MEET DENISE GRANT

DENISE GRANT has earned respect and praise as a conductor and educator of great musical depth and artistic sensitivity. She has held conducting positions at Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of Toronto, and University of Regina. She earned her Ph.D. (conducting and music education) from the University of Minnesota and also holds degrees from Dalhousie University (M.Ed.) and Acadia University (B.Mus.Ed.).

During her tenure, she founded the University of Toronto and University of Regina conducting symposiums, served as co-founding editor of the Canadian Band Association journal, Canadian Winds, and premiered many new works for wind ensemble.

She advocates for the creation and performance of new music, by Canadian and women composers, in particular. She recently premiered composer Sandy Moore's song cycle, Vox Humana, at the Open Waters new music festival in Halifax and recorded the soundtrack for John Walker's award-winning documentary film, Arctic Defenders.

As an educator, Denise has served on music association boards across Canada and has guest conducted provincial honour bands both nationally and internationally, reflecting a commitment to music education and the deep-seated belief that the act of making music together creates connection and develops compassionate, critically thinking humans.