The Women in Music Canada awards Oshawa are shining a spotlight on local talent, with two standout nominees from Durham Region earning national recognition for their leadership and creativity in the music industry.
Diana Cerovich, owner and Chief Operating Officer of Oshawa’s historic Biltmore Theatre, and Hill Kourkoutis, a multi-talented producer and engineer from the Pickering hamlet of Greenwood, have both been nominated for the 2026 Women in Music Canada Honours.
This marks the second consecutive nomination for Cerovich, who has been praised as the driving force behind the continued success of the Biltmore Theatre. Kourkoutis, meanwhile, continues to break barriers after becoming the first woman to be nominated for—and win—the Recording Engineer of the Year Award at the 2022 Juno Awards.
At this year’s Women in Music Canada awards Oshawa, Cerovich is nominated in the Excellence in Live Music category, while Kourkoutis is recognized in the newly introduced Excellence in Sound Production category.
“As a women-owned and operated business, we’re incredibly proud of Diana’s tireless efforts and her commitment to building a welcoming and inclusive space for our arts and culture community,” said Biltmore Theatre General Manager Jacob Hamayda in a social media post.
The fourth annual Women in Music Canada Honours will take place on March 5 at Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre and will feature performances by Billianne, Annabel Oreste, DJ Me Time, and Simar.
According to Jamelia Campbell, Chair of the Women in Music Canada Board of Directors Honours Committee, the event reflects a broader commitment to equity, visibility, and opportunity within the industry.
Cerovich has led the Biltmore Theatre since the passing of her father, Julius Kedvessy, in 2021, preserving its historic 1940s charm while modernizing the venue into Oshawa’s premier live music destination.
The Women in Music Canada awards Oshawa event caps off a week-long celebration of International Women’s Week, including the 2026 Global Summit running March 2–4 at Toronto’s Allied Music Centre and TD Music Hall.
