ProMusic Spotlight: Carina Bianchini

In June 2025, final-year Professional Music students at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) became the first graduating class of the program. We follow up with some of them on their experience in the program and what they are up to now.

Carina Bianchini is a singer, songwriter, dancer and graduate of the Professional Music program. She served as the president of the Professional Music Course Union and as the Professional Music Director with the Society of the Creative School during her time at TMU.

Bianchini, who goes by her first name as a musician, produces original music, puts on live performances and released her debut album, Pink Noise (external link) , over the summer. She was nominated for a Hollywood Independent Music Award for her song “Locked In” shortly after the album’s release, a Mississauga Music Award and previously, with her all-girl pop-rock band Girl Pow-R, she was nominated for a JUNO award in the Children’s Album of the Year category in 2020.

We catch up with her below.

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How did you first hear about the Professional Music program?

It's funny, I actually saw an ad for it on Facebook, and I saw the promo picture, which was a recording studio. I was really curious, and when I saw the description, it definitely sounded like something I would be interested in.

What about it was interesting that drew you to enrol in TMU’s Professional Music program?

It's the first-ever program of its kind in Canada, which was super exciting for me to see. And it has a little bit of everything. It teaches you [all aspects] of the music industry, all the little details that you need to know to be successful, whether it’s on the business side or on the artist side, because both involve being an entrepreneur and having good communication and collaboration skills.

You are part of the program’s first graduating class. How did that impact your experience here?

It was cool because, in a way, it was like a little experiment to be the first [graduates]. I think it's iconic—for lack of a better word—we were leading the way for all the incoming students that were coming in after us.

And although there are always things to improve on and things to work on moving forward in the program, I still made so many amazing connections and met a lot of industry people through not only our core classes, but also events outside of our courses.

What’s a lesson from the Professional Music program you’ll always remember?

Something that we were always told was that our network is our net worth. So it's all about building connections and staying in contact with people; following up with someone that you met at an event, making sure that you're maintaining those relationships. 

How about some quick-fire questions:

What was your favourite course from the program?

There were so many amazing ones, but I really enjoyed the performance production with Samantha Selci. Essentially, what we would do is put on [music] shows as a class. 

What is a favourite memory from your time at TMU?

Last year, we got to go to Nashville for a week during the second semester. It was nice to spend time with other Professional Music students, write songs together and meet students from other music programs. Because Nashville is such a music city, we were working together as well as with industry professionals from Nashville.

How did the program help you with your career?

I was able to collaborate with people in the program for songs that I have put on my album, as well as various other singles that I've released. I was also able to take some songs for class assignments and then make them into an actual project that I ended up putting out publicly and releasing to my supporters.

What are you up to nowadays?

The time of year that it is, I'm focused on some holiday music. That's something that I like to do every year. I'm looking to do some more travelling. I will be putting out another album that will be even longer.

Any words of advice for current and incoming Professional Music students?

If it's possible, definitely go to the events that are put on, whether it's by the Course Union or the Professional Music program itself, as well as events held within The Creative School as a whole. That's where you really get to meet people and further indulge in learning about the creative industries and being in the entertainment industry.

Also, maintain a good relationship with your professors; they're actively working in the music business. Because I was able to do that with a lot of my professors, they were more than happy to give me information that I needed, provide invites to events and let me know various things were going on within the music industry.

By: Daniyah Naqoob