This is the latest ArtsAbly newsletter. The Music and Collective Access Symposium we organized in partnership with UBC in Vancouver on Feb 27 and 28 is still fresh in our minds. You will find the final report in this newsletter. www.artsably.com?mailpoet_rou...

Thank you to those who attended the Music and Collective Access Symposium 2026, on February 27 and 28, online or in person in Vancouver. It was a successful event. Don't forget to subscribe to ArtsAbly's newsletter on www.artsably.com to receive the symposium report and other related information.

We are ready for the Music and Collective Access Symposium! The three co-organizers, Stefan Sunandan Honisch, Anabel Maler and myself representing ArtsAbly, are ready to learn from our colleagues and community members for two days of lectures, performances and workshops at St. John’s College, UBC.

I survived my first full day on UBC Campus, giving a lecture to Anabel Maler’s class this morning, and a full afternoon of preparations for the upcoming symposium. Still working on one of my workshops. That’s the program for my evening.

What a great closing ceremony! My favourite part was the transmission of the olympic baton to France at the end of the ceremony. I might be Canadian but I am also French, and former athlete. Proud moment! Now, don’t forget that the games are not over! The Winter Paralympics start on March 6.

Tonight! Come hear Amadeus Choir sing the new generation of composers and poets, with a short solo sung by yours truly 🙂 There are a few tickets left. Join us ESG United Church for our Choral Creation Lab Showcase. Get your tickets now at amadeuschoir.com/events.

Tomorrow, Sunday, February 22nd, 12 PM PT, is the last day to register for our upcoming Music and Collective Access Symposium, a hybrid event organized by the University of British Columbia and ArtsAbly, on February 27 and 28, 2026. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

This is an excerpt of Amadeus Choir's Saturday evening concert. This time, no problem to find where I am 🙂 Want to hear the full version live? Purchase your tickets: amadeuschoir.com/events/. Use the promo code ALTO2 to get a discount. See you there! 🎶 #AmadeusChoir #SoloTime

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the co-organizer Dr. Diane Kolin, a French-born Canadian singer, a music educator, and a voice teacher. She is the founder and director of ArtsAbly. More info and registration: musiccollectiveaccess.com.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the workshop facilitator Ellen Waterman, Professor and Helmut Kallmann Chair for Music in Canada at Carleton University. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

This ASL video presents the Music and Collective Access Symposium 2026, which will take place in Vancouver on February 27 and 28, 2026. Watch the full version produced by Pamela Witcher and her team: musiccollectiveaccess.com/asl-presenta.... Register: musiccollectiveaccess.com/registration/

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the workshop facilitator Jesse Stewart, a composer, percussionist, artist, and Head of the Carleton University Music program. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the co-organizer Dr. Anabel Maler, a scholar of music theory with interests in music and disability studies, music in Deaf culture, and the intersections of music theory, musicology, and ethnomusicology.

You do not want to miss this concert on February 21st! Read the Ludwig van Toronto article to learn more about the concert. Use the promo code ALTO2 for a discount. Come hear the new generation of poets and composers sung by Amadeus Choir of Greater Toronto. 🎶 www.ludwig-van.com/toronto/2026...

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the keynote speaker Pamela Witcher, a multidisciplinary artist, director, mentor, interpreter, translator, cultural mediator and curator. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the workshop facilitator Gaitrie Persaud-Killings, a Tkaronto-Guyanese, Deaf music performer and IBPOC/QIBPOC activist. More information and registration on musiccollectiveaccess.com.

Meet the team behind the Music and Collective Access Symposium (Feb 27-28, 2026). Today, meet the co-organizer Dr. Stefan Sunandan Honisch, Sessional Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Film, and Scholar-In-Residence at St. John’s College, at the University of British Columbia.

It finally arrived 🙂 So happy to be included in this great edition! “Disability and Musicking” edited by Leon de Bruin, Anthea Skinner and Jane Southcott, with a foreword by Dame Evelyn Glennie.

The new website of the Music and Collective Access Symposium 2026, co-organized by UBC and ArtsAbly, has been launched. The program of the symposium is now published. The event is free but registration is mandatory. Visit www.musiccollectiveaccess.com for more information.

Voice and vibrations experiments with David Bobier and Jim Ruxton at VibraFusionLab in Hamilton. We explored pitch and speed change, and visual projections of my voice while feeling vibrations. More to come soon 🎶

Posted by Philip Glass

Just finished the dress rehearsal for Lord of the Rings with live orchestra and choir. 250 musicians and singers on stage. I am just behind the drums 😅 Premiere in one hour and two performances tomorrow. Join us if you are up for a Tolkien adventure! filmharmonique.ca/productions/...

Check out the episode 55 of our podcast “ArtsAbly in Conversation” with Eric Whitmer, a third-year Ph.D. student in Musicology at the University of Michigan. Find the podcast episode here: www.artsably.com/episode-55-a... #ArtsAbly #arts #disability #accessibility #DisabilityArts

Thank you all who attended my doctoral defense virtually or in person. All went well, the committee members asked interesting questions leading to interesting conversations. It was a great experience! 🎓🍾

As part of the podcast series, “ArtsAbly in Conversation,” Diane Kolin interviewed Eric Whitmer @ewhitmer.bsky.social, a third-year Ph.D. student in Musicology at the University of Michigan. Visit www.artsably.com/interview-re... to check out the resources mentioned during the conversation.

