World Voice Day Events
April 16, 2016 is World Voice Day. More than 500 events around the world are drawing attention to the importance of the speaking and singing voice in everyday life. Two of these events will take place, back to back, on the campus of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI) in Charlottetown.
Advancing Interdisciplinary Research in Singing (AIRS) UPEI World Voice Day Celebration, 4:00 pm
The first event is a series of short talks on research on the singing voice, followed by a short concert from members of the UPEI Multicultural Choir and Song Circle. This is all under the auspices of the AIRS project, supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Dr. Annabel Cohen, professor of psychology and the director of AIRS, will give a brief overview of the scope of AIRS research which has been ongoing for seven years in PEI, across Canada, and in over a dozen countries world. Three of Dr. Cohen’s honours undergraduate students will also present. Jessica McKellar will talk on the recognition of popular music by members of three generations: university students, their parents and grandparents. Kyle Dutton and Eric DeSilva’s topic focuses on their study on a singing test (AIRS Test Battery of Singing Skills) completed by 40 UPEI student-athletes. Following these presentations, members of the AIRS Multicultural Choir and Song Circle will sing songs from Britain, Japan, China, Kenya, and Ukraine, and will lead a few traditional rounds of singing for those who would like to join in.
The event is in the SDU Main Building Faculty Lounge at 4:00 pm. A light pizza dinner will be provided to enable attendees to stay on campus and attend the second celebratory event.
Vocal Recital of Baritone Parker Clements, 7:30 pm
Parker Clements will present “Into My Own: A Senior Recital” as part of the UPEI Student Recital Series. The recital begins at 7:30 pm in the Dr. Steel Recital Hall. His program will include classics of the baritone repertoire such as Ravel’s Don Quichotte à Dulcinée, Finzi’s Let Us Garlands Bring, and Barber’s Three Songs (Op.10) on poetry by James Joyce. Works by Handel, Mahler, and Mozart will also be featured. Clements will be accompanied by Frances McBurnie on piano. Admission is free.
Parker Clements is a graduating voice major in the Bachelor of Music program at the University of Prince Edward Island. He has completed his degree under the tutelage of professor Stephen Bouey. Clements is an alumnus of the National Youth Choir of Canada (2014) and will be returning to the group for its tour of Alberta this coming May. He has performed in Mavor Moore’s “A Christmas Carol” (Confederation Centre), “Le Grand Cercle” (Festival de l’Escaouette), and the title role in Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” (UPEI Opera). Upon graduating, Clements intends to continue his vocal studies at the Master’s level in pursuit of a career in opera.
For more information, contact Annabel J. Cohen at acohen@upei.ca or phone 902-628-4325.
