TORONTO, March 3, 2011 − York University will celebrate International Women’s Day this year with a concert featuring the Aboriginal hand drumming and soulful vocals of medicine song woman Brenda MacIntyre.
A singer-songwriter, inspirational speaker and healer, MacIntyre will perform Monday, on the eve of International Women’s Day (March 8), as part of the Voices Rising spoken word and live music event.
MacIntyre, a graduate of York University, was a 2010 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee for Aboriginal songwriter of the year for her newest CD, Medicine Song. Her song Rock a Talk was on the 1992 Juno Award winning compilation CD The Gathering.
Voices Rising is a celebration of women and empowerment that focuses on how women, through their voices, can rise above barriers that can hold them back.
MacIntyre will be joined by musician Sara Marlowe, spoken word artist Lara Bozabalian, contemporary blues poet Amani (Anne-Marie Woods) and Lishai Peel, one of the founding members of Kemba Collective – a group of artists working to create safe spaces for women’s voices, stories and talents.
The Rising Voices celebration is a pay what you can event for all ages, with donations going to the Canadian Women's Foundation. The venue is accessible and ASL/English interpretation will be provided.
Several events will take place this year at York in celebration of International Women’s Day on March 8, http://www.yorku.ca/rights/iwd2011.htm
WHAT: International Women’s Day “Voices Rising” celebration at York University
WHEN: Monday, March 7, 5-8pm
WHERE: The Underground restaurant, Student Centre, Keele campus, York University
Map: Building 23 on Keele campus map http://www.yorku.ca/yorkweb/maps/keele.htm
York University is the leading interdisciplinary research and teaching university in Canada. York offers a modern, academic experience at the undergraduate and graduate level in Toronto, Canada’s most international city. The third largest university in the country, York is host to a dynamic academic community of 50,000 students and 7,000 faculty and staff, as well as 200,000 alumni worldwide. York’s 10 Faculties and 28 research centres conduct ambitious, groundbreaking research that is interdisciplinary, cutting across traditional academic boundaries. This distinctive and collaborative approach is preparing students for the future and bringing fresh insights and solutions to real-world challenges. York University is an autonomous, not-for-profit corporation.
Media Contact:
Janice Walls, Media Relations, York University, 416 736 2100 x22101 / wallsj@yorku.ca
