P.E.I. artists bring home 4 East Coast Music Awards

P.E.I. artists are bringing home a handful of East Coast Music Awards from the 37th annual award gala held Sunday. 

The East Coast Music Awards festival and conference recognized and showcased the work of East Coast artists from May 7-11 in St. John's. 

The Acadian group Vishtèn Connexions won the album of the year award for their album Expansion, which pays tribute to founding member Pastelle LeBlanc. LeBlanc died of breast cancer in 2022. 

"This Connexions project was an homage to LeBlanc, who left over 150 pieces on her iPhone," Emmanuelle LeBlanc said during her acceptance speech. 

"It's really meaningful for us because we just keep going to work with her and be able to keep going and play … her music," said Pascal Miousse.

The group also won awards for folk release of the year and fusion release of the year for their song, Kouma. 

P.E.I. folk-pop artist Noah Malcolm won the award for pop release of the year with his song, January. The win marks Malcolm's first East Coast Music Award.  

Island Morning16:26Multi-disciplinary artist Noah Malcolm, live in studio

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The Stompin' Tom Award — recognizing the long-term contributions of one individual in each of the East Coast Music Association's five geographic regions — was given to was given to Ghislaine Cormier. Cormier is the executive director of the Fédération culturelle de l'Île-du-Prince-Édouard. 

Here's a complete list of P.E.I.'s 2025 East Coast Music Award winners:

• Album of the year: Vishtèn Connexions — Expansion.
• Folk release of the year: Vishtèn Connexions — Kouma.
• Fusion release of the year: Vishtèn Connexions — Kouma.
• Pop release of the year: Noah Malcolm — January.
• Stompin' Tom Award: Ghislaine Cormier.