Faculty of Music

Convocation 2024

Convocation Hall

Trinity College

Subheadline

Playing as many as 44 convocation ceremonies a year, John Tuttle has become well acquainted with the century-old pipe organ in U of T's Convocation Hall

After nearly a half century behind the pipes, the ��߲ݴ�ý’s official organist is preparing to play his final graduation ceremony in Convocation Hall – and admits to still feeling nervous, depending on what he plans to play.

That’s because John Tuttle, who is retiring after 45 years, carefully selects the pieces for each ceremony, balancing familiar marches such as Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance with more challenging repertoire.

He says he wants to expose the audience to a wide variety of music.

“I have no idea whether anybody hears it or not,” says Tuttle, who was first appointed university organist in 1979. “Sometimes the talking is so deafening in the place … then afterwards somebody comes up and says, ‘I really enjoyed the Franck or the Bach’, so I guess some of it gets through the chatter.”

Tuttle says patience is required when learning to play the towering pipe organ in U of T's Convocation Hall (photo by Johnny Guatto)

Tuttle begins playing approximately a half hour before each ceremony starts. When the last graduate crosses the stage, he returns to his bench to play Canada’s national anthem. He then often opts for a loud and boisterous symphonic-style organ piece as the crowd exits Convocation Hall.

Tuttle estimates that he’s played 1,500 convocation ceremonies, which U of T holds every spring and fall, and says he is grateful for the opportunities the university has provided.

@uoft The man behind the music: #UofT’s official organist John Tuttle is retiring after 45 years this #UofTGrad24 Read the full story via the link in our bio or at uoft.me/b0M. #organist #convocation @U of T Student Life @uoftmississauga @U of T Scarborough @Hart House ♬ original sound - ��߲ݴ�ý

He was an adjunct associate professor of organ at the Faculty of Music, conducted the Hart House Chorus from 1985 to 2005 and directed music at Trinity College from 2005 to 2020.

He’s also mentored many students who have gone on to have successful international careers.

“I had letters from people that were in the choir [at Trinity College] that said it grounded their experience at the university,” he says. “I had a chance to work with people across the university – from students to staff to professors – and that has been a great experience.”

Tuttle’s passion for music began early on. He began playing the piano at age five and took up the organ at age 15 after hearing it being played at church, leaving him fascinated with the instrument. His church’s organist provided Tuttle with free lessons in exchange for playing the piano at choir rehearsals – an act of generosity that shaped Tuttle’s teaching philosophy. Over the years, he has offered lessons to students with financial constraints.

“I love the repertoire. I’m very interested in good music in church,” he says. “When I can further that effort with somebody who gets excited about that idea, I find that quite gratifying.”

Tuttle recalls the first convocation speech he heard in 1979 – by honorary degree recipient Donald Coxeter, who had joined U of T’s department of mathematics in 1936.

Donald Coxeter (photo courtesy of ��߲ݴ�ý Archives)

“I remember him saying, ‘I want to thank the university for paying me all these years for something I was probably going to do anyway,’” he says. “I modeled my career after that. Most of the things I do, I wanted to do. That was a significant convocation for me.”

He says memorable ceremonies included those attended by former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, classical pianist Angela Hewitt and jazz pianist Oscar Peterson – all U of T honorary degree recipients.

Over the years, Tuttle has become well-acquainted with the organ in Convocation Hall and the challenges of maintaining it. Built in 1912, the organ has undergone several modifications and requires constant care.

“It’s a love-hate relationship,” he says.

“Every once in a while, it makes a sound that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It’s not an exact science.”

Tuttle notes that playing the organ requires strong, but flexible hands to sustain notes, as well as a unique co-ordination of hands and feet – making it different than the piano, which he played until his mid-teens.

Tuttle watches, middle row, first from left, as Oscar Peterson plays the piano during his honorary degree ceremony in 1985 (photo courtesy of the ��߲ݴ�ý Archives)

“It’s a different technique,” he says, contrasting the piano’s subtle touch with the organ’s more mechanical nature.

“With the organ, you’re touching a key, and the valve opens, and the air goes in, and it goes in the same way every time – whether you strike it fast or slowly. The only real control you have is over the length of the note and you can make some notes legato and some notes shorter.”

His advice to students who want to learn the instrument: “Be patient … because you have to work to great detail.”

Angela Hewitt’s 2009 honorary degree ceremony, with Tuttle in the background to the right of the organ (photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Retirement is bittersweet for Tuttle. While he still loves music, he says he no longer feels like he can perform at the level he once did.

“When you get to this age, you know that many more things are going to go wrong than they did 10 or 20 years ago,” he says.

As for his future plans, he hopes to continue teaching privately.

“I don’t think I’ve ever gotten rich teaching the organ, but it’s been rich in other ways.”

U of T community commemorates Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

mattimar — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:32:22 +0000

U of T community commemorates Orange Shirt Day, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

mattimar Mon, 09/30/2024 - 11:32

Cutline

Attendees wear orange shirts during a U of T tri-campus event, held at Hart House, to mark Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (photo by Polina Teif)

Mariam Matti

Topic

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Subheadline

“Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought”

Shirley Cheechoo doesn’t want to be recognized as a residential school survivor, a term commonly used to describe Indigenous Peoples who were subjected to Canada’s horrific residential school system.

