IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY
Jason Akoluk is a core member of his hamlet choir, Voices of Cambridge Bay.

Toronto-based opera instructor Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor - left with the community choir - visited Cambridge Bay Jan. 16 to 20. The group learned breathing exercises and started preparing a song for Valentine's Day. - Helen Tologanak/NNSL photo

"I haven't missed a practice," said the 34-year-old.

Akoluk and the rest of the all-ages drop-in choir, which started in the fall, welcomed a guest instructor on Jan. 19, professional opera singer and vocal instructor Gwenna Fairchild-Taylor.

At this particular Thursday night practice the group was singing Can't Help Falling In Love in preparation for Valentine's Day. Plus, the singers worked on harmony for the first time.

"After this workshop I'm going to try and improve my vocals, my singing, and practice my breathing so I can sing longer," said Akoluk.

Fairchild-Taylor has been visiting the territory for the past six years to provide music training in communities.

The Toronto-based musician was in Cambridge Bay from Jan. 16 to 20, bringing drama and vocal tutorials to youth at the schools as well as the community choir. She gave 24 workshops and met with over 250 students. The vocalist also held drop-in lessons at the library over the weekend.

Her program is funded through a grant from the GN, and the lessons are free for participants.

She started with a summer program in Iqaluit, and will be travelling to Pangnirtung in February to provide similar instruction.

The purpose of the cost-free music training is to build self esteem and artistic expression.

"The idea is to get (people) out of their shell and have them more able to communicate their ideas," said Fairchild-Taylor.

"Art is such a good conduit for building stronger community relationships and (making) social change."

She also works to provide music and acting lessons that incorporate all three official languages.

When Fairchild-Taylor arrived in Cambridge Bay, she met with a translator in the hamlet, Gwen Angulalik, to have her pieces translated into Inuinnaqtun.

"(It was) just a little song for kids to learn, so it can be understood in our dialect," said Angulalik.

She said this effort helps show children the importance of the regional dialect.

"What our parents have taught us, we teach our children as well in our dialect, so the kids do appreciate it."

Angulalik also taught Fairchild-Taylor the correct pronunciation of the Inuinnaqtun words. The singer in turn makes sure her students feel comfortable correcting her if she does get a word wrong.

Alison Corbett, who is both the director of the hamlet choir and the high school music teacher, said youth in the hamlet were enthusiastic about the opportunity.

"They were doing different things than they would do with me. I do a lot of instrumental with them, but with Gwenna they were making up songs to sing and doing different exercises."

The students will be working on a songwriting project soon, so Corbett said the workshops were a good transition into the next section of her curriculum.

"Every musician is different. The more exposure (students) can get to different kinds of musicians, the better their understanding is going to be."

Fairchild-Taylor said this is exactly why she makes an effort to provide vocal and drama training to Nunavummiut.

"The thing that keeps me coming back is offering the kids an experience they might not normally have, that they 100 per cent deserve," she said.

A drum-dancing group in the hamlet also treated the visiting musician to a display of traditional Cambridge Bay music and dance.