Humber Music is presenting a new Music and Masterclass Series throughout this Fall 2025 – Winter 2026 year. While geared for Humber music students, all are welcome to join us for these informative musical explorations involving performance, discussion, and question-and-answer dialogue. The series allows audiences to meet a range of professional musicians from Canada to India, from songwriting to immersive sound design. Offering attendees a window into the art of music performance, composition and production, master musicians unpack the complexity of their craft and offer insight into the artistic process.
On Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m., Humber Music presents Songwriting with Tara Kannangara & Chris Pruden. JUNO-nominated singer/songwriter and trumpet-player Tara Kannangara will treat audiences to a preview of her latest, unreleased music currently in development. Along with jazz keyboardist Chris Pruden, the duo will breakdown the songwriting process, and offer their experience of the Canadian music industry. This masterclass will provide an opportunity for attendees to receive behind-the-scenes insight and guidance on navigating both the creative and the business side of a career as a professional musician.
More About the Artists
Tara Kannangara is a second-generation, Sri Lankan-Canadian force of nature, writing music that is deeply personal, genre-bending and culture blending. Her songs, encompassed by wild trumpet melodies, searing guitar lines, lush synths, and piercing lyricism will make you turn your head and listen. She moved to Toronto after studying classical music at the University of Victoria to study jazz at the U of T. After years of conventional music education, Tara broke away from the confines of institutional art to return to songwriting, bringing together her voice and trumpet to forge her own unique sound.
Tara has been featured on CBC’s The Signal, Sirius XM, The Toronto Star, The Sunday Edition and NPR Tiny Desk with Lido Pimienta. She also performed on Lido’s Grammy nominated record, “Miss Colombia.” She has had the privilege to work with extraordinary homegrown artists such as Jeremy Dutcher, Charlotte Cornfield, and Witch Prophet. Her own work has been presented at major festivals across North America including The Montreal Jazz Festival, The Washington DC Jazz Festival and The Smithsonian. Tara is a member of the music faculty at the Humber Polytechnic.
A frequent musical collaborator of Tara’s, Chris Pruden is a pianist/keyboardist based in Toronto. He earned a Master's Degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Toronto. Heavily influenced by jazz, contemporary classical, folk, rock and electronic music, Chris has performed across North America, China, and Europe. In addition to his work with Tara, Chris is a frequent sideman with Sammy Jackson, Zinnia, Language Arts, Future Machines, and Ronley Teper’s Lipliners.
You can follow Tara on instagram.com/tara.kannangara.
Admission is free. Seating is limited. No ticket registration required.
Photo Credit: Calm Elliott-Armstrong
