Humber faculty bring home a collection of hardware from the Junos

Jeremy Dickson
Entertainment Reporter

Last Sunday the Junos aired on CTV and members of the Humber faculty were not only nominated for their hard work and talent but had the privilege to win and take home their very own Juno.

Hilario Duran, a piano teacher at Humber Lakeshore took home a Juno last Sunday for contemporary jazz album of the year.

“It was very emotional, it was really great,” said Duran after winning the award for his album From the Heart.
Duran attended the 2007 Junos in Saskatchewan, hosted by Canadian icon Nelly Furtado.

This was Duran’s 2nd win and fourth nomination. Duran first won a Juno in 2005 for the same award and was nominated in 2006 and 2002.

“Winning a Juno has been a lifelong dream since I came to Canada,” Duran, who moved to Canada from Havana Cuba in 1998, said.

Duran’s next big dream is to someday win a Grammy and be recognized all over the world.

Duran isn’t the only Humber talent to be recognized at the Junos. Mike Downes, bass department head at Humber, was nominated for his work on the Molly Johnson record, Messin Around. As bass player and composer for a nominated best vocal jazz album, Downes feels honoured to be recognized.

“The Junos are important and they honour Canadian musicians,” said Downes. This is the sixth time he has been nominated for a CD he was involved in.

Downes will be recording a new CD with a large ensemble of his own.

Beginning April 19, Downes will be touring with Molly Johnson hitting places such as Hamilton, Belleville and Toronto. On May 12, you can see Downes play at the Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar in downtown Toronto with his group Mike Downes Quartet.

The Juno Awards, Canada’s most recognized music award, were first held in Toronto in 1970.