“A song can hold you up when there seems to be no ground beneath you.” – Melanie DeMore
We are overjoyed to welcome back internationally renowned Vocal Activist, Composer, and Community Song-Leader Melanie DeMore this fall for a full-weekend workshop in Toronto. Weaving the fibers of African-American folk music with songs for social justice and activism, Melanie will lead our community on a two-day journey of singing together in the oral tradition. All that is required is a willingness to sing.
Melanie DeMore is one of the most outstanding vocal activists and community song-leaders of today, inspiring and uplifting people around the world. She has a career spanning 40 years dedicated to teaching, mentoring, conducting, directing and inspiring children and adults about the power of song as social and political change.
Melanie is an adjunct faculty at the California Institute for Integral Studies, lead teaching artist for CalPerformances at UC Berkeley, a featured presenter for SpeakOut! The Institute for Social and Cultural Change, and the Artistic Conductor of The Oakland Children’s Community Choir. She is currently a Mentor-Conductor for the Jerusalem Youth Chorus, an inspiring initiative that empowers Israeli and Palestinian youth to sing together for peace, justice, inclusion, and equality.
For Melanie, nothing is closer to her heart than bringing people together to experience the healing power of music. Whether she’s performing solo, leading stick pounding workshops, doing residencies with choirs all over the world, or teaching Sound Awareness to sixth graders, baby boomers, or senior citizens, one thing is certain: her mission is to make sure you unlock the key to experiencing yourself in all your Glory, and return home with the very same excitement and passion for living that she herself has. When she comes your way, her energy will charge the very air you breathe like a meteor shower, so get ready to rise up!
Melanie has received three Grammy nominations, and was a founding member of the Grammy nominated Linda Tillery and the Cultural Heritage Choir. She has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with such varied artists as Odetta, Richey Havens, Pete Seeger, the Trinity Choir, MUSE Cincinatti Women’s Chorus and many others.
This workshop will take place over 2 days:
Saturday, November 9th: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, November 10th: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Doors open 9:30 am
Registration for this workshop will open in May 2024.
We strive to make our events accessible to all. We have scholarships and volunteer positions available for this event. Please contact Annie to learn more, at: annie@singforjoy.ca.
Please note that tickets are non-refundable. Sing for Joy wishes to be of service to the community, and in order to host special guests it is important for us to know in advance how many people will be joining us.