Thursday, March 4th, 4pm PST
Zoom
“Decolonizing is a lot like the word healing, it is different for everybody everyday, there is no final end point, and it’s not easy. Nobody knows exactly what it looks like but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t work towards achieving it.” Ta7taliya Michelle Lorna Nahanee, “Decolonize First Workbook”
Like many organizations, the Vancouver Bach Choir has been spending time this past year learning, listening, and questioning how we can better engage in decolonizing our organization, by focusing on equity, diversity and inclusivity. If you are looking to begin or deepen your own process or that of your organization, we invite you to join us for a panel discussion on Decolonizing Choirs.
The discussion will be led by experienced choral leaders who live and work across Canada: Andrew Balfour, Dr. Elaine Choi, Hussein Janmohamed, and Dr. Melissa Morgan. The interactive discussion will generously share their experiences and answer some of your questions about decolonizing, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dive deeper into finding your own definition of decolonizing and how it applies to your own artistic practice. This panel is intended to be a safe space for those with all levels of experience in practicing decolonizing to ask questions, explore ideas and expand your own understandings. Dive in and begin to develop approaches for your organization to explore shifting thought, strategy, and musical mandates to honour decolonizing practices and diversity, equity and inclusion.
The discussion will take place on Zoom on Thursday, March 4th at 4pm PST.
The event will also be recorded and available for viewing at a later date.
This event is generously supported by funding from Metro Vancouver.
Panel Recording:
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Ticket Information
This event is free, but registration is required. The panel will take place on Zoom. Click here to register. Registration closes Wednesday, March 3rd at 4pm PST.
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Panelist Info:
Of Cree descent, Andrew Balfour is an innovative composer/conductor/singer/sound designer with a large body of choral, instrumental, electro-acoustic and orchestral works. Andrew is also the founder and Artistic Director of the vocal group Camerata Nova, now in its 22nd year of offering a concert series in Winnipeg. With Camerata Nova, Andrew specializes in creating “concept concerts”, many with Indigenous subject matter. These innovative offerings explore a theme through an eclectic array of music, including new works, arrangements and innovative inter-genre and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Dr. Elaine Choi contributes to Toronto’s vibrant choral community as a conductor, educator, adjudicator, and collaborative pianist. She is currently the Director of Music at Timothy Eaton Memorial Church, Past President of Choirs Ontario and conductor of the University of Toronto S/A Chorus. Elaine is an advocate for Chinese choral and orchestra music. In 2018, Elaine founded Babεl, SATB ensemble with a mission to bridge choral music between Canada and China. Elaine has been involved with the Toronto Chinese Orchestra since 2010 and continues to volunteer for the organization as a guest conductor and education & outreach coordinator.
Hussein Janmohamed is a singer, composer and musical educationalist passionate about choral music. A South Asian Ismaili Muslim, born in Kenya, raised in Central Alberta and nurtured in British Columbia, music was the inspiration for him to transform negativity through racism and discrimination into something more positive. Knowing first-hand the power of group singing, Hussein is dedicated to making it possible for young people of all backgrounds to access and enjoy the benefits of creating and singing choral music of the highest level while contributing their strengths and diversities to a plural Canada.
Dr. Melissa Morgan is the Assistant Professor of Choral Music in the department of Media, Arts, and Performance at the University of Regina. An active conductor, she is frequently asked to serve as a clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor with high school, children’s choirs, and church choirs throughout Canada. As a researcher and scholar, Dr. Morgan has been published by numerous music publication and has done significant work to promote choral art music by Prairie composers.