Team - SAFE MUSIC

Our Team

The volunteer Intergenerational National working group consists of 9 people representing provinces from coast to coast. It includes the President of Atlantic Federation of Musicians, 2 administrators (Associate Dean and Director of Postsecondary Studies of the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Executive Director of Tapestry Opera), 5 orchestra musicians (Quebec, Symphony Nova Scotia, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary), Tenured Associate Professor (UOttawa), Sessional Instructor, private teachers, and freelancers. This group meets monthly and the Co-Founder subcommittee meets weekly.

There is also a growing consultation and in kind donation list as we bring the Canada Safe Music Program to life.

Mikhailo Babiak (Quebec)

Alex Conway (Prairie Provinces)

Christine Guptill (Ontario)

Jemma Jones (Nova Scotia) Co-Founder

Gwen Klassen (Alberta) Co-Founder

Jaime Martino (Ontario)

Marlène Ngalissamy Quebec

David Owen Atlantic Provinces

David Visentin British Columbia

In addition to the above mentioned roles of the Intergenerational National Working Group,
the members also have leadership roles in the following organizations

Founders

Sistema Toronto
Xenia Concert Series Toronto
Co-Founder Manitoba Flute Association
Pender Island Flute Retreat
Boreas String Quartet
Mondetta Ensemble
Atlantic String Quartet
FestivalArtSpring
Co-Founder Mental Performance in the Arts Canada
Founding Member Performing Arts Medicine Clinic (Alberta)
Wellness and Leadership Inc
Co-Founder of the Aha Dance Collective

Degrees

PhD Law
PhD Rehabilitation Sciences
DMA Music
Masters degrees (7)
Alexander Technique (Vice President of Alexander Technique Canada)
Life Coach certification

Committees

Orchestra Committee Chairs (2)
Negotiating Committee (2)
OCSM Vice-president
Founding member of orchestra Health & Wellness, Anti-Racist, EDI committees
Members of Changing the Culture group (2)
Member of the 2019 Opera America Leadership Cohort
Vice-Chair of Research for the Performing Arts Medicine Association
Health Advisory Team for National Youth Orchestra

Awards (non music)

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal recipient
Co-recipient of the Nada Ristich Change Makers Ruby Award in 2023
Jini Stolk Creative Fellow for 2024-2026
2020 Toronto Arts Council Leaders Lab Fellow
Rainbow Warrior Award for "outstanding support for international LGBT solidarity and LGBT culture" as awarded by the International Lesbian and Gay Culture Network

Executive Directors/Directors

New England Chamber Players
Former Director of Operations for Pride Toronto
Co-Director Canadian Network for Musicians Health and Wellness
Director Wellness and Leadership Inc

Teachers

Faculty at National Youth Orchestra of Canada,
Faculty at Pender Island Flute Retreat
Former Dean and Associate Dean of The Glenn Gould School and Young Artists Performance Academy of The Royal Conservatory of Music
Status Appointment at University of Toronto's Music Health Research Collaboratory, Adjunct Appointment Faculty in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences @ University of Alberta

Other

Front line supervisor of the emergency department of Boston Children's Hospital
Producer of 16 world premier operas

The Intergenerational Safe Music Volunteer Working Group is committed to building and supporting sustainable, sectoral, and systemic change within Canadian society so that all learners, teachers, and performers of music are free from abuse, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

We are active performing musicians in Canadian orchestras, arts administrators, union representatives, private teachers, and professors and instructors at Universities and Conservatories across the country.

We are advocates and visionaries who, over our careers, have built many successful grassroots programs, arts-focused charities, chamber music festivals, workshops and special events, and are recognized and respected leaders in the emerging field of Musician Wellness research.

We have witnessed and experienced first-hand the ongoing impact of conflict and abuse surrounding these issues. We are committed to cultivating the changes necessary to make our learning and work spaces safe.