“We should be identified as residential school warriors,” said the Cree actor, artist, filmmaker and founder of Weengushk Film Institute.

“Calling us warriors, you empower us. You empower our children and you empower communities across the country.”

Shirley Cheechoo, Cree actor, artist, filmmaker and founder of Weengushk Film Institute, shared the horrors and abuse she endured in Canada’s residential school system (photo by Polina Teif)

Cheechoo delivered the keynote address at a ��߲ݴ�ý event to commemorate Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The tri-campus event, held at Hart House on the St. George campus, was streamed live on YouTube.

She shared the horrors and abuse she endured after being kidnapped from her parents at age six and placed in a residential school. With a long-standing passion for working with young people, Cheechoo encouraged universities like U of T to partner with Indigenous leaders to fund and support Indigenous students and youth.

Jay-Daniel Baghbanan, a student at the Faculty of Music and vice-president of student life at the faculty’s undergraduate association, said “Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought” (photo by Polina Teif)

Benji Jacob, a fourth-year psychology student from U of T Mississauga, introduced Cheechoo at the event, while Jay-Daniel Baghbanan, a student at the Faculty of Music and vice-president of student life at the faculty’s undergraduate association, emphasized the critical nature of the work ahead.

“There are 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. U of T has 34 of their own published,” said Baghbanan. “Reconciliation cannot be an afterthought.”

Benji Jacob, a fourth-year psychology student from U of T Mississauga, was among the speakers at the event (photo by Polina Teif)

Attendees also heard remarks from several U of T leaders, including U of T President Meric Gertler and William Gough, acting vice-president of U of T and acting principal of U of T Scarborough.

President Gertler, for his part, said the U of T community is committed to advancing reconciliation across its three campuses, including by: expanding the presence of Indigenous students, staff, faculty and librarians; incorporating Indigenous content into U of T’s curriculum; supporting Indigenous research programs; and creating physical spaces that honour Indigenous Peoples’ tradition and histories.

Flags were lowered to half-mast across U of T’s three campuses on Sept. 30 for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which is formally recognized across Canada.

U of T community members attend the ceremony in Hart House’s Great Hall while others tuned into the livestream (photo by Polina Teif)

Hart House Warden David Kim thanked U of T Mississauga student MJ Singleton for designing the orange shirts worn by many at the U of T event, which depicts a mother holding hands and walking forward with her two children beneath the words “Every child matters.”

After the ceremony, a sacred fire was held for U of T community members at the newly opened Ziibiing, an Indigenous landscape project near Hart House.

U of T President Meric Gertler and Chancellor Wes Hall deliver remarks to attendees in Hart House’s Great Hall (photo by Polina Teif)

Earlier this month, U of T Scarborough hosted a reflective walk for reconciliation from the U of T Scarborough flagpole to the Ma Moosh Ka Win Valley Trail. In addition, Orange Shirt Beading Workshops were held across the three campuses, while U of T Mississauga live-streamed the Hart House event in the Grand Hall at Maanjiwe nendamowinan.

In his closing remarks at Hart House, U of T Chancellor Wes Hall encouraged the audience to continue sharing their stories, no matter how difficult, to ensure we do not repeat the past.

Hip-Hop and the City: Shad and Kofi Hope bridge hip-hop and urban studies in U of T course

mattimar — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 17:11:38 +0000

Hip-Hop and the City: Shad and Kofi Hope bridge hip-hop and urban studies in U of T course

mattimar Thu, 09/19/2024 - 13:11

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Kofi Hope, left, and Shadrach Kabango, better known as Shad, are teaching Hip-Hop and the City at U of T this fall (photo by Polina Teif)

Topic

Subheadline

The graduate course uses hip-hop music and culture as a lens to explore urban issues

Shadrach Kabango and Kofi Hope grew up immersed in hip-hop culture in the late 1990s, making music in basements, freestyling and participating in cyphers.

Today, Shad, as he is best known, is a Juno-award winning artist and rapper, while Hope is an academic and community advocate working with Black youth – and they’ve teamed up to share their knowledge via a new course at the ��߲ݴ�ý called Hip-Hop and the City.

The graduate-level course is being offered by U of T’s School of Cities – a multidisciplinary hub at U of T for urban research, education and engagement – in collaboration with the Faculty of Music.

The course uses hip-hop music and culture as a lens to explore historical urban issues. It also examines how these issues shape cultural expression and how culture, in turn, shapes cities – all while providing a platform for students to develop innovative solutions to today’s urban challenges.

“We’re focused on giving folks the foundation,” says Hope about the course.

“So, what’s the origin of the culture? Where did it come from? How did it start to disseminate across the U.S.? And touching on how it went global. But there’s many parts of that story.”

Shad and Hope encourage students to bring their full selves to the class.

“The class will be a mix of music students and students from other disciplines – so this opportunity for mutual learning,” says Shad, who hosted Netflix's Peabody and Emmy Award-winning documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution. “If people participate fully, I think it’s going to be really rich and special.”

Hope says there’s always something new to learn about the global phenomenon that is hip-hop.

