Teaching
MEGHAN GILHESPY
meghangilhespy@gmail.com // meghangilhespy.com
PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS
2021-2022 Assistant Professor, Music, St. Francis Xavier University
(Limited Term Appointment)
DEGREES
2018-present DMA, University of Toronto (ABD)
Dissertation: “The Cultural Politics of Free Jazz Voice”
Advisor: Dr. Jeff Packman
Areas of Specialization: Extended Vocal Technique, Free Jazz, Experimentalism, Gender Theory, Critical Race Theory
2016-2018 MMus, Jazz performance, University of Toronto
2011-2016 BMus. Capilano University
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
COURSES TAUGHT
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
MUSC2018: The Road to Rock ‘n’ Roll: Popular Music Before 1960 (F23)
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER UNIVERSITY
WMGS/MUSI 312: Women in Popular Music (F21, W23)
MUSI 117: History of Popular Music (F22)
MUSI 265: Jazz Styles & Literature (W22)
MUSI 106-406: Vocal Jazz Choir (F21, W22)
MUSI 190-490: Applied Study (F21, W22)
NOVA SCOTIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Applied Study (F22, W23)
Jazz Choir (F22, W23)
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
MUS348: Improvisation (W21)
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
Small Jazz Ensemble, TA (F18-W21)
Song writing, TA (W19)
Jazz Ear training, TA (F17-W20)
Jazz History, TA (F17-W18)
OTHER TEACHING
Ensemble Leadership
2018 Toronto All-Star Big Band Assistant Director
Community ensemble made up of young adults. Duties included leading the big band, sub band, and led all trombone sectionals, and saxophone sectionals.
2017-2018 Hart House Small Jazz Ensemble Director and Member of Executive Board
Private Instruction
2018 Voice and Piano Instructor at the Annex Academy of Music
2015-2018 Voice and Piano Instructor at Private School
THESIS SUPERVISION
2022 Paulina Hernandez Sanchez: “Sit Like a Lady, Play Like a Man: The Evolution of Jazz Women Pianists.”
2022 Adrienne Munroe: “The Evolution of Vocal Improvisational Trends In Jazz from 1926 to Present: An Annotated Discography.”
2022 Judy Zhu: “An Analysis of Jazz Vocalists’ Improvisational Style and Techniques.”
RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS
2020 “Saving the Arts in Canada”, Under the direction of the Right Honorable Nathalie Des Rosiers through Massey College.
This project investigated the history of cultural policy in Canada, as well as creative funding solutions for the artistic sphere. My research focused on French language preservation, as well as Indigenous culture preservation and renewal.
GUEST LECTURES
2023 “A Threatening Vocal Timbre: Jazz Singing in the Civil Rights Movement.” Special Topic: Fan Cultures and Identities (Morgan Bimm, St. Francis Xavier University)
2021 “Improvisation and Anthony Braxton’s Language Types.” University of Victoria Jazz Ensemble (Patrick Boyle, University of Victoria)
2021 “The Cultural Politics of Jazz Voice.” Ear Training (Andrew Downing, University of Toronto)
2020 “Voice as Culturally Produced Phenomenon: Modern Jazz Singing.” Ear Training (Andrew Downing, University of Toronto)
2020 “Song Writing Using Jazz Chords.” Song Writing (Christos Hatzis, University of Toronto)
2018 “Under-recognized Voices in Jazz: M-Base, Leon Thomas, and Terri Lyne Carrington.” Jazz History (Chase Sanborn, University of Toronto)
2017 “Understanding Intersectionality in Jazz: The Mosaic Project and We Insist!.” Jazz History (Chase Sanborn, University of Toronto)
SELECTED FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS
2022 British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship (Doctoral) $6,000
2020 Boyanna Toyich Leadership in Music Scholarship $300
2020 British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship (Doctoral) $6,000
2020 Massey College Fellowship $5,000
2019 Massey College Fellowship $5,000
2019 British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship (Doctoral) $6,000
2018 Massey College Fellowship $5,000
2018 British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship $6,000
2018 University of Toronto Fellowship $6,000
2018 Mary Alice Stuart Jazz Scholarship $3,950
2018 Catherall Travel Bursary (Study in Europe) $1,000
2017 British Columbia Arts Council Scholarship $4,000
2016 University of Toronto Scholarship (Masters) $2,000
2014 Capilano University Scholarship $1,000
2014 Dee Daniels Vocal Award $2,000
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
2023 “Extended Vocal Techniques in Free Jazz.” Graduate Music Conference. Virtual. March 17-19.
2023 “The Cultural Politics of Experimental Jazz Singing.” as part of Voices in Motion. York Graduate Music Students Colloquium: Voices in Motion. York University, Toronto. March 24-26.
2017 “Expression Through Improvisation: A Multidisciplinary Exploration.” Multi-Disciplinary Creative Conference. University of Toronto, Toronto. September 24-26.
PUBLICATIONS
Gilhespy, Meghan. 2021. “RIPM Jazz (Database)”. CAML Review / Revue De l’ACBM 49 (1). https://doi.org/10.25071/1708-6701.40399.
