OTTAWA—The Music Alive Program: Nunavut, a National Arts Centre program dedicated to supporting the incredible musical culture of Nunavut, is bringing Nelson Tagoona, a Baker Lake, Nunavut throat boxer, and Aaron “Godson” Hernandez of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories to Kugluktuk, Nunavut to work with students and perform a community concert.

Nelson Tagoona is an artist who has pioneered “throat boxing” – a unique blend of throat-singing and beat boxing, and his groove-driven music is infused with a positive message.

Godson’s infectious beats and magnetic personality make him an irresistible performer; the hip-hop artist has also appeared on CBC Television’s Dragon’s Den. Both artists electrified audiences at the NAC’s Northern Scene festival in April and May 2013.

Nelson Tagoona will do hip-hop workshops with students at Kugluktuk High School from January 20-24. Godson will give a workshop on how to make a hip-hop video on January 23. That night, both artists will perform in a concert for the community.

MEDIA INFORMATION:

WHAT: Hip-hop workshops with Nelson Tagoona and Aaron “Godson” Hernandez

WHERE: Kugluktuk High School, Kugluktuk, Nunavut

WHEN:
Nelson Tagoona Workshops: January 20-24, 9 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
Godson workshop: January 23, 9 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Community Concert: January 23, 7 p.m., JHI School (Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik)

“I am really looking forward to seeing Kugluktuk, working with the youth who live there, and exploring their creativity with them,” said Godson. “The community concert is going to be a blast too!”  

The workshops are made possible by Toronto philanthropists and Honorary Patrons Janice O’Born, a member of the National Arts Centre Foundation Board and Chair of The Printing House Charitable Office, and Earle O’Born, Chairman of The Printing House.

“The National Arts Centre’s Music Alive Program: Nunavut is doing a wonderful job of reaching out to parts of Canada that are under-served by local or regional arts organizations,” said Ms. O’Born. “I believe strongly in the power of music to help develop creativity, as well as music’s great power to help build strong communities.”

ABOUT THE MUSIC ALIVE PROGRAM: NUNAVUT

Created by the National Arts Centre, the Music Alive Program: Nunavut was designed in consultation with local educators and community leaders and is supported by the Government of Nunavut and Travel Partner First Air. The program was founded to enhance music education in remote communities across Canada, and has five goals:

• Music education for children and youth
• Music making in the community
• Building capacity among educators and teaching musicians
• Preserving and celebrating local culture
• Showcasing Northern artists

The program sends northern and southern teaching musicians to work with children and young people in Iqaluit, Igloolik, Rankin Inlet, Pangnirtung and Kugluktuk. New this year: in 2014, Cape Dorset and Baker Lake will also become Music Alive Program: Nunavut communities.

The program also includes:

• the donation of instruments to northern communities;
• community concerts that showcase northern musicians and celebrate Inuit music;
• music workshops for teachers-in-training;
• the funding of summer music camps for children;
•  leadership summits to help young leaders encourage more music-making in their communities;
• and the teaching of Iqaluit students by musicians of the National Arts Centre Orchestra through broadband videoconference technology.

UPCOMING MUSIC ALIVE PROGRAM: NUNVAUT HIGHLIGHTS IN 2014

PANGNIRTUNG

February 10: vocal workshops with Lori Dolloff, a University of Toronto choral music specialist and professor of music who has worked extensively with school and community choirs in Iqaluit over the past few years.

RANKIN INLET

February 17–21, Kivalliq Regional Teachers’ Conference: workshops on music in the elementary school classroom, and the use of Inuktitut song as a tool to develop Inuktitut literacy with Lori Dolloff and Raigelee Alorut, a University of Toronto instructor who specializes in the Inuktitut language, with a background in Inuktitut song.

CAPE DORSET

In January, the Music Alive Program: Nunavut partnered with Peter Pitseolak School to purchase a Tascam Portastudio (sound recorder and mixer) for the school. This piece of equipment will be used in the sound tech workshop the Music Alive Program: Nunavut is presenting in Cape Dorset for teachers, community members, and senior students, February 17–21. The workshop leader will be Nunavut music producer Cory Buott of Enoogoo Records in Grise Fiorde.

BAKER LAKE

February 24–28: teaching visit from Inuit drummer and drum-builder David Serkoak, presented by the Music Alive Program: Nunavut, in partnership with the Hamlet of Baker Lake. David Serkoak was also a wonderful performer at the NAC’s Northern Scene festival.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The Music Alive Program: Nunavut is made possible through the generous support of Honorary Patrons Janice and Earle O’Born. Major Supporters are Travel Partner First Air and the Government of Nunavut.

 

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