Maria Dunn

Maria Dunn is a Juno-winning Canadian songwriter and musician. She has been described as "an arrestingly powerful singer-songwriter who writes great historical and social commentary." A storyteller through song, her music blends Celtic folk with North American bluegrass and country influences. Early life Born in Scotland, she moved as a child with her family to Ontario. She has made Edmonton, Alberta her base since the 1990s. As a child she studied classical piano and sang in several community choirs. She later studied psychology at the University of Alberta. From 1987 to 2000, she hosted a weekly folk music program on the U of A's campus/community radio, CJSR. Immersing herself in folk music in this way, she gravitated towards writing her own songs. She has released seven albums, including Juno-winning and Juno-nominated recordings: Joyful Banner Blazing (2022 Juno Winner - Traditional Roots Album of the Year), Gathering (2017 Juno Nominee), which features a song she wrote ("Malala") inspired by Malala Yousafzai, and For a Song (2002 Juno Nominee), all produced by Shannon Johnson of Juno Award winning band The McDades. She performs (solo, ensemble) at theatres, folk clubs, conferences and festivals across Canada, the USA and Europe. She has been featured on Canadian TV, CBC National Radio, CKUA Alberta Radio, BBC Radio Scotland, and her songs published in Sing Out! and Penguin Eggs magazine and the Rise Again (songbook) (2015). Other artists, including Niamh Parsons (The Peddler), The Outside Track (Poor Lonesome Hen), Aengus Finnan (Orphan Hand) and Bob Bossin (We Were Good People), have recorded her original songs.