“I’m hoping to learn about sub-communities and sub-genres of the culture that I'm not familiar with,” says Hope, an urbanist-in-residence at the School of Cities. “We can really help to build a greater understanding of this thing that now is beyond just being South Bronx culture.”

U of T community members recognized with Order of Canada

bresgead — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 16:49:13 +0000

U of T community members recognized with Order of Canada

bresgead Thu, 07/04/2024 - 12:49

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(photo by Sgt Johanie Maheu, Rideau Hall, OSGG-BSGG)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Unity Health

Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Chemistry

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Hospital for Sick Children

Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy

Order of Canada

Political Science

St. Michael's College

University College

University Health Network

Victoria College

Subheadline

"The Order of Canada recognizes individuals who have made positive and lasting impacts on communities here in Canada or who have brought honour to our country abroad"

An innovator in chemical catalyst development. A global leader in cardiac surgery and care. And a public health expert who led the rollout of Canada’s first colon cancer screening program.

These are a few members of the ��߲ݴ�ý community who were recently honoured with appointments or promotions within the Order of Canada.

The Governor General recently announced 83 new appointments to the Order of Canada, including two promotions within the Order.

They include Doug Stephan, a University Professor of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science; Lee Errett, a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of surgery, and Linda Rabeneck, a health executive and professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health.

Established in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest honours, recognizing extraordinary contributions across all sectors of society.

“The Order of Canada recognizes individuals who have made positive and lasting impacts on communities here in Canada or who have brought honour to our country abroad,” Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said in a statement.

Here is a list of U of T faculty, alumni and supporters who were appointed to, or promoted within, the Order of Canada in the latest round of honourees.

Current and former faculty

Edward Cole, a staff nephrologist at Toronto General Hospital and professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of medicine, was named a Member of the Order for his dedication to advancing and delivering care to people living with kidney disease, his instrumental role in establishing a globally impactful kidney-paired donation program and his leadership as former physician-in-chief at the University Health Network.

Lee Errett, a professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s department of surgery, was appointed a Member of the Order for his transformative leadership in cardiac research and care, including his role in establishing St. Michael’s Hospital as a world-class centre for cardiac surgery, his dedication to educating future medical leaders and providing care in underserved areas worldwide.

Franklyn Griffiths, a professor emeritus and George Ignatieff Chair Emeritus of Peace and Conflict Studies in the department of political science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was appointed a Member of the Order for his scholarship on Russian affairs which has advanced the Western world’s understanding of Soviet politics. An expert in Arctic international relations, Griffiths helped create the Arctic Council and pushed for Indigenous voices to play a central role in the council’s workings.

Beverley Johnston, an internationally renowned percussionist who is an adjunct professor in the Faculty of Music, was appointed an Officer of the Order for her work developing and promoting Canadian music to audiences around the world. Working in a male-dominated field, Johnston’s unconventional performances combine classical transcriptions, contemporary music and an element of theatre.

Daphne Maurer, a professor emeritus of psychology, neuroscience and behaviour at McMaster University who holds a status appointment at U of T’s Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation in the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, was appointed an Officer of the Order for her research on visual and cognitive development in early childhood.

Linda Rabeneck, a gastroenterologist, health executive and professor in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine and the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, was named a Member of the Order for her leadership in colorectal cancer screening and prevention. Formerly the director of the Division of Gastroenterology at U of T, she led the rollout of ColonCancerCheck, Canada’s first province-wide screening program.

Stephen Randall, who earned his master's degree and doctorate at U of T and taught at the university from 1971 to 1974, was named a Member of the Order for his academic contributions and advisory role in international relations. A professor emeritus at the University of Calgary, Randall’s expertise in myriad issues affecting the United States and Latin America, notably Colombia, has informed Canada’s foreign policy.

Bibudhendra Sarkar, senior scientist emeritus at the Research Institute of the Hospital for Sick Children and professor emeritus at U of T’s department of biochemistry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for his achievements in advancing medical research in Canada and abroad. He discovered a novel treatment for patients with Menkes disease, a rare genetic condition, and led international efforts in South and Southeast Asia to address public health crises from contaminated groundwater.

Jonathan Scott Rose, a professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering, was named a Member of the Order for his pioneering work in architecture and software used in field-programmable gate arrays. Rose served as the chair of the department from 2004 to 2009 and received his PhD degree in electrical engineering from U of T in 1986.

Doug Stephan, a University Professor in the department of chemistry in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was named an Officer of the Order in recognition his world-leading research in inorganic and organometallic chemistry. His many achievements include discovering – and commercializing – a new class of catalysts that is now used in one of the largest chemical manufacturing facilities in the world. He also achieved global renown for founding the field of “Frustrated Lewis Pair” chemistry.

Alumni and friends

Sleight-of-hand artist David Ben, who graduated from University College in 1983, was named a Member of the Order for his four decades of dedication to the exploration, development and preservation of magic, including penning several books on the subject and co-founding the Magicana organization.

William Fox, a research fellow and adjunct professor at Trent University who earned his honours bachelor of arts and master of arts in archeology at U of T, was named a Member of the Order for his distinguished contributions to Canadian archeology, his leadership in the Ontario Archaeological Society, and his steadfast advocacy for the involvement of Indigenous communities in preserving their material heritage.

