Allegra Swanson is an arts professional with a comprehensive knowledge of cultural media, a passion for the music industry, and over a decade of experience in the non-profit arts sector at the national level. She is currently the Executive Director of Music Nova Scotia, Chair of the Host Committee for the Halifax 2024 JUNO Awards, and Vice-Chair of the Creative Nova Scotia Leadership Council.
Previously, Allegra was Manager, Events, at CARAS & The JUNO Awards. During her time with CARAS Allegra worked closely with the executive team to support the strategic direction of the organization through selection of the current and future host cities of The JUNO Awards, as well as managing the Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class, cultural initiatives, and other flagship events as part of JUNO Week. She helped produce the first annual, sold-out, seminar supporting women in music during JUNO Week, and worked with the committee behind the Canadian Creative Industries Code of Conduct, helping to ensure safer spaces for artists during JUNO Week and 365 days a year.
Prior to her work with CARAS, Allegra was the executive producer of over 50 albums in her years running the award-winning recording label, Centrediscs, at the Canadian Music Centre, where she was also Director of Communications. She's been a juror for BreakOut West, FACTOR, CCMA, MusiCounts, and spent three years as Chair of the Classical Selection Committee for CARAS & The JUNO Awards. Allegra has planned a myriad of events domestically and internationally: from Whitehorse for BreakOut West in 2011 to Rotterdam, where she was Associate Producer for the opening reception and concert on behalf of the Canada Council at Classical:NEXT.
Allegra holds a Bachelor of Music from McGill University in opera singing, a post-graduate diploma in Communications at Concordia University, and spent a year at The Banff Centre as an audio engineer and podcast producer.