Tamara Kater, Executive Director
ed@musicnl.ca | 754-2574 ext. 3
A passionate music enthusiast, Tamara has worked in arts management and festival organization for more than twenty years, wearing the hat of festival producer, artist manager, board member and executive director. She is well known in the industry as a panelist, consultant, mentor and artist advocate.
Based in St John’s since 2022, Tamara brings with her a wealth of experience working for organizations such as Winnipeg Folk Festival, Folk Music Canada, and most recently Mavens Music, a full-service management company she founded in 2015.
“This music community has played a pivotal role in helping me reconnect with my roots in Newfoundland and Labrador. It’s an honour to work with the membership, board and partners to help celebrate, foster and grow the music sector in the province.” says Tamara.
Mariana Castro Carvajal, Programs Manager
Regional Educational Coordinator, FACTOR
programs AT musicnl.ca | 754-2574 ext. 4
Mariana Castro Carvajal is a Mexican musician, researcher, and cultural connector based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Trained as an ethnomusicologist at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador; and as a musician at Brandon University in Manitoba, she has spent her career exploring the spaces where music, belonging, and community intersect.
Since 2021, Mariana has served in multiple roles at MusicNL, Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial music industry association. She led the organization’s first equity and diversity initiatives, including the Global Music Series, a multicultural concert programme that grew into a recognized platform for immigrant artists in the province. As Connector Program Manager, she supported over 70 newcomer musicians in building their professional careers in NL. Today, as Programs Manager, she serves a growing membership of musicians with their funding, export, and professional development needs.
Talk to Mariana about: Funding programs, awards, stages, applications, FACTOR questions.
Contact – programs@musicnl.ca
Nathan Mackey, Marketing & Communications Manager
comms AT musicnl.ca | 754-2574 ext. 1
Nathan is a performer, educator, and writer from Conception Bay South, NL. With a Diploma in Journalism, and a Certificate in the Performing Arts from Sheridan College in Oakville, Nathan brings several years of diverse experience to our team. As a Newfoundland and Labrador–based communications professional with a background in media, digital content, and arts marketing, Nathan is passionate about supporting and amplifying the province’s vibrant music community.
Nathan previously worked as a Publicity Assistant with the Stratford Festival, where he spent two years immersed in Canada’s theatre industry, collaborating with both established and emerging artists from across the country. He also interned at CBC on Q with Tom Power, where he developed and pitched original story ideas, further honing his skills in storytelling and digital media.
With experience both on and off stage, Nathan offers a broad and creative perspective to our organization—you may have even seen him performing in various local community theatre productions.
Talk to Nathan about: newsletter, social media, membership, member benefits.
Contact – comms@musicnl.ca
Directors
Nigel Jenkins
Nigel Jenkins is a graduate of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, with a Certificate in Entertainment Law from Osgoode Hall Law School. Nigel is an artist manager and record label owner based in Steady Brook, NL. Through his company, Laughing Heart Music, Nigel has worked with artists like Classified, Heather Rankin, Ben Caplan, Hillsburn, The Lytics, and many others as a manager, label owner, and consultant. Nigel has sat on the boards of the Halifax Pop Explosion Music Festival and the Halifax Urban Folk Festival. He was nominated for the 2019 East Coast Music Award for Artist Manager of the Year and the 2018 Nova Scotia Music Week Artist Manager of the Year Award.
Krista Vincent
Krista Vincent started her musical career in the town of Lewisporte, NL. She went on to become a dedicated specialist in the performance and interpretation of contemporary music, with a career spanning three continents as pianist, composer, educator, adjudicator, and arts administrator. Krista holds music and ethnomusicology degrees from McGill University, the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and Memorial University. From 1999-2007 Krista was based in the Netherlands where she was active as an electronic music composer and performer. She has held arts management roles with Canberra International Music Festival in Canberra, Australia, Kittiwake Dance Theatre, Kiwanis Music Festival of St. John’s, and was the Executive Director of the Tuckamore Festival from 2014-2023. She is currently working in a policy role for the Government of NL and an MBA candidate at Carleton University, Ottawa.