Martha Friendly, who founded the Childcare Resource and Research Unit at U of T’s Centre for Urban and Community Studies in the early 1980s, was appointed an Officer of the Order for her work with the now-independent non-profit and her advocacy for accessible, publicly funded early childhood education and care, and women’s equality.

Rosemary Ganley, a writer, activist, teacher and an alumna of St. Michael’s College, was named a Member of the Order for her lifelong advocacy for human rights, gender equity, and social justice, including co-founding Jamaican Self Help, an organization of Canadians working to support the development of healthy Jamaican communities.

Arnie Gelbart, a member of the Chancellors’ Circle of Benefactors, was named a Member of the Order for his decades-long leadership in independent film and television in his role as founder, executive producer and CEO of Galafilm Productions Inc.

Judy Kent was named a Member of the Order for championing sport as a catalyst for social change, her advocacy for gender equality and inclusion and her leadership in international support. Among her achievements: She was the first woman to serve as both president of Commonwealth Sport Canada and Canada’s chef de mission for the Commonwealth Games, and her paper on sport for international development laid the foundation for the SportWORKS program.

James David Meekison, with a 45-year career spanning investment banking, cable television and private equity, was named a Member of the Order for his extensive philanthropy. The Jim Meekison and Carolyn Keystone Foundation supported U of T’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy’s efforts to launch the Discovery Pharmacy on the St. George campus.

Michael Perley, a U of T alumnus who completed a master’s degree in French language and literature, was named a Member of the Order for his lifelong dedication to tackling environmental and health challenges. He has been an advocate for tighter tobacco control laws, reducing second-hand smoke exposure and has led coalitions on acid rain and air pollution.

Dan Poenaru, a pediatric surgeon and professor at McGill University who earned two degrees at U of T, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions to pediatric surgery in Africa, including establishing a surgical unit and training program in Kenya, co-founding three medical schools and leading initiatives for children's surgery globally.

Vaira Vike-Freiberga, an alumna of Victoria College and the first woman to serve as Latvia’s president, was named an honorary Officer of the Order for her work enriching Canada-Latvia relations and for reflecting Canadian values abroad.

– with files from Mariam Matti and Rahul Kalvapalle

One of Canada’s most eminent filmmakers, Sarah Polley receives U of T honorary degree

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 20:35:44 +0000

One of Canada’s most eminent filmmakers, Sarah Polley receives U of T honorary degree Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 06/17/2024 - 16:35

Cutline

(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Scott Anderson

Topic

Convocation 2024

A celebrated actor, director, author and Academy Award-winning screenwriter, Sarah Polley has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s most thoughtful and influential filmmakers. She explores themes of intimacy and memory, loss and resilience, and uses her platform to speak up against injustice.

Today, for her prodigious talent in the arts and her steadfast commitment to equity and fairness, Polley will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from the ��߲ݴ�ý.

Born in Toronto in 1979, Polley began her career in entertainment as a child actor. At age eight, she was cast as a lead character in Terry Gilliam’s The Adventures of Baron Munchausen. But the experience – which she says involved working 18-hour days and at times left her frightened and in tears – influenced her acting journey: it soured her on big Hollywood productions and led her to focus on smaller, often Canadian projects. “Baron Munchausen really defined me in terms of never really wanting to be on huge films ever,” she told the New York Times in 2007.

Polley came to widespread attention in 1990, starring as the lead in the CBC series Road to Avonlea, for which she was nominated for three Gemini Awards. Simultaneous with the success, though, came profound loss: shortly after the show’s debut – and just two days after she turned 11 – her mother, Diane Polley (also an actor), died of cancer. A few months later, Polley developed scoliosis, leaving her wearing a brace and undergoing an operation.

After a lengthy recovery, she continued acting but was uncommitted to it as a career. (She once called it a “frivolous thing to do with your life.”) By age 17, she dropped out of high school and left the entertainment industry to devote herself to political causes. Already involved with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, she became a member of the Ontario NDP.

(photo by Lisa Sakulensky)

Within months, she felt her singular focus on activism was making her, as she said in the New York Times interview, “boring, dogmatic, narrow,” so when director Atom Egoyan offered her the lead role in The Sweet Hereafter, she accepted, thinking it would provide a short break from her advocacy.

But the film was a critical success – and Hollywood came calling. She took roles in Go and Guinevere, then dropped out of Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous during rehearsals, feeling like she had taken the part by mistake. “Every day, it felt less and less like something I could pull off,” she told the New York Times.

She took some time to consider her next move and then, in 2001, at age 22, enrolled at the Canadian Film Centre, where she directed two shorts. The experience set in motion a transition from acting to writing and directing.

Polley’s debut feature, Away from Her (2006), adapted from an Alice Munro short story, tells the affecting story of an elderly couple whose marriage comes under strain as the wife develops Alzheimer’s disease. It earned Polley an Academy Award nomination for best adapted screenplay and established her as a force in filmmaking.

Her next two films, Take This Waltz (2011) and the documentary Stories We Tell (2012) cemented her reputation as a director with a deep empathy for her subjects. Stories We Tell delves into Polley’s own family history, using interviews and re-enactments to reveal a long-held family secret.

