Canadian singer Nelly Furtado will be given an honorary fellowship by the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto at its annual gala May 28.
The RCM presents the award to artist who have made a lasting contribution to Canadian music and arts.
Last year, it honoured Blue Rodeo. Past winners include soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, Vancouver Symphony music director Bramwell Tovey and rock band The Tragically Hip.
Furtado, known for hits such as I'm Like a Bird, Maneater and Promiscuou s, is a Grammy and Juno award-winning singer. "I am so grateful and humbled by this honour," Furtado said in a press release Wednesday. "Music has been both my saviour and statement since I was three years old."
Furtado was born in Victoria to Portuguese-Canadian parents and learned to play the guitar and ukulele as a child. She joined Toronto hip-hop duo Nelstar after high school and was discovered by producers Brian West and Gerald Eaton.
Her debut album Whoa, Nelly! Came out in fall of 2000 and won her a Grammy for best female pop performance. Her second album, Folklore came out in 2003, just after the birth of her daughter, Nevis. In 2006, she began working with U.S. producer Timbaland on another album, Loose, which rocketed her to superstar status with the hits Maneater and Promiscuous.
She was host of the 2007 Juno Awards and continues to tour in support of Loose. She recently re-recorded In God's Hands in a duet with country star Keith Urban.
Nelly Furtado and guitarist James Bryan will perform a short acoustic set at the Royal Conservatory gala, which also includes performances by students of the venerable music school.
Source: www.cbc.ca