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!

Day 2 is a wrap! There were many great papers about disability-related topics today, from historical explorations of disability in early music in Europe to archival recordings in schools for the Deaf, analysis of compositions in movies featuring disabled characters, and a Braille Music workshop.

Day 1 complete! Nice to see friends and colleagues. Saw some very good presentations already. Also, great feeling when someone saw my name tag and told me she put one of my articles about disability and music on her reference list for the class she teaches and students love it 😊

Just a few days before flying to Minneapolis for the American Musicological Society conference to talk about ArtsAbly, Disability Culture and Disability Activism. My session is scheduled on Saturday, November 8 at 12:30 pm, organized by the Music and Disability Study Group @amsdismus.bsky.social.

I love it when students enjoy the curriculum 🙂 This morning I was talking about Ground Bass during my tutorial, illustrating the topic with the famous Canon in D by Pachelbel, when a student asked me if he could play along. He treated us with a mini concert. I cherish these moments.

My first ever pull-out kitchen shelves! I wanted to purchase this for many years. I can now store kitchen ustensiles in this unreachable closet from a sitting position. Happy me! I am really grateful to the friend who spent a few hours sweating to install it 🥰

One of my favourite moments as a Teaching Assistant at York University is leading the organ and harpsichord discovery workshop, with the help of Anindyo Das who presented and played both instruments. It was the last time I did it since I am almost done with my PhD. 🎶

Tomorrow I will present my adapted vocal pedagogy research at the UCLA Conference on Trauma and Disability in the Arts, and discuss the topic with colleagues during the Vocal Pedagogy panel. Join us on Friday, Oct 17, at 5:30 pm EST. More info and livestream link: www.dianekolin.com/event/theori...

Congratulations to The Disability Collective for the 2025 DisCover conference! Two days of conversations about arts and disability, all the arts trade were represented. Each presentation and panel brought artists of the disability and Deaf community to discuss these important topics together.

Great concert in perspective! I will sing “Vertigo” with Amadeus Choir on Saturday, November 1, 2025 @ 7:30pm at The Playground (388 Carlaw Ave, Toronto) Book your single tickets or season subscription on amadeuschoir.com/events/ and get a 10% discount with code ALTO2.

ArtsAbly’s Monday Highlights: You have heard their stories in the past episodes of "ArtsAbly in Conversation," but what are they doing now? This week, we share A. Laura Brody’s activities with Opulent Mobility.

Singing at Roy Thomson Hall @roythomsonhall.bsky.social in Toronto tonight with Amadeus Choir. Also, advocating for a better accessibility of the choir loft! 👩‍🦽 "Music at the Movies: A Tribute to John Williams" starts at 8 PM. Please come and say hi! roythomsonhall.mhrth.com/tickets/musi...

Events like orchestral concerts are often difficult for low-vision attendees, but not at this show. It was “audio described” and included a pre-concert tactile tour facilitated by team members from the Auckland-based company Audio Described Aotearoa. www.waikatotimes.co.nz/nz-news/3606...

ArtsAbly’s Monday Highlights: This week, we share Dr. Stefan Sunandan Honisch’s interview by Salli Carter in The Educator Experiences podcast. At its heart, this conversation asks educators to reflect on how we can change so that inclusivity isn’t an afterthought, but the foundation.

Public art in the city is important access and accessibility are rarely considered for public installations. One of ArtsAbly's tasks is to work with organizations and partners to ensure art becomes accessible to all. What is your accessibility experience of public art installation in your city?

Issues raised from the 2024 concerts included not being able to see the stage, a lack of accessible toilets and cobbles and cables in the accessibility lane. Cuffe & Taylor said it wants to "improve facilities for customers with accessible requirements". www.bbc.com/news/article...

Despite its reputation for innovation, the performing arts industry is overlooking a critical form of talent: artists and professionals with accessibility needs. This article explores the barriers they face and the solutions they utilize. www.forbes.com/sites/billsc...

Disability Arts Online (DAO) has unveiled dis_place, a pioneering digital gallery that breaks new ground in accessible exhibition-making. The platform reimagines how art can be experienced online prioritising accessibility. The article is available here: criplife.co.uk/disability-a...

Thank you Dame Evelyn Glennie ❤️ Why image description is important. youtu.be/-hh9OpEdeRE?...