Jesse Stewart

Jesse Stewart is a multidisciplinary academic, composer, percussionist, and visual artist affiliated with Carleton University's School for Studies in Art and Culture. His work bridges music, improvisation, and community engagement through initiatives like "We Are All Musicians" (WAAM), which provides inclusive music opportunities for marginalized populations.

• Ph.D., M.A. (York University)
• B.A. (University of Guelph)

Stewart's research focuses on improvisation, jazz, hip hop, and adaptive music technology. He has developed systems like the Adaptive Use Musical Instrument (AUMI) and SensAble Adaptive Use Musical Instrument (SAMI) to enable music-making for people with limited mobility. His scholarly output spans journals such as American Music and Black Music Research Journal, with recent work addressing the intersection of music, health, and the pandemic.

He has received civic and artistic recognition, including the Order of Ottawa (2014) and the Ottawa Arts Council's Mid-Career Artist Award (2017). Stewart collaborates with institutions like the International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation (IICSI) and the Research and Education in Accessibility, Design, and Innovation (READi) program.

• Order of Ottawa (2014)
• Ottawa Arts Council Mid-Career Artist Award (2017)

As founder of WAAM, Stewart has conducted hundreds of workshops for diverse communities, including Indigenous youth, Deaf children, and seniors with Alzheimer's. His creative practice includes performances with artists like Pauline Oliveros and William Parker, as well as sound sculptures like The Listening Tree (2015).