Heather Stamp-Nunes
Heather is founder of Leadership Matters Inc, an executive coaching and organizational development firm based in St. John’s, NL specializing in strategic planning, governance and leadership strategy, executive coaching, group facilitation and mediation. Heather’s leadership practice is built on deep academic training, executive certifications, and over 20 years’ experience as a manager, consultant, and executive leader in strategy, people, and organizational development. In addition to her governance, strategic planning, executive coaching, facilitation and conflict resolution work, Heather is an instructor in the Marine Studies Master’s Program in the School of Ocean Technology at Memorial University’s Fisheries and Marine Institute, as well as a frequent instructor in the Centre for Higher Education Research and Development Program at the University of Manitoba. She is a business graduate of St. Francis Xavier University, holds a MEd from Memorial University, a Masters of Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University and the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors at the University of Toronto. Currently, Heather serves on the boards of TFNL and the ADR Atlantic Institute. She has served on other boards at the province and national level including St. John’s Board of Trade, ICF Atlantic and the Canadian Association for University Continuing Education.
Matthew Barrett
Director
Matthew Barrett has been involved in the arts scene in NL for most of his life. He has organized and facilitated many regional festivals over the years and has been an active part of the music scene during that time. Matthew graduated from StFX with an advanced major in music. He was the chair of the Melville Music Festival for several years, sat on the board of the Labrador Creative Arts Festival, and has been involved in countless other festivals and events in the region. Matthew has been a music educator for over 15 years and has been nominated for MusicNL’s music educator of the year award several times. He was the manager of the Lawrence O’Brien Arts Centre from 2016-2021. He is most recently running a construction company and actively working toward a new album with Silver Wolf Band, along with touring / workshop opportunities which are ongoing.
Leonard Pecore
Director
Leonard is founder and a corporate director on the board of Genoa Design International LTD., formed in 1995. With a current employee count of more than 300, the company has experienced more than 10 times growth since 2012. Leonard is also an emerging board of director with a focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, business development, governance and an appreciation of interpersonal relationships. Outside of Genoa, he is an active member of the Marine Institute of Memorial University’s Industry Advisory Board, a member of the Naval Architecture and Marine Systems Program Advisory Council, a member of the Genesis Centre Client Success Committee and a member of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. He currently sits on the Institute of Corporate Directors Newfoundland Chapter Executive Committee, the Learnsphere Board and the Atlantic Canada Aerospace & Defence Association Board of Directors.
Leonard graduated from Acadia University in 1986 with a bachelor of arts and joined the Canadian Military as a Naval Officer in 1987 where he completed 10 years of service. He possesses a diploma of technology in naval architecture, a master’s certificate in project in project management, and is an ICD.D Certified Director.
Ryan Gosse
Director
Ryan received an undergraduate degree in business from Memorial University in 2007 and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 2008 where he articled with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Ryan managed and lead audit and tax teams at a national accounting firm for various small and medium sized business as well as public companies across a variety of industries including oil and gas, shipping, fishing and construction. Ryan then spent several years employed by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, working as a Budget Officer, where he consolidated the mid-year and annual government budget.
He then moved into the private sector working for medium sized businesses in a variety of industries including construction, health care, restaurants, real estate, industrial supplies, and fabrication. Ryan has a strong understanding of personal and corporate tax, reorganizations, estate planning and trusts. He has also assisted clients and employers in numerous reporting standards including IFRS, US GAAP, and ASPE. Ryan has international experience as well working in multiple jurisdictions including the USA, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands and Hong Kong. Ryan completed the three-year Indepth Tax program in 2023.
Ryan is also a member of various board of directors including Planned Parenthood Newfoundland and Labrador and The Life savings Society of Newfoundland and Labrador. He is a former two-time board member of St. John’s Pride.
Siobhan Donovan
Director
Siobhan is a lawyer currently practicing with Newfoundland Power. In her role as Manager, Regulatory Affairs, Siobhan deals extensively with regulatory filings. Siobhan earned her Juris Doctor from Dalhousie’s Schulich School of Law in 2021. Before pursuing law, Siobhan studied classical voice performance. She received her Bachelor of Music Performance (Honours) from the University of Toronto in 2016, and her Master of Music in Performance from Memorial University in 2018. Siobhan remains involved in the local music community as a chorister with Lady Cove Women’s Choir.