Launch and Symposium: Mapping Music Pathways
May 5 and 6, 2023 | University of Toronto Scarborough
Launch
The SoundLife Scarborough Launch was an evening of celebration and sharing. We thank everyone who was able to join us for this special weekend as we officially launched SoundLife Scarborough and considered music-making across the lifespan and sectors, toward action in creating accessible music pathways.
Mapping Music Pathways
Mapping Music Pathways recognizes that barriers to accessing music opportunities have been well documented and asks: what actions are we taking to remedy them?
In considering music-making across the lifespan and sectors, our goals was to celebrate existing successes, identify barriers and actions towards their removal, and create accessible pathways for all who wish to participate.
The symposium consisted of participatory music-making activities, interactive “music pathways mapping stations” for all attendees, as well as three themed panels:
- The Purpose(s) and Potential of Public Music Education
- Opening Access Opportunities in Post-Secondary Education
- The Community Music Ecosystem
Keynote Speaker
Joy Lapps
Music Facilitators
Juanita Muise
Community Drum Circle
- Juanita Muise, also known as Shining Moon Woman, is the Indigenous Engagement Coordinator within the Office of Student Experience and Wellbeing and the Indigenous Initiatives Office at UTSC. She is Mi’Kmaq from Qulipu First Nation in Newfoundland and loves helping students in all aspects of their learning journey. She has spent the majority of her career in the education industry, specializing in areas of Aboriginal Education and leadership. She is also passionate about sharing her gifts and knowledge and building bridges towards a more inclusive learning environment at UTSC and in the local community.
Event Band
Trinity House Band
Trinity House Band is a group of talented musicians who perform non-traditional worship music with a unique blend of folk, country, and rock influences. They frequently perform at Trinity Presbyterian Church for Worship Services and special events. Today, the Trinity House Band Quartet, a smaller group consisting of Melvin on vocals and guitar, Monica on Keyboard, Christopher on vocals, guitar and Cajon, and George on double bass, will be taking the stage. The quartet is composed of UTSC alumni who graduated from various programs. Whether performing heartfelt ballads or upbeat rock anthems, the Trinity House Band Quartet never fails to inspire and connect with their audience. They love to share their passion for music and to continue making music throughout their lives.
Panels
Panel 1 - Music Pathways: The Purpose(s) and Potential of Public Education
Tony Leong (Moderator)
Educator and conductor, Dr. Tony Nam-Hai Leong completed his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. An advocate for well-being and social change through accessible and lifelong music-making, community engagement is central to his work. Dr. Leong is currently an Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream at the University of Toronto Scarborough, Head of the Arts Department at Sir Oliver Mowat C.I., and serves on the board of directors for the Ontario Music Educators’ Association and Canadian Music Educators’ Association. His research includes the intersections of string music education, technology, adolescents, community music, and Music for Life.
Sarah Kamalzadeh’s (she/they) music pathway involves early piano classes, learning French Horn in high school, and attending the UofT Faculty of Music. They are now a high school music teacher at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) with experience in diverse communities (including Downtown, Etobicoke, North York, Rosedale, and Weston) that have highlighted the inequity of access to music in public high schools and beyond. In their free time, Sarah meets with local union Equity Committees, the GTA Music Educators Learning About Racism group, and the Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA) Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Lloyd is a musician, teacher, and researcher currently living in Toronto, Ontario. He was recently appointed Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Lethbridge and is completing his PhD at University of Toronto’s Faculty of Music. His two main research areas include (un)popular music education and music teacher education, working to address discrepancies in access to culturally responsive musical learning opportunities. Outside of academia, Lloyd creates and facilitates as a DIY-focused musician and educator.
Vanessa Ng is a music educator, activist, and expected graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music (Music Education – Trombone) in June 2023. Vanessa has served on IDEA committees for many groups, including both the Ontario and Canadian Band Associations. She is a recipient of the 2023 University of Toronto Student Leadership Award and has been published in the Canadian Winds.
She looks forward to digging deeper into the relationship between equity committees and arts service organizations when she attends OISE for her Masters of Teaching degree (I/S) in the Fall.
Rijit Thilakeswaran is a highschool student of Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute. Since the age of five, Rijit has been a musician, beginning on the Carnatic Keyboard. Through the playing of additional instruments, such as the flute, carnatic violin, and veena, he increased his understanding of music. He serves as the head of both the Tamil Student Association and Music Council at his high school, and conducts the school’s senior string orchestra. He has performed at the Roy Thomson Hall as part of the TDSB All City Program as well as with the UTSC String Orchestra.
He is looking forward to post secondary as he is still deciding whether to attend the Toronto Metropolitan University for a Bachelors of Nursing or the University of Toronto Scarborough Campus for a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Music & Culture. His goal is to become an educator and help be a part of impacting the next generation through teaching.
PANEL 2 - Music Pathways: Opening Access Opportunities in Post-Secondary Education
Kristen Graves (Moderator)
Kristen Graves is a PhD candidate and course instructor in ethnomusicology at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on the virtuosic listening skills practiced by workers in the municipal garbage dump in Oaxaca, Mexico. Kristen earned her Master’s Degree from New York University, is a touring folk singer, and she helped build and continues her involvement with the non-profit organization Simply Smiles, which serves Indigenous children and families of the Americas.
