We are pleased to announce the hiring of an Executive Director after over a year of operating as an entirely volunteer-run organization.

Following the resignation of Andrea Vincent in February 2022, the Board of Directors opted to recalibrate and reflect inward before embarking on the quest to fill the Executive Director position, DCMF’s sole year-round employee. Internal work included an overhaul of bookkeeping and financial systems and practices, as well as revisions to the job description and scope of work for the role. Additionally, the Board revisited priorities and values in presentation, continuing to navigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic as a small, live-events organization. 

At the Association’s recent Annual General Meeting, held online on April 30th, one of the 20+ members in attendance asked “so, how is the hiring going?” after a summary of the recent internal work regarding the Executive Direction position. All smiles, the Board of Directors replied that it was “going great” and more news would be available shortly.

After an extensive search, DCMF is pleased to announce that the Executive Director role will be filled by Corbin Murdoch, a musician and cultural programmer/producer born and raised in Vancouver, BC – the unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. Corbin will be joining us from Charlottetown, PEI and is excited to make the incredible 7,200km jump to the north. He has visited Dawson City, and is looking forward to engaging with the community and making the north his home.

Corbin has spent his career in service of artists and arts organizations, most recently as Managing Director of The River Clyde Pageant (PEI), and previously as Managing Producer of Theatre Replacement, and as Entertainment Programmer for the Vancouver Fringe Festival. DCMF welcomes his wealth of performing arts and production experience and is looking forward to incorporating Corbin’s knowledge, know-how, and passion within the DCMF Association and across the Yukon music and performing arts industry as a whole.

So… Why Dawson? Why DCMF? Corbin explained (with great enthusiasm) that the namesake festival is well-known nation-wide, and it has long been a goal of his to be involved with DCMF. When the Executive Director role became available, Corbin jumped at the opportunity to serve in the key role that will take advantage of his varied and valuable experience. The aspect of community involvement is appealing to Corbin, as is the chance to move north – perhaps The Spell of the Yukon lives on! Although he is excited to gush over the northern lights, eat a Pit dog, and learn how to bet on the Yukon River break up, he is ultimately looking forward to being part of the 40+ year DCMF legacy while building community, supporting artists at all stages of their careers, and expanding DCMF’s capacity to present music in the north. 

Corbin noted that DCMF’s next chapter will unfold during a remarkable time: a lingering pandemic continues to threaten traditional performing arts presentation models; inflation and economic uncertainty are making touring unviable for many artists – all of this against the backdrop of a looming climate crisis. He acknowledged that these are huge challenges, but also incredible opportunities; the role of local cultural organizations will only become more important to the well-being of the communities they serve.

What does that mean for this summer? Well, Corbin will be working alongside Interim Festival Producer Emily Farrell and the DCMF Board of Directors to present the best of the best for our 45th Anniversary mini-festival, July 21 – 23. Though our big-top tent remains dormant for another year, we promise we have something special up our sleeves! Information surrounding lineup and ticketing will be announced soon here on our website and via our social media channels.