Desarae Dee
- Contest: WIM Canada With Honours - 2026
- Nominator Full Name: Desarae Facey
- Are you (nominator) a member of WIM Canada? : Yes
- Nominee first name : Desarae
- Nominee last name : Dee
- Nominees Gender Identity?: Cis-Woman
- Nominee pronouns : She/Her/Hers
- Nominee Email : desaraedeemusicofficial@gmail.com
- Nominee City: Oshawa
- Province / Territory: Ontario
- Is the NOMINEE a racialized person (Indigenous, Black, or Person of Colour)?: Black
- Categorie(s): Artist of the Year - Presented by Amazon Music, Change Maker of the Year - Presented by National Arts Centre, Excellence in Sound Production - Presented by Fearless Creative, Music Publishers Canada and National Arts Centre
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Audio Track Links - Excellence in Sound Production submission:
https://open.spotify.com/track/5VD2rPglrutvaJYhw5VZc9?si=1c5a2048a00847a3
https://open.spotify.com/track/0PIDDWaqtZE0Vo34TMlrFO?si=68572577f8054de2
https://open.spotify.com/track/38plyZ37qh2Pj9AWdyyasR?si=ea9219fed8e14e60
https://open.spotify.com/track/5KQ6GHCHn9oh166ABMQ93b?si=457c0834dab948db - Video Media Links - 1: https://youtube.com/@DesaraeDeeMusic
- Video Media Links - 2: https://momentsofchristmas2025.eventbrite.ca/
- Submission Type: Written
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Written Submission - What makes this person / company a great fit?:
Artist of the Year (Presented by Amazon Music)
What makes this person a great fit?
Desarae Dee is an award-winning Canadian instrumental fusion artist, composer, and producer whose 2025 achievements mark an extraordinary year of artistic and professional growth. Her 10-year legacy project, Adventure: The Album, was placed on the first GRAMMY® consideration ballot in three categories, while her follow-up holiday EP Moments of Christmas (2nd Movement) expanded her international reach. In 2025 she also completed a live performance residency at Toronto Pearson International Airport and was selected as a 2025–2026 GRAMMY U Mentor presented by Amazon Music. Known for bridging jazz, soul, gospel, and electronic textures, Desarae creates immersive soundscapes that redefine instrumental music and cement her as a leading Canadian voice in global fusion.
Change Maker of the Year (Presented by the National Arts Centre)
What makes this person a great fit?
Through her leadership in music education, mentorship, and community-building, Desarae Dee has become a transformative force within Canada’s music ecosystem. As Music Director and Accompanist for the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir, mentor for Women in Music Canada and the Marigold Music Program, and 2025–2026 GRAMMY U Mentor, she has guided countless young musicians toward artistic and professional confidence. Her educational content (#4ChordWorship, Dee’s Theory Spotlight) has reached millions globally, bridging faith, theory, and creative freedom. In addition to her mentorship work, Desarae founded and curates Moments of Christmas, a bi-annual event and multimedia experience that celebrates community, healing, and togetherness through music. The event amplifies diverse local artists, creates performance opportunities for emerging musicians, and offers audiences a soulful, uplifting space during the holiday season. This initiative reflects her dedication to using music as a vehicle for connection and transformation. Desarae’s leadership model embodies mentorship in motion, empowering women and gender-diverse creators to find their voice, build sustainable careers, and cultivate spaces where artistry and belonging thrive.
Excellence in Sound Production (Presented by Fearless Creative, Music Publishers Canada & National Arts Centre)
What makes this person a great fit?
As a producer and composer, Desarae Dee has crafted a signature sound that merges jazz, soul, gospel, and electronic textures into cinematic sonic experiences. Her production on Adventure: The Album and Moments of Christmas (2nd Movement) showcases her precision in arrangement, sound design, and mixing, creating music that feels both technically refined and emotionally resonant. Desarae’s studio practice embodies safe and equitable collaboration, particularly for women and under-represented creators in instrumental production spaces. Her ongoing innovation is defining the next wave of Canadian fusion sound. - Written Submission - How do you know the person / company: n/a
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Written Submission - How would this Honour benefit the nominee?:
Artist of the Year (Presented by Amazon Music)
How would this Honour benefit the nominee?
This recognition would amplify Desarae’s mission to increase visibility for women and Black instrumentalists in Canada and worldwide. It would highlight her decade-long commitment to artistic excellence, industry mentorship, and genre innovation, paving the way for larger performance platforms, international collaborations, and creative leadership roles that inspire future generations of musicians.
Change Maker of the Year (Presented by the National Arts Centre)
How would this Honour benefit the nominee?
This Honour would further Desarae’s ability to expand mentorship initiatives and develop programs that connect Canadian music students with global creative networks. It would recognize her work as both artist and educator, reinforcing her leadership platform to inspire diverse voices and shape a more inclusive industry ecosystem.
Excellence in Sound Production (Presented by Fearless Creative, Music Publishers Canada & National Arts Centre)
How would this Honour benefit the nominee?
Recognition in this category would spotlight Desarae’s unique contribution to Canada’s producer community and validate her role as a trailblazer for Black women in instrumental and fusion production. It would provide broader industry visibility and resources to continue expanding her studio practice and mentorship initiatives for emerging female and non-binary producers.