I am a teacher, musician, and researcher based in Toronto, Canada. I’ve led teachers, students, and musicians, and other interested folks through ways of using listening and sound to facilitate community. I am also a PHD candidate and I’ve taught music education courses at various institutions. As a musician, I’ve played with Selina Martin, Kael Reid, Dave Bidini, and John K Samson.
Nasim Niknafs is Associate Professor of Music Education at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto where she also serves as the Associate Dean, Research and Coordinator of Music Education. Nasim’s interdisciplinary research concerning social justice, activism, and politics of contemporary music education, cultural politics, and popular music has been widely published in international journals and edited volumes of music education. Concluding a longitudinal research on the music education of rock musicians in Iran, Nasim is conducting a SSHRC-funded research titled, Sanctuary City: Cultural Programs, Music Education, and the Dignified Lives of Refugee Newcomers in Toronto where she examines the cultural programs and music education practices developed for refugee newcomers by the municipal government, and arts organizations in Toronto. Nasim is also a co-PI of an arts-based participatory research project funded by SSHRC Connection Grant where they bring together the cultural and academic sectors to jointly imagine strategies for thriving in a post-pandemic reality.
With a passion for community-engaged music-making, Delicia Raveenthrarajan is a choral conductor at Sistema Toronto and Sir Oliver Mowat C.I.. In addition to her work in ensemble-based music, she completed a double major in Music and Culture and Mental Health Studies at the University of Toronto where she also works as a research assistant. With her wide-ranging experience in arts leadership and advocacy, Delicia served as the Ontario Music Educators’ Association’s inaugural Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and continues to be a member of its Board of Directors.
Deanna Yerichuk (she/her) is Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University. She coordinates the Bachelor of Music specialization in Community Music, the first program of its kind in Canada. Deanna’s research focuses on historical and contemporary issues of inclusion and justice in community music. She is Principal Investigator on two projects, funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council: The Gahu Project, which uses participatory action research methods to explore music and racial justice in high schools; and Community Music in Canada, which explores participatory music projects working towards social justice in community contexts across Canada. Deanna has a secondary focus on arts-based research methods, and is a co-investigator on the five-year research-creation project Reflective Iterative Scenario Enactments (RISE). She is involved with Laurier Centre for Music in the Community, and the Centre for Leading Research in Education.
PANEL 3 - Music Pathways: The Community Music Ecosystem
Marco Adamovic (Moderator)
Marco is an educator and cultural producer. As an educator, Marco strives to facilitate positive and healthy environments for creativity, community, and collaboration to thrive. As a cultural producer, he is a multi-instrumentalist, beatmaker, songwriter, and organizer of a wide range of events and programs. He is the host Producers’ Circle, and works with people, technology, and (mostly) good ideas. His family emigrated to Turtle Island in the 1970s from the former Yugoslavia. Marco is a graduate of the Mille Rotman Shime Academic Bridging Program, an alumnus of Katimavik, and holds an M.Ed in Leadership, Adult, and Higher Education from the University of Toronto. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, at the University of Toronto.
Clinton Ghosh, also known as “3rd Ghost”, has been a prominent member within the B-Boy community for 20 years. A member of Maximum Efficiency Crew, he contributes to the community by teaching Breakdancing(bboying/bgirling)) classes at various community centers throughout the Toronto area. In 2008, Clinton founded “Wreck Shop”, a community based dance event, to give young dancers a platform to showcase their skills and compete. Throughout his career, he has performed for KRS-1, competed internationally, and has won competitions with his crew across Canada. Most recently Clinton has supported the Launch of “Rough Draft” Canada’s first Rap specific incubator program. With 17 years experience creating, and running youth leadership programs, Clinton is proud to be a part of UNITY Charity, and to continue sharing his knowledge of the art and his passion for community building.
Laura Menard (PhD abd) is a Toronto-based educator, singer, and scholar in Music Education at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. In addition to being a TDSB high school teacher, Laura’s passion for community music has led to her involvement with VIVA Singers Toronto where she now acts as Associate Artistic Director of Youth Choirs, and is Soprano lead with the VIVA Chamber Singers; a Research Assistantship with Dr. Roger Mantie on the Canadian Community Music Database; regular engagement with the Trinity-St. Paul’s Church Choir; the social justice choir Vox Populi; and ukulele jams with friends.
Critical Thinking Hip-Hop Artist, Critical Hip-Hop Educator, Black youth Advocate, Ph.D. Student. Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago (Englewood community) and now living in Toronto, Marcus wants to integrate social justice education with his love of Hip-Hop Culture to end educational violence against Black youth that plays a huge part in the gun violence amongst Black youth by creating counter-spaces for their voice(s) to be heard. Marcus is in his third year as a Ph.D. student at The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto in the Social Justice Education department.
Desiree White is a high school freshman currently attending St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School in Scarborough, ON. She has been with the Sistema Toronto program for a total of seven years and is currently a member of the honors program as a graduate. She hopes to continue her musical journey in high-school and has enrolled in several musical directed courses to do so! In her free time she enjoys composing music and singing.
