BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BRIAN FAUTEUX (Vice Chair)
University of Alberta
He / Him
Brian Fauteux is an associate professor of Popular Music and Media Studies at the University of Alberta. He holds a PhD in Communication from Concordia (Montreal) and has completed a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship in Media & Cultural Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He researches and writes about music industries and music radio, often with a focus on Canada, and is the author of Music in Range: The Culture of Canadian Campus Radio, a book that explores the history of campus radio and its connection to local music scenes. He is now working on a book on the cultural history of satellite radio and popular music in the 2000s as well as a collaborative research project that considers ways to rethink policy, music infrastructure, and funding frameworks that put artists first. He plays the drums and has been a Polaris Prize juror for the past few years.
CANDACE WEBBER (Director)
Stampede City Sessions
She / Her
Candace was born and raised in Edmonton, graduating from the Advertising & Public Relations Program at GMCC. She worked through College as a Server at The Sidetrack Café where her passion for live music was seeded. She became the Public Relations Director for the Edmonton YMCA, where she learned a lot about working with non-profit organizations. Through this experience, she added “maximum utilization of available resources” to her credo. Candace worked in the Radio Industry for 15 years in promotions, advertising, marketing, event planning and execution. She started in Edmonton at 96 K-LITE FM, then moved to Calgary to work with 66 CFR/KISSFM and Sales, Marketing & Events for Calgary Flames Radio. Candace and her husband Lorne Webber incorporated Adventure Marketing Company in 2000. AMC produced sporting events and highlight TV shows for Luge Canada, Water Ski Canada, Alpine Canada, and more. Adventure Marketing Company pivoted from sports to live music and started producing a live music broadcast series in 2012, Stampede City Sessions. You can watch all of the one hour episodes on their website: www.stampedecitysessions.com
COURTNEY MILFORD (Secretary)
Students' Association of MacEwan University
She / Her
Courtney Milford is an arts and culture professional with a passion for community development and facilitating economically viable, impactful, and engaging live events and programs. She has been working in leadership roles within the Arts and Culture sector for the past 7 years and has experience working with municipal bodies, non-profit organizations, and higher education environments. Valuing connection points and opportunities to learn and share, she identifies as somewhat of a professional dot-connector. She has been responsible for various multi-year community sponsorship agreements and partnerships during her 4 years as Arts & Culture Coordinator for the Town of Whitecourt and worked to establish the Whitecourt & Woodlands Performing Arts Society as a viable market and included venue amongst the Western Performing Arts Centers circuit. In her current role as the Event Producer with the Students’ Association of MacEwan University, Courtney oversees all large scale events, and most recently served as the
Western Regional Director for the Canadian Organization of Campus Activities (COCA) where she worked on membership outreach and spearheaded various regional routing collaborations. While she can't carry a tune in a bucket, Courtney has a positive demeanour and well-honed skill set that has served her well in the Events Industry thus far.
NATASHA MANDRUSIAK (Treasurer)
Stampede Entertaiment
She / Her
Natasha began her career over 10 years ago in Vancouver, BC, working music festivals such
as The Squamish Valley Music Festival & Skookum Art and Music Festival, after moving back
to Alberta she continued as a Promoter Rep for Union Events. She currently holds the role of
Director of Production & Business Development for Stampede Entertainment, curating and
producing shows across Western Canada. In the fall of 2018 Natasha was accepted into
Canada's Music Incubator Artist Manager program and since then has been working with
Country Music Artist, Mariya Stokes and Dream-Pop Artist Clea Anaïs. Natasha was recently
nominated for Production Manager of the Year at the Canadian Live Music Awards (2023)
and is the Chapter Head for Women In Music Canada - Calgary Branch.
STEPHANIE PAHL (Chair)
Glenbow Museum
She / Her
A lifelong supporter of the arts in Alberta, Stephanie has held leadership positions in multiple arts organizations in Calgary throughout her career. She served in fundraising and executive leadership positions at National Music Centre for seven years, most notably as Chief of Staff and Senior Director, Administration where she led operations in visitor experience, business development, human resources, and information technology. Stephanie is currently Chief of Staff at Glenbow Museum, leading Glenbow’s people and culture portfolio and acting as strategic partner to the President & CEO within the senior leadership team. Prior to Glenbow and National Music Centre, Stephanie worked in management at HMV record stores for close to a decade. Stephanie is a graduate of MacEwan University’s Arts & Cultural Management program and is an active volunteer within the music community in Calgary.
STEVE DERPACK (Director)
JCL Productions
He / Him
Steve Derpack, born and raised in Edmonton (and Spruce Grove) started JCL Productions, a multi-faceted company that now specializes in concert promotion, event planning, festival management, live music production, and consultation, in 2006. Prior to this, he performed in a touring band in the mid to late 1990s. After moving into the GM role and full time talent buyer for the Rev, Steve moved a couple of years later to the U of A Students’ Union to oversee the portfolio of Entertainment and Programming. During this time, Steve promoted countless concerts, events, and produced programs in various indoor and outdoor spaces on campus. Steve co-founded the Edmonton Music Awards in 2010, and promoted concerts independently in Edmonton and throughout Western Canada, working with various venues including The Haven Social Club and Avenue Theatre. Steve also opened the Mercury Room with two partners, and went on to become the Executive Director for the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta. Steve has partnered with various entities like the Edmonton Folk Music Festival, Live at the Winspear, and Worldwide Music Ventures, which saw Steve travel back-to-back tours of Western Canada. In 2018, Steve became Artistic Director & Facility Supervisor at Festival Place, in Sherwood Park and in 2021, Steve produced a documentary about a year in the life of local artists during a pandemic. Steve is the Artist Liaison with the Bear Creek Folk Festival in Grande Prairie, now in it’s 11th year. Steve is the Theatre Coordinator for the Maclab Centre for the Performing Arts, for the City of Leduc, overseeing a 450 seat theatre. Steve is happy to be on Board of Directors and is proud to represent Alberta Music in all ways possible, and looks forward to meeting many new and dynamic people ahead and continuing to promote Alberta Music.
LIAM PROST (Director)
Tamarack Records / Breakout West
He/Him
Liam Prost is a music industry multitasker, working simultaneously as Programming Manager for the BreakOut West festival and conference, in venue production and booking with Tooth Blackner Presents, and as an independent artist manager with his boutique management company and label Tamarack Records. Liam specializes in team building, strategy, and content creation as a photographer, videographer, and a writer.
BRIAN CHRISTENSEN (Director)
Nordicity
He/Him
Brian is a music industry consultant and performer based in Edmonton. A graduate of MacEwan University’s music and political science programs, Brian is currently a consultant at the Toronto-based firm Nordicity, where he works in the arts and creative industries to support research, policy development, and strategic initiatives for arts organizations, governments, and other industry partners. In 2025 Brian was a co-author of Hear And Now, the Canadian Live Music Association’s economic impact assessment of the live music industry in Canada. He has also worked with cities like Halifax and Kingston on municipal music sector strategies, and with other provincial music industry funding bodies to evaluate their programs. Brian’s background also extends to politics, including time working under an Edmonton City Councillor and a Member of Parliament. He graduated in 2023 with a Master’s degree from York University and Toronto Metropolitan University, for which he developed research into property tax mechanisms to support live music venues. As a performer, Brian leads the cover band The King Comets, performs in professional theatre year-round, and can generally be seen singing and playing around Edmonton.