Our presenters are curated for their quality, depth, integrity, and alignment with our educational purpose. Since 1982, a distinguished faculty of authors, educators, activists, artists, performers, and practitioners have shared their work at our Cortes Island campus and in Vancouver.
Ysaÿe Barnwell, PhD
Ysaÿe M. Barnwell, PhD, is a musician, arranger, singer, master teacher, member of Sweet Honey in the Rock, and one of America’s finest composers. She holds a Masters of Science degree in Speech Pathology and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Speech Pathology. Dr. Barnwell is also the recipient of many honourary degrees. Dr. Barnwell appears as a singer (and occasionally as an instrumentalist) on more than thirty recordings with Sweet Honey In The Rock, and other artists. In addition, she is highly sought after as a master teacher and choral clinician in African American cultural performance.
Her workshop “Building a Vocal Community®: Singing in the African American Tradition” has been conducted all over the United States, in Canada, Great Britain, Singapore and Australia, making her work in the field a significant source of inspiration and learning for both singers and non-singers, and a model of exceptional pedagogy for educators, cultural activists, and historians.