The members of The Swinging Belles will have to find some more space on their mantles.
The popular swing band for children took home a Juno Award for Children’s Album of the Year in Calgary, Alta., April 3.
The “Belles” of The Swinging Belles are Memorial alumnae Erin Power (BA’05, B.Ed.’08, M.Ed.’15) and Laura Winter (BA’99, MA’15), both primary school teachers and significant contributors to music education locally. The front women of the band, Ms. Power provides vocals and plays mandolin and tenor ukulele; Ms. Winter provides vocals and plays banjo and soprano ukulele.
Well-known local musician Duane Andrews, a current master of music in instrumental conducting candidate in the School of Music, is the guitarist in the group.
The trio also nabbed the Canadian Folk Music Award for Children’s Album of the Year at a ceremony in Edmonton in November.
Their album, More Sheep, Less Sleep, beat out other children’s groups Big Block Singsong, Bobs and LoLo and Ginalina.
The Juno Awards are presented annually to Canadian musical artists and bands to acknowledge their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music.
