“I got a residency in a theatre and I got to workshop my Opera with a cellist, a pianist, a soprano and a Tenor for 2 days.

Thank you for this great opportunity. Without the BSLA, I couldn’t have financed this workshop and pay all the beautiful people that brought my music to life, or the people that mentored me.

Workshopping my Opera, has given me the drive to continue.”

Ghislaine Doté

Bio: A multidisciplinary performer, known for her warm stage presence, Ghislaine Doté started her artistic career as a dancer and choreographer in Montreal, where she danced for various companies, namely Van Grimde Corps Secret, Flak and more importantly Sinha Danse, a company she remained with for 9 years. Within her dance company, Ghislaine would both choreograph and compose the score of her works ( L’âmentation, Mâle de Femme, Performance, Merry age, Skinbox).

In 2008, Ghislaine was cast as a dancer in Berger-Plamondon’s acclaimed Rock Opera, STARMANIA, and she fell in love with singing. After moving to Vancouver, she started training in classical singing with the VSO School of Music. She also completed an advanced Musical theatre course at the Associated studios (London, UK). More recently, thanks to grants from the BC Arts Council, the Canada Arts Council , the Seara Fund and the Bill Millerd Artist fund(Arts Club), Ghislaine has been training with Dramatic Soprano Vera Wenkert (Stimmkunst International Institute, Zurich).

  • While in Vancouver, Ghislaine rekindled her love for la chanson française, and decided to introduce Beautiful British Columbia to the beauty and poetry of French melodies. As a lead singer for the trio Stranger Brew, Ghislaine made her debuts in French music Festivals Pacifique en Chanson and Chant Ouest. This led to the creation of her first solo EP, O Soleil, thanks to a grant from the Canada Arts Council. This year, she received a grant from Music BC for the recording of a french single. In Vancouver, Ghislaine performed in Several musicals: Fame (Crebber-Lindjberg), The Sound Of Music ( Arts Club 2019-2022 productions), Da Kink in My hair (Arts Club 2022). She fell in love with theatre, while playing Lady Ann in Camyar Chai’s adaptation of Richard III for Seven Tyrants Theatre « Richard and his Women ». She has since worked with different theatre companies: Persephone productions ( Remarkable voices), Marie Farsi ( Prometheus), Théâtre La Seizième in (Nos repaires), Kleine Company ( La Petite Sirene), Instant Theatre/Geekenders ( Slumber here). Ghislaine’s love for Music and Theatre inspired the creation of L’École Buissonnière (Skipping School), a theatrical rendition of French songs that was selected to be part of BC’s 2023 Pacific showcase. Ghislaine is thrilled to start working on her first Opera, thanks to support of the Black Shoulder Legacy Award.

Photos by Gaetan Nerincx.

What piece of art, by a Black artist, inspires you?

Recently, I've been inspired by Lauren Hill's first solo album The miseducation of Lauren Hill. I consider it a masterpiece of music, lyrics, arrangements, poetry... with a very authentic feel.

What does it mean for you to receive this award?

Recently, I played the role of Florence Price, one of the first african American women composer. I didn't know who she was before the play. After reading her story, I didn’t want to take this award for granted. I don't have to battle overt racism, segregation, lynching,(etc..)as Florence Price did. So I feel the responsibility to make the best of this opportunity, to make great music, to joyfully delve into the creation process! So. what this award means: an opportunity to do great work and a reminder of whose shoulders we stand on.