Award for Equity and Community Building presented to Schulich’s Juanita Marchand Knight, Patrick Hansen, and Opera McGill
The Schulich School of Music is pleased to announce that two of its members have been presented an Award for Equity and Community Building: Juanita Marchand Knight in the Administrative and Support Staff category and Patrick Hansen and Opera McGill in the Team category.
Juanita Marchand Knight
Being a member of the LGBTQ+ community, a person of colour, and an assigned female at birth individual working in a male-dominated field, Juanita’s personal background means that they are very attuned to the effects of exclusion. Since joining the Schulich School of Music in an administrative role in 2017, the School has taken notice of Juanita’s continuous efforts to support McGill’s equity, diversity, and inclusivity goals through their own personal experience and abilities.
Juanita is currently the only fulltime female-presenting employee in music technology at McGill University. Here, they proudly assist in creating an open space for students, assessing inclusivity of forms, investigating best practices for experimenters, and maintaining an open-door policy for students. Within the field of technology, Juanita also serves as the city lead at Lesbians Who Tech + Allies through which Juanita is able to share funding and recruiting information with McGill students.
Their efforts can be seen in both academic and performance-based ventures. Juanita sits on the Joint Board-Senate Committee on Equity’s Subcommittee on Queer People, has chaired an event at The Arts of Trans, Gender-Diverse, and Two-Spirit Lives conference, is currently participating in the planning of events for LGBTQ2I+ History Month 2019, and in partnership with the National Association of Teachers of Singing as a volunteer Events Manager and The West Island LGBTQ2+ Centre, is developing opportunities to offer trans‐inclusive singing engagements. They have also assisted students in creating the LGBTQIA+ Schulich School of Music Group.
Patrick Hansen and Opera McGill
Patrick Hansen, Director of Opera McGill and Opera Studies, and his team work hard to promote inclusivity in the male-dominated field of opera. In the team’s desire to create a massive change, Opera McGill began the 2018-19 season by hosting the first-ever Summit on Education and Artist Training titled “Opera’s Changing Worlds”. This event, co-organized by Opera.ca, Opéra de Montréal, and Musique 3 Femmes, delved into the topic of gender equity in the field via speakers such as the Dean of the Schulich School of Music Brenda Ravenscroft, stage director Aria Umezawa, librettist Margaret Chen, composer Luna Pearle Wolfe, and Opera America’s Chief Programs Officer Laura Lee Everett. This Summit also premiered five new works by female composers and librettists that were workshopped by Musique 3 Femmes artists and Opera McGill students during a week-long residency leading up to the event.
In line with promoting a more balanced gender representation, Opera McGill’s 2018-19 season ended with their production of the oldest surviving opera written by a female composer, Francesca Caccini’s “La liberazione di Ruggiero”. Having been founded over 63 years ago, this production marks Opera McGill’s first full length production of a female composer.
Additional efforts from Opera McGill include the presentation of a week-long workshops on consent in rehearsals by Aria Umezawa, as well as a more balanced representation of the team who is involved with teaching, directing, coaching, leading, mentoring, creating, and supporting students.
Join us in celebrating Juanita, Patrick, and Opera McGill’s continued efforts to advancing equity and diversity in the Schulich School of Music and McGill communities.
About the Award for Equity and Community Building
Created in 2012, the Award for Equity and Community Building is designed to recognize the work of students, faculty, and staff committed to advancing equity and diversity at McGill. Winners of the award are actively involved in promoting diversity and inclusivity within the McGill community, particularly in achievements or initiatives that have the potential for long-term impact. Learn more about the award, nomination procedures, past winners and more.