2023 Adjudicators

Darryl Joseph-Dennie

Popular Piano

Born October 5th, 1989, Darryl showed interest in music at a very early age. By the time he was three years old, he had already taught himself how to play all of the demos on the family’s keyboard at home and was attempting to teach other family members how to do so as well.

At 4 years of age, Darryl embarked on a 13 year journey of studying classical, jazz and theory at the renowned Merriam School of Music, where he is now currently positioned as a music education specialist. During those 13 years, Darryl was accepted into Merriam’s Keyboard Ensemble and Enriched programs for students showing exceptional potential. Darryl also participated in numerous Festivals and competitions winning multiple first place awards and
scholarships.

After attending Humber College for Jazz and Contemporary music in Toronto, Darryl then furthered his musical development by joining the music ministry at a local church. It was there that he learned how to fuse the precision of classical, the harmony of jazz and the functionality of gospel music to create his own unique voice on the piano. Darryl, later, spent four years as the lead pianist for The Church on the Queensway’s Christmas and Easter musicals which also included a run of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

In 2016, Darryl headlined the Toronto Beaches Jazz festival’s opening night as part of the band Really Big World (formerly 7Sould). In 2017, Darryl performed and recorded with Desiigner during Spotify’s I’m With the Banned sessions. In 2019, Darryl Toured Trinidad and Tobago for the international Carifesta Festival.

Darryl also operates as the producer, music director, composer, arranger and keyboardist for various theaters, churches and groups within the GTA including JUNO award winner; Carlos Morgan, SoulPepper Theatre, Talk Is Free Theatre and Vocal coach for The Launch, Lorraine Lawson.