In 2019, Polley was approached to adapt and direct a film version of the novel Women Talking, by Miriam Toews, inspired by a true story about the horrific sexual abuse of women and girls in a Mennonite colony. She said in a New Yorker interview that the hardest part of the Women Talking shoot came during a scene when one of the characters talks about how men in the community got the women to doubt themselves. “That came from the experience of talking to so many women, and that feeling of being made to seem, or feel, crazy.”

In 2023, the film won the Academy Award for best adapted screenplay and was nominated for best picture.

Polley continues to support causes that are meaningful to her. She has used her platform to speak up about income inequality and sexual abuse in the entertainment industry, and to argue for filmmaking that is informed by feminist principles. In her Oscar acceptance speech, she alluded to the need for change in the male-dominated film world: “I just want to thank the Academy for not being mortally offended by the words ‘women’ and ‘talking’ put so close together like that.”

At today’s convocation for the Faculty of Music and Innis College, Polley told graduates about her experience recovering from a severe concussion and shared the life-changing advice she had received from a doctor to “run towards the danger.”

She encouraged graduates to face their fears as a way to move past them. “Have a beautiful life and don’t always avoid the edges,” she said. “Ask for help. Admit your terrors to someone you can trust. Don’t assume you aren’t equal to what you want. It’s okay to be scared, and to feel like a fraud – most of us do. Go try to do it all anyway. And if your anxiety tells you that you can’t? Thank it for trying to protect you, and tell it that it’s allowed to come along for the thrilling ride – it’s just not allowed to block the driveway.”

Over her nearly four-decade career in entertainment, Polley has received numerous high-profile honours for acting, writing and directing. She is also an Officer of the Order of Canada and a recipient of the National Arts Centre Award.

With a focus on diversity and inclusion, U of T gears up for annual Giving Day event

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 20:15:30 +0000

With a focus on diversity and inclusion, U of T gears up for annual Giving Day event

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 03/11/2024 - 16:15

Cutline

(photo by Moussa Faddoul)

Advancement Staff

Topic

Diversity and Inclusion

Division of University Advancement

Subheadline

Inaugural 2023 event raised more than $1.2 million, including funds for new student scholarships and awards, infrastructure, student experience programs and research

Darren Hamilton, an assistant professor in the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Faculty of Music, is on a mission to ensure students from different backgrounds see themselves represented in the curriculum, teaching faculty and university community more broadly.

That’s among the reasons he founded the U of T Faculty of Music Gospel Choir.

The undergraduate credit course explores various forms of gospel music, teaching aural musicianship skills and performance practices – all while providing insights into an element of African American history and culture.

“Equity, diversity and inclusion have always been central to my work as a music educator and researcher,” says Hamilton, who recently completed a PhD in music education at U of T and spent more than 15 years as a music educator in secondary schools.

His work is part of a broader effort by the U of T community to foster a diverse and inclusive environment where students, staff, faculty and librarians of all backgrounds can thrive – including through such supports as the Black and Indigenous Musical Excellence Scholarship.

“[The university] has created space for myself and my colleagues to do [the] practical work required to embrace diversity and foster sustainable change for the future of music curricula,” Hamilton says.

Hamilton is one of several U of T community members who are acting as ambassadors for the university’s upcoming Giving Day event on March 26. First launched last year, the event encourages the global U of T community to come together to support over 90 funds for equity, diversity and inclusive excellence at university – with U of T matching donations made between Feb. 26 and March 26, up to $1,000, dollar-for-dollar, while matching funds last.

Last year’s inaugural event raised more than $1.2 million, including funds for new student scholarships and awards, infrastructure, student experience programs and research.

Other 2024 Giving Day ambassadors include: Andrew Wiebe, a queer Michif scholar, who is researching how to incorporate Indigenous and queer data into digital humanities projects ethically; Safiya Nur, vice-president of the U of T chapter of the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance, who is committed to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion; and Jemy Joseph, a physician, speaker and consultant who has advocated for equity, diversity and education.

Darren Hamilton, an assistant professor in U of T’s Faculty of Music, leads the gospel choir (photo by Mike Hwang)

Hamilton says creating pathways for more students to access higher education has a ripple effect throughout the community.

“By supporting funding initiatives that create opportunities for more racialized and marginalized students to become members of the university community, the community benefits from the cultural diversity, and students [can] maintain a sense of belonging while pursuing their academic endeavors.”

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Giving Day

U of T community members recognized with Order of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 21:23:33 +0000

U of T community members recognized with Order of Canada

rahul.kalvapalle Fri, 01/05/2024 - 16:23

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(photo by Sgt Johanie Maheu/OSGG-BSGG)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

��߲ݴ�ý

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Computer Science

University Health Network

Order of Canada

Subheadline

The governor general recently announced 78 new appointees within the Order, including three promotions

A psychiatrist who has advanced the understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia. A composer and conductor who has helped nurture the next generation of classical musicians. A computer scientist whose work helped enable the development and adoption of touchscreen interfaces.

These are just a few of the ��߲ݴ�ý community members who were recently recognized by appointments to – or promotions within – the Order of Canada.

