Play it forward…

Michael MacDonald’s passion for music has blurred the boundaries between work and play.

MacDonald plays in local jazz band, Capcity Cohort, the Ottawa Home School Association Choir, and directs Big Soul Project – a 50-member gospel choir. He has also participated for three years as a guest choir director for the Ottawa Folk Festival.

While his engagement in the local music scene would appear to leave little room for anything else, MacDonald is also working on an MA in Ethnomusicology, in the School of Canadian Studies.

“I’m interested in the connection between music and social movements,” said MacDonald. “My research examines the model of a folk festival as a delivery system for a counter establishment ideology.” To that end, MacDonald is concentrating on the organization of the Winnipeg Folk Festival as a reaction to the Federal Government’s ‘ideas’ of citizenship.

Originally from Cape Breton, MacDonald decided to relocate to Ottawa after visiting the city while touring North America with his band. Initially, he managed the Ottawa Folklore Centre and eschewed university in favour of gaining hands-on, practical experience. A chance encounter with Elaine Keillor, distinguished research professor, School for Studies in Art and Culture, changed that.

“After meeting with her and discussing issues in Canadian Folk music research, I decided there was no one else in the country better to study with,” said MacDonald.

In 2002, MacDonald added formal research to his expanding repertoire of experience. He says the School of Canadian Studies’ interdisciplinary programs allow him to focus on Canadian folk music as an aspect of the Canadian experience. His life is just one example.