Four members of College of the North Atlantic's (CNA) community were recognized at the 2025 East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs), taking home a combined total of five awards in categories ranging from performance and recording to industry contribution and content creation.
Kellie Loder, a graduate of CNA's Applied Music program, was one of the biggest winners of the night, earning both the TD Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year award and the TD Fan's Choice Video of the Year award for their song Can't Go Back.
"To be recognized for doing something I love is an honour and always will be," said Loder.
Loder is known for their emotional songwriting, powerful voice and advocacy for authenticity and inclusion in music.
In 2022, Loder gained widespread recognition as the runner-up on the second season of Canada's Got Talent, becoming a household name in the province and across the country.
Wade Pinhorn, coordinating instructor of CNA's Applied Music program, received the ECMA Industry Builder Award, a special recognition selected by the ECMA board of directors. This award honours individuals whose behind-the-scenes efforts have helped shape the Atlantic Canadian music industry.
"I was really honoured to be selected, but I was also humbled by it," said Pinhorn. "The award is for someone who is not doing it for personal gain, so it feels good to be recognized for that. And I was selected by the ECMA board, which makes it even more meaningful to me."
Pinhorn is a MusicNL, ECMA and Juno Award-winning musician, producer and educator who has taught in CNA's Applied Music program since its inception nearly 30 years ago. He has performed across North America and Ireland and has served on numerous boards and advisory committees, including as chair of the ECMA board of directors.
Jordan Coaker, a graduate of CNA's Sound Recording and Production program, won Roots Recording of the Year with his duo Quote the Raven for their album Already Gone.
"While we are so very grateful to have this token of recognition, I think the joy from receiving this ECMA is that we are reminded of the moments we spent creating Already Gone, spending time with our friends Mallory Johnson, Andrew Rodgers and the late Chris Ryan, and later recording with Cory Tetford and John McLaggan," said Coaker.
"To us, it is a physical embodiment of the ECMAs returning to St. John's after a 10-year hiatus and the relationships we've amassed in that process something that we can look at in another 10 years as a reminder of that community," he said.
Coaker's work with musical partner Kirsten Rodden-Clarke has earned the group critical acclaim and a loyal following. Their rich harmonies and heartfelt songwriting have become hallmarks of their sound.
Jud Haynes, a graduate of CNA's Graphic Design program, received the ECMA for Content Creator of the Year, recognizing his contributions to visual storytelling within the music industry.
Haynes is known for his vibrant concert posters, album artwork and graphic design for musicians across the East Coast. His work blends illustration and design to help artists visually communicate their music and message.
"To have our alumni and faculty recognized on a regional stage is incredibly rewarding," said Davida Smith, Dean of Academics, Applied Arts and Tourism at CNA. "These awards reflect the extraordinary talent, commitment and creative excellence that thrives within our college community. We're so proud of all our winners."
The winners were presented with the awards across two events during the annual East Coast Music Awards. The East Coast Music Association's mission is to "develop, advance and celebrate East Coast Canadian music, its artists and its industry professionals throughout the region and around the world."
The association advocates for its members to help them sustain music careers while remaining based in Atlantic Canada.
For more information about CNA's applied arts programs, visit College of the North Atlantic - School of Academics Applied Arts & Tourism.
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