Toscha Turner

  With an extensive background in music, orchestral performance, and academia, I possess the skills to work very effectively on a team and independently.  I am a flexible, innovative problem solver and excellent communicator with a strong record of collaborative, pragmatic and effective leadership and decision-making.  I excel at relationship development and network building through committed personal interactions and have close contact with a broad and deep network of individuals and organizations.  I have strong administrative and project coordination abilities, and am able to develop sound proposals and strategies.    

The Local Good | Edmonton AB

2014-2015               Strategic Policy & Board Development

Collaboratively developed and refined consistent goals, objectives, mission, and vision for a community building organization; created a board and organizational structure based on resulting strategic plan

Mayor’s Taskforce on Image & Reputation | Edmonton AB

2013                        #makeityeg Event Season

Instigated, curated, and celebrated Edmontonians and the diverse projects they are making through the planning and execution a launch event, wrap event, and summer season of smaller projects that tie in with other events around the city

Edmonton on the Edge: Alley of Light Project | Edmonton AB

2012, 2013, 2014            llumiNITE

Coordinated and curated an outdoor winter light gallery event and competition; liaised with the city, local businesses, artists, designers, media, and University of Alberta Museums to showcase light on a dark winter night

2012                        Alley Art Attack

Coordinated a four-part, day-long festival that brought together lost space, community, and artists/musicians/actors/dancers/poets/film makers for a cooperative and interactive arts event; organized human resources, institutional networks, sponsorships, media, and spatial design

2012                        Alley of Light Street Arts Festival

Conceived of and executed a festival event bringing community together to create and celebrate public, site-specific art in an outdoor space; collaborated with community groups to bring together dumpster wrapping, collective mural creation, hat and tie making, ready-made tagging, a parade, and a drink & draw

2011                        Arts 4 the Alley

As part of a project to remake “lost spaces into dynamic destinations”, engaged and managed local musicians in transforming a loading dock into a concert venue

Mercury Opera | Edmonton & Calgary AB

2012                        Alley-Øop – an operascape

Coordinated an event spectacle in an alley and pedestrian street: arranged hosting with local businesses, coordinated human resources, provided artistic, technical and logistical support for performance

2011                        104 Underground Operascape                                   

Collaborated with the Artistic Director in the planning and execution of an operascape in Edmonton’s underground transit system; coordinated volunteers and a gala reception in several proximal businesses

Edmonton’s NextGen Engage/Ignite Committee | Edmonton AB

2011-2013            MEÆT: Micro-granting Together

Established and run a recurring, seasonal public dinner designed to use community-driven financial support to democratically fund new and creative community building projects

Women’s International Leadership (WIL) Program, International House | New York, NY

2007                        WIL Women’s Week

Collaborated on a week-long festival designed to create dialogue around the individual and collective roles of women throughout the world by showcasing women’s issues and talents

University of Alberta Madrigal Singers | Edmonton AB

2005                        Madrigal Singers Dinner Concert and Auction

Conceptualized and coordinated a gala event themed around the seasons, including instrumental and choral music

University of Alberta Graduate Music Students’ Association | Edmonton AB

2004                        Sessional Sessions Fundraising Concert

Identified a need to raise awareness and funds for our fledgling association; conceived of and executed a fundraising concert employing diverse musical talents of graduate students at the University of Alberta

2012-2016

Public Art Selection Committee Adjunct | Edmonton Arts Council | Edmonton AB

Projects: Beaver Hills Park Entrance, Ramble in the Bramble, Pilot Sound Fire Station, Calder Library

Serving as an Artist Representative, evaluating submissions for City of Edmonton Public Art commissions through the lenses of art criticism, and socio-economic/cultural context

2014-2015     

Executive Assistant | iHuman Youth Society | Edmonton AB

Providing operational leadership and senior level support in programmatic and administrative realms, including stewardship & fund development; community engagement; partnership development; as well as administrative oversight of program and service delivery

2011-2013

Programming Director | Edmonton on the Edge: Alley of Light | Edmonton AB

Liaising with the city and community organizations to coordinate events; managing web and social media promotion; networking with community stakeholders; helping with fund development; managing event volunteers and logistics

2011-2012     

Transitory Events Coordinator | City-Region Study Centre, University of Alberta | Edmonton AB

Linking community concerns with engaged academic research through transitory placemaking interventions; facilitating dialogue, topophelia, and collaboration through arts-based events and other knowledge sharing activities     

