York University AMPD and Arizona State University Virtually Unite Gospel Choirs with Kirk Franklin’s Arrangement of the Johnson Brothers’ “Lift Every Voice & Sing”
Seventy students across academic disciplines, geographic locations and cultures in international chorus. Students are accompanied by Corey Butler in harmony with Kirk Franklin's arrangement of the Johnson Brother's Black national anthem 'Lift Every Voice & Sing.'
AMPD Music Professor Elected to The Royal Society of Canada
Music Professor Christina Petrowska Quilico C.M, along with four York professors, elected to the Royal Society of Canada.
Celebrating the great Oscar Peterson
York University’s School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design honours the 30th anniversary of Oscar Peterson’s installation as Chancellor of York University.
York Music alumna earns spot in Vancouver Opera’s Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program
Soprano Jonelle Sills (BFA' 16) earns a spot in the Vancouver Opera's Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program lead by industry leaders Leslie Dala, Kinza Tyrrell, Tina Chang and Vancouver Opera Music Director Emeritus Jonathan Darlington.
Music Professor Ron Westray to release autobiography this fall
York University Associate Professor Ron Westray, in the Department of Music, School of the Arts, Media, Performance and Design, is releasing an autobiography this September titled Life in Reverse: Tales of a Very Stable Narcissist (Anthem Press).
“It is possible that we exist in a predominantly narcissistic society in which people want you to love them; and then they don’t want you anymore,” says Westray, the inaugural Oscar Peterson Chair in Jazz Performance at York, about the book’s key message.
Starting from present and going back 30 years to 1990, the story of African-American jazz musician Westray's life journey – striving for knowledge, opportunity, acceptance and understanding – is written in reverse.
An embedded road itinerary guides the progression of the book. Years are rarely mentioned in the text; and, in most cases, only initials are used for all characters. People, places and things are all real in relation to the timeline. The work involves the insertion of common conversations – from sources such as texting and emails – to shed light on the fallibility of human relations. To a large degree, and within reason, the length of conversations are meant to be overbearing, countered by other aspects of the writing. Stories from Westray’s father and grandfather are featured in the book and his mother’s free-verse poetry is the soul that binds it together like a second narrator.
Westray's book will be available for preorder on July 19 on Google Books, Barnes & Noble.com, Waterstones.com and other places books are sold. For more information about Life in Reverse: Tales of a Very Stable Narcissist, visit the publisher’s website.
Luis Ramirez to Premiere with Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra has announced that Luis Ramirez, a York University PhD candidate in Music, has received a commission for an original composition in their 2022 season.
Message to the AMPD community
I am writing to you today to not offer another statement. I am writing to you today to offer my deepest condolences and acknowledge the pain of individuals and communities affected by these and other events.
AMPD Celebrates Pride
The School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design has a rich 2SLGBTQIA community. We pride ourselves as a place where students can find their community; where they can express themselves fully, and be loved by their friends, peers and mentors for it.
