Juno joy for Manitobans William Prince, James Ehnes

Two Manitobans added to their Juno Award collections on Saturday night, when the majority of the trophies were handed out at a ceremony streamed on the internet.

William Prince won Contemporary Roots Album of the Year for 2023’s Stand in the Joy.

It’s his second Juno win; seven years ago, the Peguis First Nation singer-songwriter earned the trophy the same category for Earthly Days, his debut record.

“To the reason I stand in the joy so confidently, to Alyshia Grace, for being so incredible to me,” Prince said of his fiancée, who is also a vocalist in his band, while accepting the award.

“And all the youth of the Peguis First Nation. It takes a real village to lift somebody like myself so high, so thank you so much.”

Prince was also nominated for Songwriter of the Year, which went to Aysanabee, the Ontario Oji-Cree musician who also won a Juno for alternative album of the year on Saturday. (Aysanabee was a participant in the national Sākihiwē Export Accelerator, launched by Aboriginal Music Manitoba and Manitoba Music.)

Violinist James Ehnes was Manitoba’s other Juno winner Saturday evening. It was the 12th Juno for the Brandon-born, virtuoso, this time for Nielsen: Symphony No. 4, which won for solo classical album.

The National Arts Centre Orchestra’s artist-in-residence was unable to attend the Halifax ceremony, as he was performing a recital in Santa Monica, Calif.

Winnipeg singer Begonia performed the song Butterfly during an in memoriam segment Saturday evening. The song is from her record Powder Blue, which was nominated for the Adult Alternative Album of the Year; the trophy was awarded to Feist.