Murray Foster
Murray Foster is a Juno-nominated songwriter, producer, and performer with songwriting credits on multiple certified gold and platinum recordings. Best known for his role in two legendary Canadian bands, he has a reputation as an insightful collaborator and a patient instructor and mentor to up-and-coming songwriters.
In Moxy Früvous, Murray released several gold and platinum records (selling half a million copies), opened for songwriting greats like Bob Dylan, played over two thousand shows around the world and appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
In 2002, Murray joined Great Big Sea, and has since recorded five albums, written songs for the band (including the critically-acclaimed “Safe Upon the Shore”) and toured extensively throughout North America and Europe.
In January 2012, Murray was asked to take part in the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s DARE Campaign. As his ‘dare,’ Murray decided to write and record 30 songs in 30 days. These songs raised almost $6,000 to fight AIDS in Africa.
Murray began teaching songwriting at the Trebas Institute of Music in Toronto in 2012. Then in 2014, he was selected to be one of only two songwriting instructors at Seneca’s new Independent Performing Songwriter program, where he continues to work as a Professor of Songwriting.
In recent years, Murray has been an enthusiastic participant in Massey Hall & Roy Thomson Hall’s Lullaby Project and the Lyrics and Legacies Project. In the Lullaby Project, pregnant women and new mothers work with professional musicians to write personal lullabies for their babies. The Lyrics and Legacies project pairs songwriters with seniors to turn their life stories into songs. This program empowers seniors, including residents with dementia, to leave a musical legacy with their loved ones that will last for years to come, telling their story in their own words and melodies.
In addition to writing in his own bands, Murray has collaborated with many up-and-coming performers including co-writing with 2015 East Coast Music Award nominees Rocket Rocket Ship and the well-regarded Newfoundland duo Andrew James O’Brien and Catherine Allan who perform as Fortunate Ones. Their debut CD “The Bliss” features three songs written with Murray.
Whether it’s helping a new songwriter find their voice or working on already existing material, Murray has a gift for nurturing the talent of others and pinpointing exactly how a song can be refined.
Mary Krause
Mary Krause has spent two decades working behind the scenes to support musicians, artists, and authors with professional management, booking, marketing, and public relations.
In 2003, she booked, promoted, and found sponsorship for a tour by solo artist Adam Brodsky which set the Guinness World Record for “Fastest Tour by a Solo Musician” with 50 shows in 50 states in 50 days.
In 2007, she was hired by Sasha Issenberg to design a book tour for his first book “The Sushi Economy.” Instead of focusing solely on bookstores, she reached out to groups and organizations that might find the book interesting to create author events in unique spaces. She has continued to work with him on subsequent books including “The Victory Lab” and “Outpatients.” She is currently arranging events for his latest book “The Engagement.”
In 2014, she joined Murray Foster in creating Toronto Songwriting School. Here, she manages the office, in addition to handling the marketing, social media, and public relations. A jill of all trades, she spends her downtime planning menus for future songwriter getaways.
Her goal is to take care of the business and logistics of building a career, so her clients can focus on their art.