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By Emily Putnam

Artist-in-Residence has closed their residency at �Ӱ�ԭ�� with two student-led performances.

Shortt is a storyteller and performing artist working across Turtle Island and internationally. They are a vocalist, saxophonist, noisemaker, improviser, composer, sound designer, video artist, curator, administrator, and producer.

Shortt has been on campus since January 2024. While here, they’ve taught a course called Music Producing 101 (MUSI 4200) and ran the Performer-Composer Lab ensemble. They also gave a masterclass, presented a concert at �Ӱ�ԭ�� Dominion-Chalmers Centre, and took part in music auditions and juries.

They say �Ӱ�ԭ��’s music program hosts a uniquely diverse range of musicians in study.

“The program here is really great because I’m meeting students from a plethora of genres. I have metal guitar players, I have singer-songwriters, I have classical musicians and jazz musicians, people who are self-taught, and people who have had lessons their whole life. I think it creates a really interesting dynamic that’s fun to work with.”

Shortt says the students they’ve worked with have been open and eager to the new challenges they’ve been assigned.

“Students here are super keen. They have been absolutely amazing to work with. I don’t think I’ve met that many people who are just happy to try things out.”

Shortt focussed on teaching students how to prepare artist bios, build their resume, and send email pitches in hopes of helping artists become more well-rounded experts of their craft.

The �Ӱ�ԭ�� Music that occurred on April 1 took place at local venue .

The showcase featured the music of ABBA, Gotye, Andrea Bocelli, and several original compositions from �Ӱ�ԭ�� music students.

The ensemble also collaborated with �Ӱ�ԭ��’s radio station where students Robyn Lichaa, Sarah Peters and Anastasia Wasylinko  and performed pieces that will be featured at the showcase.

Shortt says connections and community can be one of the keys to success.

“I think it’s the advice everyone gives, and not everyone takes — which is: ask the local artists you’re interested in for coffee, because you learn so much from these conversations. I’ve done that so many times. I still do it.”

Shortt also advises aspiring artists to refrain from being discouraged when things don’t go according to plan.

They say Ottawa’s community has welcomed them with open arms.

“I really like that Ottawa seems to have specific communities. And while maybe if you look statistically, there’s less, it’s almost like there’s more, because you’re really focusing on specific places.”

Shortt says they particularly connected with ’s work, one of Ottawa’s leading independent and underground music and arts presenters.

“I found people really want to connect with you. Even if they don’t have the time, even if time’s not available, they’re like: I’ll find time.”

Another focus of Shortt’s teaching was improvisation and interpreting music beyond traditional notation.

“I did all this training for so long, and then someone introduced me to improvisation. It really opened my eyes and reshaped how I looked at my previous training and classical music.”

“There’s now these different ideas and ways of approaching improvisation, but they all coalesce, and they all come together. I just think it’s good to make sure you’re working all the different parts of your brain. I think they all work together in the end, and I’m just hoping that I can help make people into full and complete musicians, so that they’re not just only looking at music one way.”

Shortt’s most recent artistic expression-of-choice is creating that encompass all components of their creativity.

“I really like video art because it kind of became a substitute for theatre, which I had really fallen in love with.”

The second student-led performance will be taking place on Friday, April 5 at the Kailash Mital Theatre at �Ӱ�ԭ�� University.