Mahina Graham-Laidlaw

Mahina (she/they), is a musician and researcher living in St. John’s, NL. In 2021 she completed a Bachelor of Music and in 2024 a Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology both at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. Her master’s research studied St. John’s freelance musicians and their relationship to the community and its history. Mahina has been working as an administrator in various roles for different arts organizations around the province, notably The Newfoundland & Labrador Folk Arts Society, the Sound Arts Initiative, St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival, and more recently, The Music Industry Association of Newfoundland & Labrador. She is an active contributor to her community as a board member of the Local 820, Canadian Federation of Musicians union since 2024 and the Cape St. Marys Performance Series since 2026. In her spare time Mahina teaches at Shine Music Studio, an inclusive student-led learning studio. Her work is a testament to her relentless love for the arts and her unyielding desire to make a meaningful difference in her community. Outside of her work, Mahina enjoys hiking, cooking, or playing trivia at her favourite local pub.