The Governor General announced 78 new appointments to the Order of Canada on Dec. 28 (including three promotions). They include Anne Bassett, a senior clinician-scientist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), a senior scientist at University Health Network (UHN) and a professor in the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine; Gary Kulesha, an associate professor, teaching stream, in the Faculty of Music; and Bill Buxton, an adjunct professor of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

“I greatly value the opportunity to celebrate individuals whose perseverance, ingenuity and community spirit have benefited Canadians throughout the country,” Gov. Gen. Mary Simon said in a statement. “As governor general, I have seen first-hand that our communities are rich in both excellence and diversity, which we need to do our utmost to recognize.”

Created in 1967, the Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours. It recognizes individuals whose achievements and service have had an impact on communities across Canada and beyond.

Here is a list of U of T faculty, alumni, supporters and friends who were appointed to, or promoted within, the Order of Canada in the latest round:

Current and former faculty

Anne Bassett, a senior scientist at the Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, UHN, senior clinician-scientist in the Schizophrenia Division at CAMH and a professor in the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for her research and clinical contributions to advancing the understanding of the genetics of schizophrenia. She completed post-graduated medical training at U of T.

Ian Burton, a professor emeritus in the department of geography (now geography and planning) and School of the Environment in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was named an Officer of the Order for his scholarship and policy work on climate change adaptation.

Bill Buxton, a current adjunct professor and former associate professor in the department of computer science in the Faculty of Arts & Science, was appointed an Officer of the Order for his research and innovations shaping the way humans interact with technology. A U of T alumnus who holds an honorary degree from the university, Buxton’s work on multi-touch systems helped usher in the development of trackpads and touchscreens.

Gary Kulesha, an associate professor, teaching stream, in the Faculty of Music, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions as an esteemed composer, conductor and mentor to classical musicians. A pianist, Kulesha’s music has been commissioned, performed and recorded by musicians and ensembles around the world.

Francine Lemire, an adjunct assistant professor in the department of family and community medicine in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for her accomplishments as a Paralympic medallist in cross-country skiing and her leadership in family medicine. Lemire, who won two gold medals at the 1988 Winter Paralympics, is the former executive director and CEO of the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Bruce G. Pollock, a senior scientist, vice-president of research and director of the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at CAMH and a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology and toxicology at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, was named a Member of the Order for his pioneering contributions to geriatric psychopharmacology as a researcher, builder and educator. A U of T alumnus, Pollock is the inaugural Peter and Shelagh Godsoe Chair in Late-Life Mental Health at U of T and CAMH.

Arun Ravindran, a senior scientist in the General Adult Psychiatry and Health Systems Division at CAMH and a professor in the department of psychiatry in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine cross-appointed to the department of psychology and the Institute of Medical Sciences, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions to mental health research and clinical care, notably in the areas of mood disorders and global mental health.

Alumni and friends

Sara Joy Angel, who earned her PhD in art history at U of T, was named a Member of the Order for elevating Canada’s visual history and culture as a journalist and founder of the Art Canada Institute.

Bronwyn D.A. Drainie, who earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from U of T, was named a Member of the Order for her long-standing contributions to Canadian arts and culture, notably as a prominent radio host and editor-in-chief of the Literary Review of Canada.

Wenona Giles, who earned her master’s degree and PhD in anthropology at U of T, was named an Officer of the Order for her contributions to refugee and migration studies and work to provide people in refugee camps with access to higher education. A professor emerita at York University, Giles helped launch the Borderless Higher Education for Refugees project, which has provided access to tuition-free university degree programs to people living in refugee camps in Kenya.

Tennys J.M. Hanson, who earned a bachelor’s degree from U of T Mississauga and went on to serve as U of T Mississauga’s executive director of campus development and public affairs, was named a Member of the Order for contributions to health care and education in Canada through her transformative leadership in the fundraising sector. Hanson served 23 years at the helm of the UHN Foundation (previously known as the Toronto General & Western Hospital Foundation).

Victor Peter Hetmanczuk, who earned two bachelor’s degrees from U of T, was named a Member of the Order for his enduring dedication and leadership in the Ukrainian-Canadian community and beyond. Hetmanczuk’s many contributions include organizing and financing volunteer missions to provide medical assistance to soldiers wounded during the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Lillie Johnson, who earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing at U of T, was named a Member of the Order for her impact in improving public health within the Black community. Johnson was the first Black director of public health in Ontario and is known for the founding of the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario.

Susan Margaret Macpherson, who earned a bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Arts & Science, was named a Member of the Order in recognition of her lifetime devotion to dance as an artist, educator, director, researcher and mentor. Macpherson was an artistic associate at the Dance Arts Institute (formerly the School of Toronto Dance Theatre) for nearly 25 years and served as a faculty member at the institute.

Medhat Sabet Mahdy, who earned a bachelor’s degree from U of T, was named a Member of the Order for his unwavering dedication to building community and improving the quality of life for all in the Greater Toronto Area. Mahdy is former president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toronto and former president of YMCA Ontario.

Noella Maria Milne, who graduated from the Faculty of Law in 1986, was named a Member of the Order for her volunteer leadership and commitment to community service, particularly to initiatives supporting education, women and youth.