Gilhespy, Meghan. 2021. “Understory: Exploring the Roots of Artistic Interdependence”. WholeNote Magazine. https://www.thewholenote.com/index.php/newsroom/blog/general-music/31172-understory-exploring-the-roots-of-artistic-interdependence
Gilhespy, Meghan. 2021. “From Move to Checkmate”. WholeNote Magazine. https://www.thewholenote.com/index.php/newsroom/beatcolumns-sp-2121861476/choral-jazznotes/31152-from-move-one-to-checkmate
Gilhespy, Meghan. 2021. “Music and the Movies: Fire Music”. WholeNote Magazine. https://www.thewholenote.com/index.php/newsroom/blog/music-and-the-movies/31319-music-and-the-movies-fire-music
Gilhespy, Meghan. 2020. “The Oud & The Fuzz: Community Building in Challenging Times”. WholeNote Magazine. thewholenote.com/index.php/newsroom/blog/general-music/30561-the-oud-the-fuzz-community-building-in-challenging-times
RECORDING CREDITS
2023 Criceto, forthcoming
Duo album recorded in November 2019 with guitarist Patrick O’Reilly featuring my compositions
2018-2019 Studio Vocalist for three Netflix contracts
In the Tall Grass (2019), and forthcoming
2016 Vive Le Tour, Self-published
SERVICE ACTIVITIES
2020-2021 University of Toronto Jazz AREDI (Anti-Racism, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) committee
2019-2021 Jazz Representative in the Music Graduate Students Association at U of T
2018-2021 Student Advisory Council Chair, Jazz Department at U of T
2018-2021 Chair for the Multidisciplinary Creative Conference
PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Selected Performances - Personal Projects
2023 Improviser for Joe Sorbara’s Temporary Ensembles presented by SuddenlyLISTEN Halifax
2022 Performed in the Halifax Winter Jazz Festival
2021 Faculty Recital at St. Fx University
2020 Featured vocalist for the City of Toronto’s Jane’s Walk Festival
2020 Featured artist for Massey College’s LGBTQ2S+ Pride High Table
2019 Performed in the TD Vancouver Jazz Festival
2019 Feature artist for Massey College’s International Women’s Day
High Table
2017 Featured vocalist in Toronto Mayor’s “Evening for the Arts” Broadcast on OMNI TV
2016 TD Vancouver Jazz Festival with the Meghan Gilhespy Trio, 2016
Selected Performances - Ensemble Work
2022 Backing ensemble for Tanya Tagaq in Ever Deadly (2022) with the National Film Board of Canada
2018 Featured vocalist for Netflix film In the Tall Grass, by Stephen King
2019 Featured artist with Andrew Rathbun and Tim Hagans with the University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra
2018 Vocalist with Yoko Ono’s Riverbed Exhibit
2017 Performed at Roy Thompson Hall with the Element Choir as part of the New Creations Festival
2012 Invited soloist at Rocky Mountain Festival, Banff with Canadian Vocal Jazz Ensemble NiteCap
Tours (Personal Projects)
2018-2019 Performed in Trieste, Italy
2018 Ontario tour with jazz guitarist David Blake
2016 British Columbia tour to promote my album Vive Le Tour
Tours (Ensemble Work)
2017 Tours, recordings, and selected dates with Toronto-based jazz ensemble Adolescence
2017 Tours, recordings, and selected dates with Montreal-based jazz ensemble Massive Gravity
VOCAL STUDY
Non-university affiliated
2018 Annete Von Eichel, Cologne Conservatory
2017+2018 Theo Bleckmann, New York
2015 Jay Clayton, New York
2010 Melanie Adams, Vancouver
University affiliated
2020 Nick Fraser, University of Toronto (DMA)
2017-2020 Geoff Young, University of Toronto (MMus+DMA)
2018 Andrew Downing, University of Toronto (DMA) (Composition/Arranging)
2016-2017 Dave Leibman, Univeristy of Toronto (MMus) (Improvisation)
2016-2017 Christine Duncan, University of Toronto (MMus)
2013-2016 Mary-Jo Bischoff, Capilano University (BMus)
2012-2013 Darren Radke, Capilano University, (BMus)
2011-2012 Kate Hammet-Vaughan, Capilano University (BMus)
INTERVIEWS/PRESS
2020 WholeNote Magazine, “Social Distancing While Staying in Touch” https://www.thewholenote.com/index.php/newsroom/beatcolumns-sp-2121861476/mainly-clubs-mostly-jazz/29951-social-distancing-while-staying-in-touch
2019 Jazz.Fm Online Interview, “U of T’s Meghan Gilhespy is Empowering Girls to Study Jazz” https://jazz.fm/meghan-gilhespy-empowering-women-and-girls-to-study-jazz/
2019 Jazz.Fm Radio Interview, Discussion of U of T outreach program
2017 Jazz.Fm Radio Interview
2016 CBC Radio Interview, Album promotion for Vive Le Tour