From Vermilion ToThe CCMA Stage: Amber Bauer Named Keyboard Player OfThe Year

There is something pretty special about watching someone who grew up right here in Vermilion make their mark on the Canadian country music scene.

Vermilion’s own Amber Bauer was named the 2026 Canadian Country Music Association Keyboard Player of the Year on Sept. 18 in Saskatoon, Sask., adding a major national honour to a career that began with music lessons when she was just five years old.

The win was made even more significant as the CCMA celebrated its 50th anniversary, with Bauer becoming only the second woman in 50 years to receive the Keyboard Player of the Year award, and the first in 26 years since Joan Besen of Prairie Oyster.

It was also Bauer’s first nomination, and a win she wasn't expecting quite yet.“You usually have to be nominated five times before you ever win it,” Bauer said.

For those who have watched her musical journey over the years, however, the recognition came as no surprise.Her family said they always knew she deserved the honour because of the passion, love and commitment she has continually poured into her music career. Watching her receive the award was a highlight not only for Bauer, but for those who have been beside her throughout the journey.

Born and raised in Vermilion, she grew up in a musical family, with a mother who taught music and a father who played guitar, fiddle, banjo and mandolin. She began developing her own musical abilities at five years old and graduated from J.R. Robson High School in 2001 before eventually turning that lifelong love of music into a career.

Bauer began working professionally in 2008 as a piano and Hammond organ player and backup vocalist for Jessie Farrell. Over the years, she has performed with an impressive list of Canadian artists, including Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Michelle Wright, Lisa Brokop, The Wilkinsons, The Road Hammers, Brett Kissel, Tenille Townes, Patricia Conroy, Beverley Mahood and Hailey Benedict.

Her career has taken her throughout Canada and the United States, but her Vermilion roots have never been far away.Bauer has previously spoken about growing up in a small, close-knit community and the confidence that came from knowing there were people back home cheering her on. It is something many people who grow up in rural Alberta can understand. You may leave home and travel a long way, but there is usually still a piece of home travelling with you.

Keyboard players may not always be standing at centre stage, but they are an important part of the sound audiences hear night after night. Bauer has spent years building her reputation through her musicianship, versatility and countless hours on stage alongside some of Canadian country music’s familiar names.

She has also continued sharing that love of music with others through teaching, helping another generation of musicians find their own confidence behind the keys and behind the microphone.

Reflecting on the award and the journey that brought her to that stage, Bauer shared a message for anyone with a dream of their own.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be standing on that stage. So to all you shower singin’ dash boarddreamers , make them as big as you can ,be kind, stay humble and remember to credit your village as you rise and get ready to work your butt off. Apparently the stars aren’t as far away as you’d think.”

From a five-year-old beginning her musical journey in Vermilion to becoming one of only two women in 50 years to receive the honour, Bauer's achievement is a pretty special homegrown success story.