshakeable dedication to inspire young talent took root in 2004, through a community based “Young Singer/Songwriter” concert series that ran quarterly from Riverdale Community Hall in Edmonton.  Rhea is entertaining, engaging, and supplies an undeniably deep sincerety and love of the craft to nurture even the newest of performers to achieve their highest potential.

Rhea March also hosts Edmonton's only all original songwriters stage on Sunday nights (on hiatus for the summer).

U22's extensive network of music industry experts and veteran performing artists underwrite its mentorship, talent, and leadership development objectives.

Currently the U22 roster is brimming with gifted young songwriters but there is no limit to the talents that are waiting to be discovered throughout Alberta and across Canada.

U22's mission is:

• to mentor exceptionally gifted young musicians throughout Canada to develop their talents, skills, and leadership;
• to inspire them to know and believe in the music within themselves; and
• to motivate and empower these talented young Canadians to establish credible, sustainable, and rewarding careers in the arts.
  

mentorship

Mentorship is the heart of U22 — the fertile ground to develop talent begins with expertise, and U22 artists are mentored through touring experience and by collaborating with veteran artists and U22's extensive network of industry experts.  In turn, U22s provide mentorship, information, and encouragement to other aspiring young artists by participating in U22 radio programs, hosting singer songwriter workshops, organizing festival boot camps, and performing in featured live performances and concerts.

U22 not only develops the artistic talents and performance skills of U22 participants, but also equips them with public relations, organization, business management, and leadership capabilities.

inspiration

Inspiration is the soul of U22 — in the wake of painful cuts to arts funding across Canada, U22 engages promising young Canadians with real opportunities for success in the arts sector, and encourages them to continue the pursuit of their artistic goals.  By generating energy, optimism, and hope among Canada's youth, U22 intends to prepare the next generation of leaders to develop and project Canada's cultural identity, through music, within their communities and into a global context.

U22 inspires exceptionally talented young musicians to know and believe in the music within themselves.

success

The ultimate goal of U22 is the success of our artists — the potential for fame and stardom is real, but more importantly, U22 artists are prepared to create ongoing success in their recording and performance careers and also empowered by their leadership and mentorship habits to create and inspire ongoing opportunities for other young artists.  The skills they develop are credible and marketable, and underwrite sustainable and rewarding careers as artists.  In this sense, U22 'graduates' are prepared to be not only ambassadors of the arts and active participants in the development of Canadian culture, but destined to become the cultural leaders of our next generation.

U22 empowers the next generation of exceptionally gifted young musicians to establish credible, sustainable, and rewarding careers in the arts.

Only the best of the best are chosen to perform under the U22 umbrella. The bar is set high by the outstanding talent currently onboard.Our U22s are exceptional — they posess the quality that stops you in your tracks, drops your jaw and leaves you cheering for more.

We look for individuality, authenticity, and heart.  All of the U22 artists embody that extra ‘something’ that sets them apart from the masses of ‘really good’ performers.

If you are excited and feel that U22 is right for you, make sure you get in touch with U22 Producer Rhea March!

You must meet Rhea in a performance setting to be invited to take part in the U22 program.  Why not contact Rhea today and let her know that you're ready to begin?

Beginning again in the fall, you are invited you to come to the Songwriter Stage on Sunday evenings to meet her and to demonstrate your talent in the warm, nurturing setting she creates at the open stage.  You'll meet other aspiring artists and U22 alumni, along with veteran artists, and you'll witness some amazingly inspiring talent.  Also, since they engineer and podcast each episode, you can use the recorded sessions as real feedback for improving your skills.