Blog

Phenomenon of Singing in Phenomenal Newfoundland

Well, that was an incredible 4 days. Up at 4:30 am on Sunday to catch a plane to St. John’s for the Phenomenon of Singing International Symposium VIII, At Memorial University Newfoundland, the academic part of a GI-NORMOUS choral festival called Festival 500. Let me tell you, there really were no downsides to this journey. In fact, I’m not really sure what to say, or where to start. Highlights from the Symposium: Kate Munger, who began Threshold Choirs in California about 10 years ago–groups of women who singing to people who are dying. She was warm, thoughtful and best of… Read More »Phenomenon of Singing in Phenomenal Newfoundland

Share

it’s like falling off a cliff, over and over

The vocal pedagogy that I practice and teach mostly draws from the work of Fides Krucker. I just got back from a lesson with Fides, and through my vocal and pedagogical training with her, I’ve come to understand singing as an integration of contradictions that demands the quiet but complete bravery of leaping off a cliff. In one of my first singing lessons with Fides, back in 2003, she was coaching me through a vocal slide, trying to get me to find air flow without pushing or straining the muscles around the vocal folds. She told me “it’s like you’re… Read More »it’s like falling off a cliff, over and over

Share

Women @ Work: Echo’s Spring Concert

Sunday, May 1st at 3pm Church of the Holy Trinity Toronto, ON Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at door ($8 underwaged/seniors/children) www.echowomenschoir.ca

Share

David and Goliath Fundraiser Rocked the Dark!

Wow. What an amazing sold-out fundraiser on Saturday night for Echo and by Mariposa in the Schools. In honour of Earth hour, the first half of the concert was performed with lights out. Holy Trinity Church looked beautiful in tiny pools of candlelight stretching all the way back. Just how dark was it? Well, I got to open the show with my colleagues and co-conductors, Becca Whitla and Alan Gasser, singing a just-learned arrangement of the Afro-Cuban “Obbatala” by Glenda del Monte Escalante. You can judge for yourself: Yep. Pretty dark. That darkness brought a huge gift, though: intense listening.… Read More »David and Goliath Fundraiser Rocked the Dark!

Share

Echo/Mariposa Fundraiser March 26, 2011

David & Goliath Earth Hour Arts Celebration Fundraiser an Evening of Music, Song and Story to support the Echo Women’s Choir and Mariposa In The Schools Saturday,March 26, 2011 7 to 10 p.m. Church of Holy Trinity, Toronto Such an exciting line-up:Ken Whiteley, David Anderson, Michael St George, Njacko Backo, Marylyn Peringer, Chris Rawlings, and the Cuban Percussion Ensemble. And of course, Echo Women’s Choir (the wonderful choir that I serve as a guest conductor this season). Come join us! Silent Auction plus  Nibbles and Cash bar. Tickets $25 Sponsors $100 Proceeds support 2 great organizations: Echo and Mariposa in… Read More »Echo/Mariposa Fundraiser March 26, 2011

Share

New Year’s Resolutions in Reverse

I hate New Year’s resolutions. They’re just a way to set ourselves up for failure. What about the New Year is really going to motivate me to change significant habits in my life forever? Nothing. For years, all I had to show for my brief efforts was a trail of broken resolutions and a dark cloud of failure hanging over me by mid-January. Over the last couple of years I developed this strategy: look backwards instead of forwards. Like a resolution-in-reverse. Look back on your year: what are you most proud of? What did you accomplish? Then celebrate your success… Read More »New Year’s Resolutions in Reverse

Share

Performance Echo Women’s Choir: Dec 12

Come to Holy Trinity Church in downtown Toronto on Sunday December 12 at  7:30 pm to see Echo Women’s Choir perform our concert “Gardens of Song.”  It features songs from Margaret Atwood’s latest novel In the Wake of the Flood and new choral arrangements for songs written by the Juno-award-nominated Jennifer Foster. And it featurs my conducting debut with Echo. This is a totally fabulous group of women from all walks of life and all corners of Toronto.  I’m so honoured to sing with them, and thrilled to conduct. And Margaret Atwood may ACTUALLY ATTEND THE CONCERT.  At least, she… Read More »Performance Echo Women’s Choir: Dec 12

Share

Firefly Creative Writing is Eating the Math

For the second year now, The Stop Community Food Center is running Eat the Math, a challenge to citizens all over Ontario is try living on a diet that a person on social assistance might receive from a food bank… and to blog about it. I would have done this but was too busy with my face in my school books and teaching to notice the call going out. So you can, like me, live this test through Chris Fraser of Firefly Creative Writing. And because she’s a creative writer, her blogs are particularly entertaining and wrenching. It’s a shocking… Read More »Firefly Creative Writing is Eating the Math

Share

if i collapse onstage, just drag me off and keep singing

last night I saw a documentary about an incredible group of singers: young @ heart. I was in the library with my kids, and my two-year-old pulled the DVD off a library shelf and handed it to me saying “der you go!”  Seemed like a sign, so I took it out and watched it.  I laughed and cried.  I was inspired and challenged. If you’re not familiar with the doc, it’s about a  chorus of seniors in Massechussetts that sings surprising repertoire.  Surprising in the choices (80-yr-olds singing Sonic Youth? The Ramones? David Bowie?) and surprising in how poignant and… Read More »if i collapse onstage, just drag me off and keep singing

Share

let your imperfections lead you

My good friend and writer Chris Kay Fraser (Firefly Creative Writing) gave me a card once that read: If you hold on to the handle, she said, it’s easier to maintain the illusion of control. but it’s more fun if you just let the wind carry you. This card has sat on my piano for three years now because its message is the heart of my singing and teaching philosophy: let go the illusion of control and try to enjoy the ride. Then recently, I was checking out family photographer Tara Whitney. (She did a session with my wonderful friend… Read More »let your imperfections lead you

Share