معرفی
Lee Willingham is a Professor in the Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University, serving as Coordinator of Music Education, Graduate Coordinator for the MA/PhD in Community Music, and Director of the Laurier Centre for Music in the Community. He joined Laurier in September 2004 after faculty positions at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (University of Toronto, 1998-2004) and prior experience as Scarborough Board of Education's music coordinator.
His research examines music as cultural practice and social-capital catalyst, focusing on Music Education, Indigenous Music, and Community Music applications for social innovation. Current projects include the dementia-focused Circle of Song Intergenerational Choir (with graduate student Sasha Judelson) and Bridging Culture through Song and Drum Circle (with PhD student Kelly Laurila), exploring music's role in healing historical Indigenous-settler tensions and enhancing wellness through choral participation.
As an active choral conductor, he directs the Laurier Singers Chamber Choir and has guest-conducted internationally including Budapest Central Choir and Roy Thomson Hall's CISM Festival.
Awards
- Honorary Life Member, Ontario Music Educators' Association
He edited Canadian Music Education for a decade, co-edited Creativity and Music Education, and co-authored the 2017 Routledge publication Engaging in Community Music. His supervision spans community music initiatives funded by Employment and Social Development Canada, emphasizing intergenerational and cross-cultural dialogue through musical practice.
