Research
At LCMC, we are committed to building connections and supporting research that strengthens participatory music in the Waterloo region, across Canada, and around the world.
Research Themes
- Music and environmental justice.
- Music in lifelong learning and wellbeing.
- Policy in participatory arts.
- Decolonial, inter-cultural, and equity-seeking approaches to participatory music practice.
- Intersections of spirituality and participatory music.
- Training community-engaged musicians for diverse contexts.
- School-community intersections.
Initiatives
Circle of Music Intergenerational Choir (2025-2026)
The Circle of Music Intergenerational Choir for those living with dementia, their partner caregiver, and teenage volunteers, with an RTOERO Foundation grant is creating a documentary film and resource enhanced website in order to share the Circle of Music story, and to provide instructional support for similar projects in other jurisdictions.
Participatory Creative Music Network (2024-2026)
A partnership between LCMC, Artenso (a Francophone research centre in Montreal), and the Canadian New Music Network, this knowledge mobilization initiative is to share competencies and knowledge of experienced community musicians with emerging musicians, and work on building a national network of CM researchers and practitioners. This project is supported in part by funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.
Grand River Black Music Festival (annual)
LCMC partnered with Kitchener Public Library to host this music festival and symposium since 2022. Guest speakers and performers have included: Haviah Mighty, Jully Black, Dr. Karen Cyrus, Dr. Cheryl Thompson, Sandra Tyler Henein, and more.