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Kristen Graves
Kristen Graves is a Ph.D. candidate in ethnomusicology and course instructor in the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on sound studies, everyday listening and sound-making practices, with particular attention to how these intersect with Indigeneity, human rights and acoustic ecology. Supported by the Connaught International Scholarship, Kristen’s work examines the 42-year labour history of a workers’ union in the garbage dump of Oaxaca, Mexico, exploring the community’s virtuosic sonic knowledge as it adapted across generations in response to environmental and social changes. She earned her master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies at New York University, where she investigated the impact of songwriting skills in fostering empowered self-expression among marginalized youth. An internationally touring folk singer/songwriter, Kristen has performed with iconic artists such as Pete Seeger, Harry Belafonte and Peter Yarrow, and is actively involved with Simply Smiles, a non-profit organization supporting Indigenous children and families.
Contact: Faculty of Music, University of Toronto, 80 Queens Park, Toronto, ON M5S 2C5, Canada.