Peter Robb Pearson, who studied political science at U of T, was appointed an Officer of the Order for his groundbreaking contributions as a filmmaker and for his tireless advocacy of Canadian film and television. The winner of 19 Canadian Film Awards, Pearson is credited with directing some of Canada’s most influential films including Paperback Hero and The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar.

André Picard, health journalist and recipient of an honorary degree from U of T in 2017, was named a Member of the Order for his dedication to advancing public health understanding and practices in Canada as a leading health journalist. A staff writer at the Globe and Mail since 1987, Picard is also a bestselling author.

Joel Quarrington, who earned an artist’s degree from U of T’s Faculty of Music, was named a Member of the Order for his contributions as a world-leading double bass player and respected educator. The Juno Award-winning musician, who teaches at the University of Ottawa, is a soloist and has served as Principal Double Bass of the London Symphony Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company and Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

Zainub Verjee, a senior fellow at Massey College, was named a Member of the Order for advancing representation and equitable policy legislation within Canada’s arts and culture sectors as a leading artist, administrator and critic.

Flavio Volpe, who earned a bachelor’s degree from U of T, was named a Member of the Order in recognition of his work advancing Canada’s automotive and technology industries on an international scale as a leading policy expert in national trade and industry competition. Volpe is president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association.

Wars, Diaspora & Music: U of T courses explores the role of music during times of war

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 17:17:03 +0000

Wars, Diaspora & Music: U of T courses explores the role of music during times of war

Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 12/07/2023 - 12:17

Cutline

Simon Bikindi, right, a Rwandan singer-songwriter, is pictured with his lawyers and a United Nations guard at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 2008 (photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

Cynthia Macdonald

Topic

Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies

Undergraduate Students

Victoria College

In the 1990s, Simon Bikindi was Rwanda’s most popular musician – a United Nations official even dubbed him the “Rwandan Michael Jackson.” A sometime wedding singer, Bikindi’s lyrics often told of love stories and his country’s beautiful landscape.

But Bikindi’s music could also be dangerous. Over the three months in which almost a million Tutsis were massacred during the Rwandan Civil War, the country’s Radio Télévision Libre des Milles Collines repeatedly broadcast the singer’s violent, inflammatory songs. In 2008, Bikindi, an ethnic Hutu, was convicted for his role in inciting war crimes.

The Bikindi story is but one of the case studies covered in “Wars, Diaspora and Music” – a ��߲ݴ�ý course in the Faculty of Arts & Science that explores the important role that music often plays in ethnic conflicts, wars, exile and displacement.

“We look at how music can be a weapon – as military music and propaganda,” says course creator Anna Shternshis, the Al and Malka Green Professor of Yiddish Studies and director of the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies.

“But we also look at songs created by people under duress – songs about love and the reclamation of humanity, when everything has been destroyed.”

Shternshis says she conceived of “Wars, Diaspora & Music” while working on Yiddish Glory, the Grammy-nominated album of Holocaust-era Yiddish songs she assembled with Russian performer Psoy Korolenko.

Anna Shternshis is the director of the Anne Tanenbaum Centre for Jewish Studies and is the Al and Malka Green Professor of Yiddish Studies (photo by Diana Tyszko)

Yiddish Glory is part of the course’s syllabus, along with music from many other conflicts of the 20th and 21st centuries. That includes music from Rwanda, Korea, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Palestine.

“I decided to take this course as I had never heard of anything like it,” says Anjali Joshi-Dave, who is in her third year as a member of Trinity College. “Although I do not play any musical instruments, I adore music and was interested to see its connection to violence and diasporas from an academic perspective.”

Gabriella Batikian is a fourth-year member of Victoria College. A member of the Armenian diaspora, she grew up listening to a wealth of music from her heritage – much of which was produced around the time of the 1915 Armenian genocide.

She says the course helped her contextualize such music, as well as that from other countries.

“We do a deep analysis of the lyrics that we’re studying,” Batikian says. “And it’s really interesting to learn how music can be used for good and for bad. We’ve learned how it can be used as a propaganda tool and to incite violence. But at the same time, music is also used to comfort survivors of war. That’s the main thing – discovering the power that music truly holds.”

War invariably involves displacement – hence its connection to diasporic communities longing for home. To this end, students learn about initiatives such as the U.S.-based Refugee Orchestra Project.

Shternshis is a scholar of refugee experience and a supporter of refugees in Toronto.

“In class, we’ve discussed what kind of music is created in refugee camps,” she says. “Listening to music like this becomes a way of learning what people really care about. And I think that when students examine events in future, they will count music among the sources they use to try and make sense of them.”

By studying music produced within different conflict environments, Shternshis has drawn several unique insights. She notes, for example, that the closer a musician is to conflict, the less “martial” the music becomes. That includes war songs in which soldiers sing about their loved ones back home, or joke about inferior army food.

“A lot of soldiers also learn to play a musical instrument, because they desperately need the emotional break,” she says.

Hearts of Pine by Joshua D. Pilzer (Oxford University Press)

The course also features a unit on Hearts of Pine, a book by Joshua Pilzer, an associate professor in the Faculty of Music. The book explores how Korean women used song as a means of coping with trauma while forced into sexual enslavement during the Second World War.