2011-2012     

Founding Director/Executive Advisor | Obligato Strings | Nelson BC

Strategic planning and visioning; program and curriculum development; branding and identity coordination for a community-based music conservatory      

2011-2012     

General Manager | Mercury Opera | Edmonton & Calgary AB

Coordinating event logistics and human resources for a small, international, site-specific opera company

2002-present 

Freelance Musician | American Musicians Federation, Local No. 390 | Edmonton AB

Representative Ensembles: Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Opera, Metamorphosis Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony, Mayfield Dinner Theatre, Teatro La Quindicina

2015-present

Double Bass Program Consultant | YONA-Sistema; Suzuki Charter School; Society for Talent Education | Edmonton AB

Pedagogical, philosophical, & technical advising both the acute and longitudinal development of double bass educational programming

2014, 2016

Double Bass Faculty | Alberta Suzuki Summer Institute | Edmonton AB

Providing individual & group masterclasses, based on the Suzuki Method, to double bass students and their parents; collaborating on & leading concert performances with students, parents, & faculty

2010              

Musician Collaborator | CIBC Adopt-a-Player Program, Edmonton Symphony Orchestra | Edmonton AB

Facilitating a classroom of elementary-aged students to compose and perform an original musical work

2007-2009     

Graduate Teaching Fellow | Brooklyn College, City University of New York | Brooklyn NY

Teaching undergraduate sections of Core Curriculum 1.3 – Music: Its Language, History, and Culture

2005-2007     

Co-Founder/Director/Instructor | Obligato Strings | Edmonton AB

Developing curriculum, securing funding, contracting staff and clinicians, organizing children’s camps, organizing concerts, coaching chamber music, conducting chamber orchestra, individual instruction

2003-2004     

Research Assistant/Teaching Assistant | University of Alberta | Edmonton AB

Coaching small groups, organizing performances, providing logistic leadership, delivering research & editorial support for SSHRC research on modalities of listening and urban ethos, Indian Music Ensemble, Academy Strings & University Symphony Orchestra

2002-present

Double Bass Instructor | YONA-Sistema; Suzuki Charter School; Society for Talent Education; Alberta College Conservatory of Music, MacEwan University | Edmonton AB

Providing group instruction, based on the Suzuki Method, to double bass students at the SCS (2005-2006)

Providing individualized instruction, based on the Suzuki Method, on a contractual basis to students of the STE (2003-present)

Providing individualized instruction on a contractual basis to students of the Conservatory (2002-2006)

2009 | Music of Absence/Absent Music | Welcome Sound: Audio Art in Roosevelt Homes | Roosevelt NJ

2008 | form divorced from matter | Mx3: Media x3 days, Martin E. Segal Theatre | New York NY

2008 | Edmonton’s Musical Pathways: A Study in Narrative and Emplacement | University of Alberta Thesis

2002 | Senior Undergraduate Double Bass Recital | Pollack Hall, McGill University           

2001 | Junior Undergraduate Double Bass Recital | Convocation Hall, University of Alberta

Edmonton Community Foundation Granting Programs Committee (2015-present)

Make Something Edmonton Advisory & Activation Board (2014-2016)

Mayor’s Celebration of the Arts Selection Committee (2014)

Edmonton Community Foundation Community & Social Services Advisory Sub-Committee Chair (2013-present)

Chronos Vocal Ensemble Founding Board of Directors (2013-2015)

The Local Good:  Board of Directors & Volunteer Coordinator (2013-2015)

Belgravia Community League Arts Park Chair (2013-2014)

Mayor’s Task Force on Image and Reputation Events Sub-Committee Co-Chair (2012-2013)

Mayor’s Task Force on Image and Reputation Advisory Committee (2012-2013)

Edmonton’s NextGen: Ignite Committee Co-Chair (2012-2013)

Global Visions Film Festival Board of Directors (2012-2013)

Belgravia Community League Events Committee (2012-2013)

iHuman Capital Campaign Working Group (2012)

Edmonton on the Edge: Alley of Light Project (2011-2014)

Mercury Opera: Associate Producer & Volunteer Coordinator (2011-2013)

Edmonton’s NextGen: Engage Committee (2011-2012)

CKUA Radio Network: Library Assistant (2011)

Edmonton Centre Constituency Association Executive (2004-2011)

Graduate Music Students’ Association Executive and Co-Founder (2004-2005)

