Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Maisie Sum began at Grebel two years ago in a two-year contract and has been a vibrant addition to Grebel鈥檚 community during this time. She has connected with Grebel鈥檚 academic and residence students, with the Music Department and the College community in general, and has made significant connections to the University of 蓝莓视频. The Grebel Gamelan, under her direction, has become a cause for much excitement. She has shared it through concerts and workshops at high schools in 蓝莓视频 Region including Rockway Mennonite School, to Ontario Mennonite Music Camp, and to Rockway Mennonite Church where she attends. This winter, Maisie taught, with Reina Neufeldt, a course on Music and Peace.聽
Maisie聽was the recipient of the 2014 Jaap Kuntz Prize, one of the highest honours in ethnomusicology. The prize recognizes the most significant article in ethnomusicology written by a member of the Society for Ethnomusicology and published within the previous year. Her article was 鈥淢usic for the Unseen: Interaction between Two Realms during a Gnawa Lila鈥 published in African Music: Journal of the International Library of African Music 9.3: 151鈥182. 2013.
鈥淧rofessor Sum has been a game changer for us in developing global music at Grebel/U蓝莓视频 and in the church,鈥 explained President Huxman. 鈥淪he has also been a bridge builder for us in reaching new constituencies in the academy, the community, and in our schools around active peacemaking, global engagement and music-making, especially through the participatory gamelan 别苍蝉别尘产濒别.鈥
鈥淪um brings with her unique research gifts having won the Jaap Kunst prize for 2014,鈥 noted Dean Bechtel. 鈥淪he has created an impressive record of community engagement through Grebel鈥檚 first Music Symposium, her stewardship of the noon hour concert series, and connection to Mennonite churches鈥搃ncluding a planned trip to bring the Grebel Gamelan to Mennonite World Conference. She is a valued colleague at Grebel and we are most happy to give her this position on our team.鈥