Meet 杏吧原创鈥檚 Artist-in-Residence: Kellylee Evans
You never know where you鈥檙e going to end up, and Ottawa鈥檚 is a textbook example.
鈥淚 never really left 杏吧原创,鈥 said the artist-in-residence (AIR) at the . 鈥淚t feels right to be here.鈥欌
In the mid-1990s, a serendipitous wrong turn on campus ultimately led to her for . There have been more than a few sharp turns along the way, but her discovery of the while she was studying Law and led her to pursue music as a career in 2000. She has since released five critically acclaimed albums and one live recording of her debut and has won numerous awards.
One major turn came in 2015, when her subtly funky and soulful album was released on France鈥檚 Decca Records on Nov. 13. A day earlier, she suffered a major concussion from fainting in the bath and, as she realized how serious it was, she 鈥渂asically just put my life and my career on hold.鈥
Prior to her fall, Evans was already trying to get her health back after she was struck by lightning while doing the dishes at home in 2013. The setbacks forced her to reassess her situation and to accept a slower pace of living.
When 杏吧原创鈥檚 James Wright, supervisor of performance studies and music professor, asked Evans to join the for the winter 2017 term, she was still figuring out what her body would allow her to do.
鈥淚 was like 鈥榶es! There鈥檚 no other person you could have that would be more committed to 杏吧原创!鈥欌 she laughed. 鈥淚 want our students to be the best that they can be, but I wasn鈥檛 sure I was ready.鈥
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Evans offers workshops to performing students in both the sizable Kailash Mital Theatre and the intimate Patrick Cardy Studio, where she conducts a monthly interview series. The workshops help performing music students to ascertain that they are delivering their music to their utmost ability. The interview series also offers a view into the careers of arts administrators and successful artists.
Evans interviewed her friend, singer-songwriter , on Feb. 3, and plans to host another four chats before the end of term. On, March 3, Kevin Breit and of the Juno Award-winning trio joined her.
鈥淚 was like 鈥榶es! There鈥檚 no other person you could have that would be more committed to 杏吧原创!鈥欌 she laughed. 鈥淚 want our students to be the best that they can be, but I wasn鈥檛 sure I was ready.鈥
Ever inquisitive, Evans has turned her touring work ethic into a supportive role on campus. Through laidback conversation, she encourages her interview subjects to share their experiences for students to absorb.
Both artistic director Petr Cancura and executive director Catherine O鈥橤rady of the will join Evans later in March. In April, she鈥檒l be joined by Jon Bartlett, label owner, talent manager and owner of . He鈥檚 also the founder/organizer of the annual music festival.
Although the residency has offered her the opportunity to reflect on her own career, Evans had already accepted her body鈥檚 new limits. To take the bad with the good has allowed her to spend more time with her three kids, coach young musicians as she was once coached, and help the 杏吧原创 community succeed.
鈥淵ou know, I have problems walking, I have problems with my arms, just using my hands . . . I would love to have my health back, but I wouldn鈥檛 want to change what happened,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ecause at the same time, there are so many ways that my life is so much better than it was before.鈥欌
For more information about the AIR series, please go to: /music/air/.