MusiCounts could not be what it is today without the support of our donors, partners, and community. Music is what drives us all — whether you grew up with music, work in the industry, or are simply a music lover. That’s why every July, we spotlight a variety of people who make music education accessible for youth across Canada.

We chatted with two event coordinators, Asante Deluy and Tinesha Richards, from Sankofa Square.

On June 4, 2026, Sankofa Square kicked off its first Music in the Square event of the summer with MusiCounts featuring artist performances by Jennarie, JSAL and Lowkita, who participated in the RBCxMusic First Up Program, powered by MusiCounts, and the MusiCounts Industry Exchange.

Tell me about kicking off Music in the Square for the summer with a MusiCounts-partnered show. How did you like the performances?

Tinesha: It was our first show of the summer, so we were really excited to reignite and bring energy back into the Square. I think partnering with MusiCounts, who is all about bringing music back into our communities and our schools was just the perfect fit.

Asante: The performances were great. It's really awesome seeing emerging talent, especially in the city and Canada in general, perform at the Square and grace us with their talents and abilities. We love all different types of music, and we've both felt like it was very well curated. It was very well appreciated by not just us, but also the people in Toronto.

Do you have ambitions for future events?

Tinesha: The ambitions we have for future events are really to continue highlighting and spotlighting Canadian talent in the Square. Obviously, this year we focus on Toronto, but the goal would be to be more national, bring artists in, and be known as the spot to go to every Thursday at 6.

Do you have any words of encouragement for people who want to get involved with MusiCounts?

Asante: I would definitely say to be fully committed and present in your craft. When you're trying to get the attention of different organizations (a lot of the time they're looking), you also have to be easy to find and always interacting. If you're eyeing MusiCounts for example, I would suggest following and commenting, because people do pay attention to that kind of stuff. Make sure that you have a presence yourself, because I find that artists, especially, want all the opportunities, but sometimes are difficult to discover because it's not easy to find and locate the different artists that are in the city.

All organizations, whether it's MusiCounts or even Sankofa Square, we're always keeping our eyes open, but we have to make sure that you have some visibility. Be present and really promote this work that you're doing, showcase your talent, and we will find you.

*This interview was edited for clarity.