Creative Education Meets Philanthropy as Active Cause Renews OVO Noel Fellowship
By Active Cause Editorial Team
NEW YORK – July 29, 2025
Active Cause announces the renewal of the OVO Noel Cadastre Fellowship at Metalworks Institute, honoring the legacy of a mentor, friend, and cultural leader whose influence continues to shape the sound of contemporary music. The fellowship provides mentorship, financial support, and hands-on industry experience to emerging producers, engineers, and creatives.
Supported by Active Cause’s donor-advised fund platform, the fellowship ensures that Noel Cadastre’s commitment to developing the next generation of audio professionals lives on through direct investment in aspiring talent at one of Canada’s premier music production schools.
“Mentorship is how legacy lives on,” said Yonis Hassan, Co-founder of Active Cause. “We’re honored to renew the Noel Cadastre Fellowship at Metalworks Institute, ensuring that Noel’s belief in others continues to shape careers and create opportunities.”
Why This Matters
Noel Cadastre has been Drake’s exclusive engineer since 2010, contributing to every major album from Thank Me Later to recent releases. As a graduate of Metalworks Institute’s Audio Production and Engineering Program (2006), Cadastre’s career exemplifies the pathway the fellowship aims to create: from dedicated student to industry professional working at the highest level.
His work alongside Noah “40” Shebib has defined the OVO Sound that influenced a generation of hip-hop and R&B production. Beyond technical excellence, Cadastre is known within the industry for mentoring emerging engineers and creating space for younger talent to learn the craft.
The fellowship addresses a critical barrier in audio engineering: access. Professional studio training requires significant financial investment, and entry-level positions in top studios are scarce and often unpaid. Talented students from underrepresented communities frequently can’t afford to accept unpaid internships or cover tuition costs, creating systemic barriers to industry entry.
Active Cause’s Role
The fellowship operates through Active Cause’s donor-advised fund structure, providing OVONoel with strategic oversight while ensuring tax efficiency and compliance. Active Cause’s platform is designed specifically for artists and creatives whose philanthropic priorities often center on developing the next generation of talent in their industries.
“This is exactly what we built Active Cause to support,” said Yonis Hassan, Co-founder of Active Cause. “Artists investing in the infrastructure that creates opportunities for the next generation, funding pathways they wish had existed when they were starting out.”
What’s Next
Artists and creatives interested in establishing similar fellowship programs through Active Cause can learn more at activecause.co.
About Active Cause
Active Cause is a private philanthropy membership app exclusively for athletes, creatives, and entertainers. The platform provides donor-advised fund infrastructure, charity discovery tools, fundraising campaign management, philanthropic insights, and community through Active Gatherings. Learn more at activecause.co.
About Noel Cadastre
Noel Cadastre is Drake’s exclusive engineer and a member of the OVO Sound team. A 2006 graduate of Metalworks Institute’s Audio Production and Engineering Program, Cadastre has earned engineering credits on every major Drake album and has contributed to tours and recordings for artists including 2 Chainz, Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, PartyNextDoor, and Lil Wayne.
info@activecause.co