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A professional portrait of an man in a grey blazer, a young woman in a green floral dress, and a man in a black sweater standing together. They are positioned in front of a wide audio mixing board within a recording studio.
2025 Sauga’s Song of the Year winner Joelle Rose with Mike Douglas (MAC) and Chris Crerar (Metalworks)
Five people stand together for a group photo in a room with green wooden paneling. The group includes a young woman in a lilac sweater, a young man wearing a black bandana, and three older men in professional attire, the last in a black "Metalworks" hoodie. Large sketch-style artworks hang on the walls behind them.
Sherri Parliament, Mikey Bloom, Stephen Dasko, Mike Douglas, and Gil Moore at the Sauga’s 50th Anthem Contest release event.

Sauga’s Song of the Year Contest

Sauga’s Song of the Year Contest is an annual songwriting contest that celebrates musicians and songwriters in Mississauga Presented by MAC in partnership with Metalworks Studios and SoundsUnite, the contest invites local singer-songwriters to share their demos for a chance to have the song professional recorded, mixed, mastered, and released.

Each year, the contest seeks a song that reflects the experiences, hopes, and dreams of the Mississauga artists who are writing them. Open to artists of all musical genres and backgrounds, Sauga’s Song of the Year provides songwriters with a platform to be heard, and further their professional music careers.

APPLICATIONS NOW CLOSED

2026 Sauga’s Song of the Year Contest

Singer-songwriters from all musical genres and backgrounds are invited to submit original demos for consideration. The winner will be awarded the title of “2026 Sauga’s Song of the Year” and receive a professional recording and mixing session for their winning demo at Metalworks Studios. MAC will engage the winning artist to perform the song at a minimum of three public events (dates and details to be confirmed).

A distinguished jury of musical professionals with connections to Mississauga’s music will review all submissions and determine the winner, who will be announced in Spring 2026. 

Three men sit at a large professional mixing console in a recording studio, smiling and clapping. A monitor above them displays a poster for "Sauga's 50th Anniversary Anthem Contest". Two other men stand in the background between large teal studio monitors.

Meet the Jurors

Headshot of Chris Crerar from the shoulder up. He wears a grey suit with a white collared shirt.

Chris Crerar

Senior Mastering Engineer and Studio Manager, Metalworks Studios

About Chris Crerar

Chris Crerar has over a 20 years of experience in the music industry, and over a decade of experience in sound engineering, recording, mixing and mastering experience, and is a senior mastering engineer at Metalworks Studios.

Some of his more notable credits include work on the Juno award-winning Prince album, Musicology, and projects with artists including Nelly Furtado, Dolores O’Riordan, David Clayton-Thomas, George Canyon, and The Barenaked Ladies. He’s also engineered for Three Days Grace, Ill Scarlett, Born Ruffians, K’naan, Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings, Serena Ryder, Jill Barber, and The Stills.

Headshot of Tennyson King from the shoulders up. He stands in front of a pea green background wearing a black and floral button up shirt with a medallion pendant necklace, and is holding a bouquet of bright orange, purple, blue and red flowers.

Tennyson King

Award-Winning Indie-Folk Singer-Songwriter

About Tennyson King

The international touring act, Tennyson King, is rapidly gathering fans all over the world. Born in Hong Kong, raised in Canada, this nomadic musician brings a jovial personality to the stage.  He often appears solo in great halls to small intimate theatres stunning the crowd with stories of adventure and travels while strumming electrifying guitar sounds paired with silky vocal lines. Bring in the band on the big festival stage, they create a huge sound surely to get everyone moving. Rock and roll infused with earthy roots and blues subtly laced in psychedelic ear candy.

Headshot of Sewa from the shoulder up. She stands in front of a white cement wall and a brown curtain. She wears gold jewellery and a brown dress.

Ṣẹwà

Singer, Songwriter, Multi-Instrumentalist

About Ṣẹwà

Nigerian-born, Toronto-based Ṣẹwà is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and producer whose music blends Afrobeat, Fuji, Jazz, R&B, Soul/Blues, and Pop into a rich, genre-defying sound. A fan once described her work as “the after-scent of rain,” capturing the emotional depth, soulfulness, and refreshing quality that defines her artistry.

Sauga’s Song of the Year Updates

“Be Somebody Special” by Neddy wins 2026 Sauga’s Song of the Year Contest!

“Be Somebody Special” by Neddy wins 2026 Sauga’s Song of the Year Contest!

“Be Somebody Special” by Mississauga-based pop-folk recording artist, Neddy, is announced as the 202…

Rising emerging singer-songwriter Joelle Rose wins the 2025 Sauga’s Song of the Year Contest for “Birdhouse!”

Rising emerging singer-songwriter Joelle Rose wins the 2025 Sauga’s Song of the Year Contest for “Birdhouse!”

The Mississauga Arts Council (MAC), Metalworks Studios, and SoundsUnite Canada, with media partner M…


Thank you to our Co-Sponsors & Media Partner

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Metalworks Studios

Co-Sponsor
metalworksstudios.com

A logo with three interlocking circles in blue and gray above the text "SoundsUnite."

SoundsUnite Canada

Co-Sponsor
soundsunite.com

A white rectangular logo with the words "Mississauga Music" on a dark, starry purple background.

Mississauga Music

Media Partner
mississaugamusic.com