Grounded in song

Nick MacDonald is a heartfelt and enthusiastic teacher and learner, sharing his love of music education and artistry with the world. He picked up the guitar when he was 10 years old and started singing in choirs when he was in high school. Growing up in New England, there were opportunities for him to participate in choral festivals and tours where he was able to sing with and learn from a variety of people. He shared stories of these formative learning experiences, including a time in France when there were some language barriers that were overcome while sharing songs with another choir. “Even in cases where there may be language barriers, music is universal. It’s not about being the best singer, it’s about connecting through song.”

Throughout his early adulthood, Nick was actively engaged in teaching music and choral directing, working with singers of all ages in public and private schools as well as community choirs and private lessons. “I am passionate about both the expressive and educational sides of music.” This dual interest serves him well in his current role as Director of Choral Music at the Confederation Centre of the Arts where he leads both youth and adult choirs. “I am keen to bring choral music to the public.” One of the ways that he has done that is having the youth choir as part of last year’s tree lighting event in Charlottetown. “We walked from Founders Hall to the tree lighting location, leading the crowd in singing familiar holiday songs along the way.”

When Nick and his family moved here in 2017, he was a student at the Culinary Institute of Canada, and he went on to work in restaurants for a few years. “I am still passionate about cooking and baking, and my wife and I are both foodies.” Though he isn’t working in restaurants now, he engages with the culinary arts in his home life to connect and find balance. “I love all aspects of food and cooking because it really engages all of the senses.”

Even in music and as a conductor, Nick approaches his practice in a holistic way, engaging all the senses by embodying the movement of sound. “I’ve learned from some of the best in the field and I enjoy practicing these approaches as a way to help my singers and myself regulate and stay grounded.” With a wide range of interests in music, Nick takes an embodied approach to both the creative and technical aspects of singing. “It’s about bringing the body into the conversation, regulating our nervous systems, and sharing our voices.” 

This embodied approach comes alongside a lifetime of interest in and connection to the natural world. We met during the in-between seasons of winter to spring and Nick commented on the seasonal and cyclical nature of his work and song. “Nature is such an incredible teacher, and those lessons always tend to make their way into my musical programming.”

This connection to nature is relational and reciprocal. “Connecting with nature is a powerful way to learn about ourselves. Our lives are reflected in the natural world and I’m passionate about fostering sustainable ecosystems, in our relationships with each other and with our planet.” Seamlessly weaving discussions about the seasons and song, Nick told countless stories of bringing people together to create the magic of music. “The options and opportunities for collaboration are endless.”

Any time I have spoken with choral music enthusiasts, there is a common thread of how important it is to share our individual voices within the collective. “Choir can be seen as a microcosm for how we build community.” There is beauty and power in the ways that a group of people can show up and support each other. “For example, memorizing can be difficult, and it becomes so much easier when we are in a group because the collective is holding us up.”

As a life-long learner, Nick excitedly shared some of the silver linings that came to be during the pandemic. During those days when we couldn’t gather, people were creating online content in ways that we didn’t see before. “So, even now, there is so much information to be found online that may not be there had it not been for the shutdowns in the early days of pandemic.”

Nick’s dedication and commitment to music education and artistry was shining through in each story he told and every example he shared. “Part of my job is to support people in understanding their voice, literally and metaphorically.” He reminded me that singing is inherent, whether we are “good” at it or not. There is healing power in music, sound, and sharing our unique expressions. “Our voice is a powerful instrument, and we always carry it with us.”