RESPECTFUL COLLABORATION WITH INDIGENOUS ARTISTS
Country: Canada
Issues of appropriation, colonialism, and disrespectful consumption of Indigenous heritage is a source of concern in many formerly colonised nations. This can also be true in choral performance in Canada. The issue is particularly fraught with potential abuse by those who would seek to elevate Indigenous vernacular music, but who have no claim to Indigenous heritage. Dr. Dollof’s presentation will first briefly problematise such repertoire and propose strategies for assessing potential repertoire.
The presentation will then explore programming choices made during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons of the Women’s Chamber Choir of the University of Toronto that feature a focus on the current issues and historical erasure of First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) groups in Canada.
The role of audience interaction will also be discussed as it was enacted in the choir’s recent seasons.
Dr. Lori-Anne Dolloff has been a professor at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto since 1994. She is Coordinator of the Music Education Department and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in choral conducting, music teaching and research methods. Her work as an educator is grounded in the teaching of Zoltán Kodály and Carl Orff, practices that have informed the teaching of Elementary Music Education at the University of Toronto during her career. Lori has become passionate about teaching in the Arctic, having completed 17 visits to Iqaluit, Pangirtung and Rankin Inlet singing with children in the schools and conducting an annual Choral Festival.
An often-sought workshop leader, clinician and guest conductor, Lori Dolloff is a member of the conducting faculty at the annual Choral Symposium held in July at the University of Toronto. Her compositions and arrangements have been performed by choirs around the world, including being featured at the International Children’s Choir Festival held at Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Hall, London, England.