Kim Erickson

Kim Erickson is a Continuing Lecturer in the Department of Music at Lakehead University, where she has taught voice performance, music theory, aural skills, vocal literature, opera studio, improvisation, and world music since 1991. A versatile vocalist, musician, and composer, her career spans solo performances, ensemble collaborations (Consortium Aurora Borealis, Kanteletar Chamber Choir, Canto trio), and interdisciplinary work in theatre, dance, and radio. She holds a B.Mus. First Class Honours from Carleton University and studied composition at the Instituut voor Sonologie (Utrecht) and voice with Anna Menso (Amsterdam) and the late Dixie Neill (Montreal).

• Specialized in European classical, jazz, Celtic, and Eastern traditions
• Recipient of the 2008 CJ Arts and Heritage Award for Media and Performance Art

Research and Creative Work: Erickson’s original compositions blend folk, jazz, and classical elements, often inspired by Northern Ontario’s landscapes. Her critically acclaimed album The Raven’s Wing (2015) exemplifies this fusion, incorporating symphonic textures and mezzo-soprano vocals. She has also composed soundtracks for theatre and radio, including works for CBC Vancouver and collaborations with playwright Eleanor Albanese.

Collaborations and Community Engagement: She co-founded the Broken Moons Artist Collective and directed community choirs like the Thunder Bay Women’s Choir. Erickson has performed internationally at festivals in Canada and the Netherlands, and her work intersects with social justice, arts education in schools, and Bharata Natyam classical Indian dance.

• 2008 CJ Arts and Heritage Award for Media and Performance Art

Education: B.Mus. First Class Honours from Carleton University; Netherlands Government scholarship for composition studies at Instituut voor Sonologie (Utrecht); Canada Council grant for vocal training and research in eastern European folk music.