Learning she’d been awarded Canada’s highest honour in the performing arts elicited two extreme emotions from jazz singer and philanthropist Molly Johnson.
On one hand, she says she was “gobsmacked” and “shocked” to be among those getting a Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement.
“I went, 'Achievement? What achievement?' I'm still technically in the same spot I was in when I had a punk band called Alta Moda in the '80s,” Johnson says when reached at her home just outside Toronto ahead of the announcement. On March 8, she's set to receive another honour, when the French government will bestow her with the Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.
These days, Johnson is eager to look forward, noting the performing arts award comes as she feels “at the top of my game” and “in the best shape I've been in in decades.”“What happens with the rest of this life? What do I want to do? It definitely asked me that question.” Bell began his career as a conductor of Broadway musicals in New York and in 1980 was made apprentice conductor of the Toronto Symphony, becoming the first person of Indigenous heritage to conduct a major orchestra, according to a biography with his awards citation.
"But I always believed that it was possible. And I was willing to work incredibly hard. And I was willing to take risks by personally borrowing money to come up with these things.”
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
2023 Governor-General’s Performing Arts Awards to honour k.d. lang, Michel Marc BouchardSinger Molly Johnson and choreographer James Kudelka are also set to be honoured at Rideau Hall in the spring
Read more »
NBA All-Star Game singer changes Canada's national anthem to 'Our home ON native land'Jully Black changed the original lyrics \u0027our home and native land\u0027 in a nod to Indigenous rights
Read more »
NBA All-Star Game singer changes Canada's national anthem to 'Our home ON native land'Jully Black changed the original lyrics \u0027our home and native land\u0027 in a nod to Indigenous rights
Read more »
Integrity commissioner investigating John Tory’s “inappropriate relationship”Toronto's integrity commissioner is investigating former mayor John Tory's affair with someone who worked in his office. Commissioner Jonathan Batty says To
Read more »