The Gift is the Work

Gift (sourced on Snappa.com, May 2025) I know I’ve ranted (was it really ranting? Maybe…) before about my aversion to the words “gift” or “talent” when it comes to artistic ability. I find them annoying and insulting. They imply...

Return to Self

Selfhood and voice as the path towards it have been the overarching theme of this blog since I started writing in 2019. My preoccupation with this topic has permeated my own artistic practice, my research and my work with students for many years now–probably for...

The Queen in Them

Teiya Kasahara in Tapestry Opera’s Songbook XII (photo: Eric Forget, 2023) This week we were paid a visit by a serious Opera Kween, Teiya Kasahara (they/he), creator and star of their one-human show, “The Queen in Me”. Teiya talked about their...

Trust the impulse

Impulse (sourced on Snappa.com, March 2025) Idea. Breath. Sound. Hesitation is deadly. We sing at our best when the channel is free. Allowing ourselves to trust that what we’ve been working on will serve us in the moment is one of the greatest challenges we...

Full Circle, Part 2

Full Circle Pt. 2 (sourced on Snappa.com, February 2025) You’ll need to get used to this theme of Full Circle. As I move toward my final year of teaching at Laurier (yes, I turned 65. It’s a thing), I find myself reflecting more and more on my teaching...