Diverse As This Land - Voice Intensive Workshop

The Diverse As This Land project explores how land shapes vocal and cultural expression and will reveal the dynamic spectrum of Indigenous music today. The nature of land and the diversity within Aboriginal cultures is the inspiration behind Diverse As This Land, a seven-year musical project envisioned by Sandra Laronde, director of Aboriginal Arts at The Banff Centre.

As part of this project, The Banff Centre will offer a week-long voice intensive workshop. Participants will explore singing as physical experience, breath control capacity and resonance, understanding the vocal apparatus, care of the voice, and solo and group composition. Led by renowned Aboriginal singers, participants will receive practical hands-on development that will enhance their confidence and skills as singers.

A unique feature of this project is the opportunity for voice intensive participants to participate in the Diverse As This Land public concert series, which will feature established Indigenous singers. Participants in the voice intensive will be able to experience first-hand the power of live performance by singing as a group during the concert series. This year’s concerts will showcase the vast character of mountain songs from a diversity of Indigenous nations, representing traditional, electronic, rock, folk, and contemporary musical genres.

Enrollment is limited to 20 Aboriginal women and men (18 years and older).

Photo: Tanya Tagaq (singer), Cris Derkson (cellist), and Michael Red (DJ)
Photo credit: Laura Vanags