Biography

Deantha Edmunds is Canada’s first Inuk professional classical singer. In 2024, she received a Newfoundland and Labrador inaugural Premier’s Medal for the Arts and Heritage, and was named Arts NL's Artist of the Year. Deantha was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2023 for her work, which seeks to empower Indigenous people and share their stories. Her work has international reverberation and community integrity, and Deantha brings a level of excellence to Canada’s Indigenous art scene that is unique and important.

This year, Deantha won a JUNO Award for Classical Composition of the Year for Angmalukisaa, and was nominated for Classical Album of the Year for Alikeness. She was also nominated for Indigenous Artist of the Year at the 2025 East Coast Music Awards (ECMA).

She has three solo albums. Connections won the 2022 Music NL awards for Classical Album of the Year, and Indigenous Artist of the Year. Connections was nominated for a 2023 ECMA. Her EP My Beautiful Home (2019) and full-length Pillorikput Inuit: Inuktitut Arias for All Seasons (2016) also garnered ECMA nominations.

Deantha performs with professional ensembles across Canada and abroad. Appearances include singing at the opening ceremony of the Frankfurt Book Fair in 2021, performing for Inuit residential school survivors in the presence of His Holiness, Pope Francis, in Iqaluit in 2022, and singing the Nunatsiavut anthem for King Charles III at the welcome ceremony of the 2022 Canadian Royal ‘Reconciliation’ Tour.

In performance, creating original works, collaborating with other musicians, contributing to Indigenous productions and mentoring young artists, Deantha shares her voice and vision, drawing accolades from across Canada and the world.