Canadian Songbook
Canadian Songbook
Podcast Description
Canadian Songbook is a documentary-style podcast hosted by Juno-winning drummer and composer Ernesto Cervini, celebrating the diverse voices that define Canada's musical landscape. From opera stars and jazz artists to music educators and community leaders, each episode explores how music has shaped the life of one guest at a time, across generations and geographies.
Told through candid conversations and warm storytelling, these are the journeys of real people—musicians who honed their voice and found connection in childhood choirs, high school bands, smoky jazz clubs, and summer music camps. You’ll hear how one person's family, heritage, and community helped forge their path to international stages—and how collaboration, creativity, and mentorship continue to shape their uniquely Canadian sound.
Whether you are drawn to stories of growth and transformation, curious about creative culture, or simply interested in the lives behind Canada's creative scene, Canadian Songbook offers an intimate and inspiring portrait of what it means to grow through music in Canada.
🎵 This podcast is a growing archive of voices and visions, rooted in rhythm, memory, and home.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on a variety of themes such as personal growth through music, the influence of community and heritage, and the evolution of artistic expression. Episodes include stories of musicians like Jim Creeggan, detailing his journey from informal jam sessions to arena performances, and Mike Murley, exploring the transformative power of jazz in different cultural settings.
Canadian Songbook is a documentary-style podcast hosted by Juno-winning drummer and composer Ernesto Cervini, celebrating the diverse voices that define Canada’s musical landscape. From opera stars and jazz artists to music educators and community leaders, each episode explores how music has shaped the life of one guest at a time, across generations and geographies.
Told through candid conversations and warm storytelling, these are the journeys of real people—musicians who honed their voice and found connection in childhood choirs, high school bands, smoky jazz clubs, and summer music camps. You’ll hear how one person’s family, heritage, and community helped forge their path to international stages—and how collaboration, creativity, and mentorship continue to shape their uniquely Canadian sound.
Whether you are drawn to stories of growth and transformation, curious about creative culture, or simply interested in the lives behind Canada’s creative scene, Canadian Songbook offers an intimate and inspiring portrait of what it means to grow through music in Canada.
🎵 This podcast is a growing archive of voices and visions, rooted in rhythm, memory, and home.
In this episode, Ernesto Cervini sits down with arts advocate and Canadian Music Centre CEO Holly Nimmons for a conversation that weaves music, memory, and social change into one remarkable story. Born into a home where jam sessions happened beside the bassinet and artistry was woven into daily life, Nimmons shares what it meant to grow up as the daughter of legendary Canadian bandleader and educator Phil Nimmons, and how her mother’s musical brilliance shaped her just as deeply. From high school band rooms and theatre stages to activism in midwifery and national arts leadership, she reflects on the enduring power of music to shape identity, empathy, and community. The episode is a warm, wide-ranging portrait of a woman who believes in listening deeply, advocating boldly, and helping others – especially young people – find their voice in the soundscape of Canadian culture.
Disclaimer
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