INTERVIEW | Diving Into Song to the Whales/Chant de la baleine With Composer Corrina ...

This interview by Anya Wassenberg explores the international multidisciplinary project "Song to the Whales/Chant de la baleine," featuring Indigenous and non-Indigenous artists from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The project combines traditional Māori, Aboriginal, and Inuit songs with contemporary music to raise awareness about whale and marine ecosystem protection. Led by Australian composer Corrina Bonshek and Canadian Katia Makdissi-Warren, the collaboration brings together diverse artists including Inuit throat singers, Aboriginal storyteller Uncle Bunna Lawrie, and musicians from various cultural backgrounds. The initiative blends concerts, workshops, and educational activities to create multiple entry points for audiences to engage with ocean conservation messaging.

• Features traditional Indigenous songs alongside contemporary musical arrangements from jazz, classical, and world music traditions
• Combines artistic performance with environmental activism through concerts, workshops, and storytelling sessions
• Tours internationally with stops in Montreal, Toronto, New York City, and Australia throughout 2025
• Emphasizes the symbolic power of whales in Indigenous cultures while addressing urgent marine conservation needs