My doctoral defense is tomorrow! To those who read these words and with whom I worked in these past few years, thank you! This journey would not have been possible without you. If you want to attend, it will be at York University tomorrow, Jan 20, at 2 pm, and online. Contact me for more details.

Check out the episode 54 of our podcast “ArtsAbly in Conversation” with Robyn Rennie, a visual artist living in New Brunswick in Canada. Find the podcast episode here: www.artsably.com/episode-54-a... #ArtsAbly #arts #disability #accessibility #DisabilityArts #AccessibleArts #InConversationWith

As part of the podcast series, “ArtsAbly in Conversation,” Diane Kolin interviewed Robyn Rennie, a visual artist living in New Brunswick in Canada. Visit www.artsably.com/interview-re... to check out the resources mentioned during the conversation. The podcast episode will be published on Friday.

Finally! 🙂 I just received the approval for my PhD dissertation defense. Save the date: January 20 at 2 pm! It will be hybrid, via Zoom remotely and at York University in person. If you would like to join in person or remotely, let me know, I will send you more details.

Check out the episode 53 of our podcast “ArtsAbly in Conversation” with seeley quest, a trans disabled environmentalist, arts and equity educator, living in Toronto in Canada. Find the podcast episode here: www.artsably.com/episode-53-a...

Enjoying my next singing adventure chasing a ring, in Elvish, Mannish, Dwarvish, and yes, one sentence in English 😂

As part of the podcast series, “ArtsAbly in Conversation,” Diane Kolin interviewed seeley quest, a trans disabled environmentalist, arts and equity educator, living in Toronto in Canada. Visit www.artsably.com/interview-re... to check out the resources mentioned during the conversation.

The ArtsAbly team wishes you a Happy New Year 2026! We are back to the office with a new series of podcast episode. This week's guest will be announced tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Our latest newsletter, "ArtsAbly's Bulletin," starts with an open conversation article about accessibility for singers in choirs. You will also discover five 2025 highlights, and some news about the upcoming Music and Collective Access symposium in February 2026. tinyurl.com/artsably-dec...

Thank you Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities (RAMPD) for the highlight 🙂 And cheers to the other artists who shared the virtual stage this year 🎶

Happy birthday Ludwig 🎶

If you know me, you know that I love singing. As I just finished my last concert of 2025 yesterday night, I want to reflect on my experience as a disabled singer in vocal ensembles using a wheelchair. Full article available here: www.artsably.com/my-experienc...

Our next concert with Amadeus Choir is tomorrow, Friday December 12, with the traditional Messiah, at Yorkminster at 7:30 pm. We will share the stage with VIVA Chamber Singers and the Elmer Iseler Singers, conducted by Lydia Adams. Contact me for the promo code. 🎶

Only five days left before the submission deadline of the Call for Papers for the Music and Collective Access Symposium. Don't forget to submit your abstract, and don't hesitate to share the call for papers: tinyurl.com/music-access.

It was such a great experience to sing JS Bach’s entire Christmas Oratorio yesterday with Amadeus Choir and an incredible orchestra composed of musicians of Tafelmusik, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and University of Toronto Faculty of Music ensembles, led by the fantastic Kathleen Allan.

The Call for Papers for the Music and Collective Access Symposium is till open. If you have questions, don't hesitate to send an email. Don't hesitate to share the call for papers published on various platforms including ArtsAbly's website: tinyurl.com/music-access. Deadline: December 15th, 2025.

It has been a journey! End of the term, and last teaching morning at York University. The students applauded at the end 🥰 We talked about opera. My next step will be my doctoral defence, soon to be announced (hopefully…). It was my last time at York before the defence.

I have a new book chapter out in the "Disability and Musicking" anthology edited by Leon de Bruin, Anthea Skinner and Jane Southcott, with a preface by Evelyn Glennie! 🙂 Congratulations to all the authors and to our editors. This book looks amazing! www.bloomsburycollections.com/monograph?do...

Don’t forget about our Call for Presentations. Presenting remotely is possible. We also welcome performers who want to talk about their work. Contact me or my colleagues if you have any questions. Looking forward to reading your submissions 🙂

Please share the CfP for this symposium, which will offer performances, workshops and lectures, and will provide a forum for claiming access as a collective responsibility. Details and link below. Please submit a 250-word abstract to [email protected] by Monday December 15th, 2025.

Thank you to my colleague Roman Romanov for inviting me to present ArtsAbly’s public art accessibility assessment work to his students at OCAD University. I had the pleasure of giving feedback on students’ final project presentations, with conversations about the importance of accessible designs.

The subway was empty this morning and I started my 9:30 class late to welcome people stuck in snow. Fugue, counterpoint and basso continuo on the program. Back to normal Canadian winter life on York University campus 🎶

Finally back from AMS. The plane was three hours late but nothing to do with the US situation 😅 Home sweet home (under snow)! Brrrr it’s cold!

Cool Dungeons & Dragons session organized by Open the Gates Gaming @openthegatesgaming.bsky.social in the universe of the opera “Lucia di Lammermoor” with our DisMus group @amsdismus.bsky.social. A perfect way to end a quite eventful and stressful AMS-SMT conference.

Day 3 is over. I am exhausted but happy. Our session went very well. Kudos to the Disability and Music Study Group @amsdismus.bsky.social for organizing and to my two co-presenters Elizabeth McLain and Molly Joyce. Still one more day to go. There will be gaming and opera talks!