Laurier Faculty and Alumni Shine at National Music Research Conference

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Wilfrid Laurier University was proudly represented at the 2025 MusCan Conference, hosted by Conrad Grebel University College at the University of Waterloo. This national gathering, organized by the Canadian University Music Society (MusCan), brings together music scholars, performers, and educators from across the country to share research, performances, and critical dialogue about music in Canada.

Faculty Engagement
Laurier faculty played a leading role in the conference:

• Dr. Kirsten Yri chaired the session Energy Imaginaries: Music, National Identity, and the Fossil Economy and reconnected with Laurier alumni

• Dr. Elizabeth Lepock presented her paper “No Space to Sing: A Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences of Classical Singers with Primary Muscle Tension”

• Dr. Eva Branda delivered a presentation titled “Donning the ‘Mask’ of Liszt and Wagner: Dvořák as Tragic Dramatist in the Othello Overture, Op. 93”

• Former instructor Dr. Amanda Lalonde chaired the session Madness in Music

Alumni Contributions
Several alumni from Laurier’s History, Theory, and Critical Analysis (HTCA) program also presented papers, reflecting the program’s strength in preparing students for graduate study and music scholarship:

• Daniella Kistemaker (BMus ’23)

• Rachel Avery (BMus ’11)

• Kristen Whittle (BMus ’23)

• Alexandrea Jonker (BMus ’16)

Advancing Music Scholarship in Canada
MusCan provides a national platform for dialogue, performance, and the advancement of music research. Laurier’s presence at the conference highlights the Faculty of Music’s commitment to fostering excellence in both teaching and scholarship—and the lasting impact of our alumni in shaping the future of music studies.