CFRC 101.9 FM launches third City-funded Musicians-in-Residence Program to nurture the growth of youth and emerging talent in Kingston
December 10, 2025
Kingston, December 11th, 2025 – CFRC 101.9 FM is thrilled to announce the launch of its 2026 Airwave YGK Musicians-in-Residence Program funded by the City of Kingston and Kingston Arts Council.
Following the tremendous success of CFRC’s Airwave YGK DJ and Musicians-in-Residence programs running 2023-25, the community radio station based at Queen’s University has opened a new round of applications to welcome young and/or emerging local DJs, musicians, and bands to its studios and airwaves in 2026.
The program provides paid opportunities for local talent to create and rehearse new music in CFRC’s studios and perform it live on air while gaining studio recordings and edited video of their performances. Musicians also take part in industry workshops delivered by local professionals related to themes including technical know-how, composition, and promotions. Musicians also have opportunities to participate in on- air interviews to promote their work, upcoming shows and releases. Some musicians will also have opportunities to perform at CFRC’s Airwave YGK Matinee Concert at Broom Factory in early Autumn 2026.
Since launching the Airwave YGK initiative in late 2023, CFRC has hosted 25 local artists and professionals who have facilitated skills-learning workshops or performed live in studio and at the station’s capstone matinee concert in September 2025.
For the Airwave YGK projects, CFRC also hired Queen’s University Master’s student Josh Kowal, known for his work with CFRC’s volunteer-led Live Sessions project, to shoot and edit video for each of the studio and concert performances. Videos were furnished to each artist and are also available on CFRC’s website and Youtube channel.
“We’re so pleased to continue the Airwave YGK project in 2026,” says Dinah Jansen, Executive Director, CFRC 101.9 FM Queen’s University.
“It’s very exciting to know that we can again provide meaningful opportunities for young and emerging local talent to reach new audiences in Kingston and beyond not only through FM radio and web stream, but also through high-quality shareable video content.”
Applications for the 2026 Airwave YGK Musician-in-Residence program are due December 31st 2025. Full details on the program and how to apply are available through CFRC’s website at cfrc.ca and a direct link to the application is available here.
CFRC is kicking off its 2026 project with a feature interview with local jazz musician, Oscar Evans who is releasing his new EP Gotta Start Somewhere this month and undertaking a regional mini-tour starting at the Royal Theatre in Gananoque on December 17th, December 19th at Musiikki, and December 20th at the Upfront Café in Belleville. Evans, who was a 2025 Airwave YGK Musician-in-Residence and headlined the
station’s fall 2025 capstone concert, developed some of the music on his new EP as a result of his participation in CFRC’s Airwave YGK programming. He’ll discuss the new album and upcoming tour on CFRC 101.9 FM/cfrc.ca Sunday December 14th at 11 AM when his new music will also be aired.
“We’re thrilled Oscar reached out to us about returning to the station to promote his wonderful new release, and particularly proud our station helped him reach a significant milestone in what I expect will be a long and highly successful career as a professional musician,” says Jansen.
“Bringing back this outstanding Airwave YGK alumnus to promote his new work at the moment CFRC is launching similar residency opportunities of which others after him will take advantage is just perfect timing. What a great way to start an amazing new year for local music.”
CFRC has also launched its second Release Radar Listenership Survey, an opportunity for community members to vote on their favorite singles, EPs, and albums released by Kingston artists in 2025, a project in partnership with the Kingston Music Office. The survey closes December 16th and participants can enter to win $1000 in prizes including a guitar and gift cards for guitar lessons & merchandise from Long & McQuade Kingston. The station will air the top 10 singles and top 10 albums selected by audiences on December 21st during a special fundraising program airing 11-1 PM.
“CFRC is a community leader working daily to amplify local music and musicians and the work they do in our community to bring us all closer together, to entertain, and tell stories through song,” says Jansen.
“We’re proud to be the radio station in Kingston dedicated to airing local music and conversations daily, sharing information about local concerts and events every day, and to provide real opportunities for local artists to grow, to connect and to inspire.”