“When people live through sexual violence in war, very few songs describe the violence itself,” says Shternshis, noting it was a phenomenon she noticed when interviewing Holocaust survivors who were also musicians. “They sing about everything else but that.”

Shternshis has been teaching “Wars, Diaspora & Music” since 2018 and changes the syllabus every year to incorporate music from the world’s current wars. “I keep hoping that this will become a historical course,” she says ruefully. “But it is always contemporary.”

Last year, for example, she monitored music – emerging in real time on social media – created during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This year, she and her students are keeping watch on music from the Israel–Hamas war with the help of a student translator.

While it is painful to engage with contemporaneous pain, Shternshis says it’s a valuable way of recording experiences and emotions that are easily forgotten with the passage of time.

What unites the music studied in the course is its enormous power – both to incite killing, as in the case of Rwanda’s Bikindi, but also to provide healing.

Shternshis says the latter may ultimately be stronger than the former.

“If a person who lives under extreme duress is able to enjoy music, that often gives them incredible strength to move on,” Shternshis says, adding that her course offers a glimpse of the human spirit at its most threatened – and most triumphant.

“We are asking: What are the things that people are saying, or singing, or even laughing about in conditions that are not designed for life at all?”

A green ear: ��߲ݴ�ý grad turns houseplants into instruments

bresgead — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:43:02 +0000

A green ear: ��߲ݴ�ý grad turns houseplants into instruments

bresgead Thu, 11/09/2023 - 11:43

Cutline

Steven Webb, who receives his doctor of musical arts this week, says his music examines “the confusion, disorientation and dread that arises from living in this world dealing with multiple crises” (photo by Simeon Rusnak)

Topic

Subheadline

Doctor of Musical Arts grad Steven Webb says his "Plant Music" project was conceived as a way to connect people with nature during COVID-19

Plants might not seem like a noisy bunch. But if you listen closely, Steven Webb says you can find a symphony in your garden.

As part of his studies at the ��߲ݴ�ý’s Faculty of Music, Webb turned houseplants into instruments as part of Plant Music – one of his many works that sample sounds from the real world to help make sense of it.

Webb, who will receive his doctor of musical arts this week, says he plans to build on the skills he gained at U of T to continue his project of composing music out of the cacophony of the modern experience – from the rhythmic chants of climate protesters to the distorted soundtrack of digital life.

“My music ties in strongly to my social activism, my personal ethics and views of the world,” says Webb, a composer and sound designer whose works range from orchestral arrangements to video game scores.

“It’s really developed into sort of examining … the confusion, disorientation and dread that arises from living in this world dealing with multiple crises – the climate crisis, growing marginalization of minority groups and the increasing isolation of the individual despite being hyper-connected with the internet.”

When he began his degree, Webb was planning to work closely with a number of talented peers and musicians. But the COVID-19 pandemic presented him with a different path.

Feeling isolated during lockdown, he decided to get creative.

“The concept [of the installation] was for people to interact with touch-sensitive plants – and through that, they could create and sculpt music themselves,” he says.

“This would be a way for people to really engage with sound and nature in a time when they really, really couldn't.”

So how did Webb coax plants to make music?

Plants – like people – are mostly made of water, so they conduct electricity. So, when you touch a plant, it changes its electrical resistance.

Webb rigged up wires to the plants so their electrical signals could be fed to a microcomputer, which relayed the input to another computer that triggered different pre-recorded sounds.

He also sampled sounds from nature – the scrape of cacti needles, the rattle of seedpods, the squish of flowers – and enhanced them to make them “larger than life.”

“You can sort of play the plants – almost like percussion instruments – because every time you touch it, it will trigger a sample of a sound,” he says. “That way, you can create instruments out of the plants themselves.”

The Plant Music installation was held at the Faculty of Music’s Electronic Music Studio in January 2022. Webb later incorporated his lush sounds into his doctoral recital, which was divided into three movements: seeds, growth and “photosynchosis,” which represents human disruption of natural processes such as photosynthesis.

As a resident at the Canadian Music Centre, Webb plans to expand on these themes and techniques to create a “sonic forest,” while also pursuing other projects such as ROYGBIV, a piece that will use light sensors to harmonize saxophone music with the colours of a room.

Webb credits U of T’s Faculty of Music for supporting his musical experiments and allowing other students to riff on his ideas by maintaining his workshop at the Electronic Music Studio.

“I'd say what was really positive coming out of [the pandemic] is that the faculty, the facilities and my adviser really encouraged me to use the time to explore and grow in other areas of expertise that I maybe wouldn't have had the time to pursue,” says Webb.

“I felt very accepted in this exploration that I wanted to do involving electronics and plants – and creating something very outside of the box.”

Order of Canada recognizes U of T community members

siddiq22 — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 19:15:00 +0000

Order of Canada recognizes U of T community members

siddiq22 Wed, 07/05/2023 - 15:15

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(photo by Sgt Johanie Maheu, Rideau Hall, OSGG)

Adina Bresge

Topic

Waakebiness-Bryce Institute for Indigenous Health

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

Awards

Faculty of Law