Banff Festival Orchestra Principal Double Bass (2004)

Ludemus Chamber Orchestra Principal Double Bass (2002-2006)

University of Alberta Madrigal Singers Executive Committee (2002-2005)      

NUOVA Chamber Orchestras Principal Double Bass (2001-2016)

University Symphony Orchestra Principal Double Bass (1999-2001, 2002-2005)

Academy Strings Principal Double Bass (1999-2001, 2002-2005)

Canadian Chamber Orchestra Principal Double Bass (2002-2004)

McGill Symphony Orchestra Section Bass/Assistant Principal; Montreal, QC (2001-2002)

Faculty of Education Intermediate Youth Choir Assistant Conductor (2000-2001)

Faculty of Education Handbell Ringers Assistant Conductor (2000-2001)

University of Alberta Double Bass Class Assistant (2000-2001)

Edmonton Youth Orchestra Co-principal Double Bass (2000-2001)

2006-2010

Doctor of Philosophy (Ethnomusicology): ABD | Graduate Center, City University of New York

2003-2008

Master of Arts (Music and Sociology) | University of Alberta

1997-2002           

Bachelor of Arts (Honors Music) | University of Alberta

Bachelor of Music (Performance Double Bass) | University of Alberta

2014

Building for Resilience Program | iHuman Youth Society, Edmonton AB

· Principal Facilitator: Joyce Bellous, experiential education

· A four-month social/emotional skill-based experiential-learning program featuring seven competencies: Connection, Courage, Mindfulness, Empathy, Life Satisfaction, Emotional Literacy and Social Literacy

2009, 2008

Suzuki Summer Institute Pedagogical Training | University of Wisconsin, Stephens Point; University of Alberta

· Principal Teacher: Virginia Dixon, double bass pedagogy

· A set of week-long intensive, experiential-learning modules that facilitate a personal, critical development of pedagogical best practices based on the Suzuki Method; the central principal of which is to nurture loving human beings and help develop each child’s character through the study of music

2006-2007

Women’s International Leadership Program | International House, New York NY

· Principal Mentor: Pamela Palanque North, organizational development

· A practical training program designed to enhance graduate study, the eight-month program assists each international grantee in gaining a clearer vision of her own abilities, enhancing her leadership skills through mentorship, and learning how to effectively lead others, particularly in cross-cultural environments

2006

Rotary International Group Study Exchange | Canada/Netherlands

· Vocational Focus: Arts & Cultural Organizations

· A cultural and vocational exchange for young professionals between the ages of 25 and 40.  For four weeks, team members experience the host country’s institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas cross-culturally

2004

Summer Short-Term Career Development Residency | Banff Centre, Banff AB

· Principal Teachers: Edgar Meyer, double bass; Bruce Okrainec, double bass; Jens Lindeman, chamber music; Krzysztof Perderecki, orchestra

· An international two-week intensive with the aim of creating whole musicians: creative, skilled and living fully in the changing world we share, through both structured opportunities such as masterclasses, rehearsals, & formal concert productions; and rich, unstructured, environments that encourage interdisciplinary encounters and collaboration between composers, performers, scholars and practitioners

2001-2002

Canada Exchange (CANEX) Scholars Program | McGill University, Montreal QC

· Principal Teachers: Brian Robinson, double bass; Eric Chappell, double bass; Brett Molzan, chamber music; Alexis Hauser, orchestra

· A year-long exchange program for undergraduate students attending one of the Group of Ten Canadian Universities. CANEX scholars are provided the opportunity to enhance academic, professional and personal goals while gaining a wider perspective of our country by living and studying in a different part of Canada

Avenue Edmonton Magazine Top 40 Under 40 2013

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowship

CUNY Chancellor’s Fellowship            

International House Women’s International Leadership Program

Rotary Group Study Exchange Team (Canada/Holland)

Alberta Advanced Education Graduate Scholarship

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Master’s Scholarship

Walter H. Johns Graduate Fellowship

Banff Centre Summer Short-Term Career Development Residency

McGill University CANEX Exchange Program Grantee

Louise McKinney Post-Secondary Scholarship

Universiade ’83 Scholarship for Excellence in Fine Arts

University of Alberta Undergraduate Scholarship 

Beryl Barnes Memorial Undergraduate Award in Music

Margarita Heron, Pine Lake String Prize

Peace River Memorial Scholarship in Music