The Conductor's Podcast - Constructing Identity through Decolonizing Kiki with Kiernan Steiner

Constructing Identity through Decolonizing Kiki with Kiernan Steiner

01/27/22 • 38 min

In today’s episode, we will be discussing “decolonization.” One of the trends that the world of classical music is slowly embracing in recent years.

In politics, the process of decolonization can be very broad, from colonies becoming independent countries recognized by the international society to recognizing how the colonial powers have taken advantage of the colonies, to changing the language used when referring to “native” people to the “indigenous,” to colonized people regaining confidence in and respect for their own cultural and traditions. This is a long and somehow painful process, and also very individual to each country and to each person.

However, my guest today, Dr. Kiernan Steiner, or Dr. Kiki, as she is known, will focus our decolonization process on a personal level, and discuss how we can apply the same principles to free our own mind. How we can become independent from stereotypes or social rules that were imposed upon us, and to find our own voices. As a transracial adoptee, she will also speak to us how her journey of finding her biological family has shaped who she is now, a truly lovely story to hear.

Dr. Kiki Steiner is a holistic vocal coach, decolonization consultant, and choral conductor. She empowers others to connect with their voice through releasing shame around one’s voice and facilitating self-led healing. Dr. Kiki’s ancestors are from the Philippines, Ireland, and Germanic Europe, and was raised in Southwestern Wisconsin. Dr. Kiki’s doctoral research focused on power structures within choral music education, which has led her to creating decolonized virtual spaces for creatives, artists, and educators in order to activate creativity and hope for the future.

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In today’s episode, we will be discussing “decolonization.” One of the trends that the world of classical music is slowly embracing in recent years.

All About Chaowen Ting

Previous Episode

Creativity, Social Responsibility, and Artistic Entrepreneurship with Jennifer Kane

What was your COVID project and how did it turn out?
After almost 2 years, the pandemic is not yet completely behind us. It has impacted musicians in different fields differently, as many string players and percussionists are still able to perform with their masks on, while many wind players and vocalists are still battling various regulations in different states and countries how they can return to the new normality. And this is why I am really excited to welcome you to today’s episode, as my friend Jennifer Kane was able to navigate this new reality and formed a new choral ensemble in Boston, the NOVA Women's Choral Project.

I first met Jennifer through a mastermind group that my conductor friend, Tiffany Chang organizes. Tiffany has also been on our show, and her episode is still one of the most popular ones – From Fear to Courage. If you missed it, you might want to go back and check out episode number 4, or visit chaowenting.com/4.
Coming back to today’s episode, I am particularly eager to have Jennifer speak with all of you, my friends, on how she found her “niche” in a very competitive choral environment in the greater Boston area, and how she planned the entire project and found the right people on board to make the experience valuable and worthy.

Jennifer Kane is an active conductor of ensembles that specialize in treble repertoire. Her recent engagements include serving as Music Director of Cantilena Women’s Chorale in Arlington, MA, and Guest Conductor of the Concord Women’s Chorus. Jennifer is also a conductor with the Handel and Haydn Society Youth Choruses, where she directs children ranging in age from 8 -15.

For all show notes and transcripts, check out my website: chaowenting.com/podcast, and please leave a review and subscribe if you are loving the show!

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Next Episode

The Best Advice You Were Ever Given

Hi there! Welcome to the very first episode of the Conductor’s Podcast Wisdom series, a new series full of shared life experiences and, of course, wisdom!

In each of the monthly episodes of the Conductor’s Podcast Wisdom series, I am going to pose a question to 10 musicians, conductors, or business gurus. So including myself, you will hear all the goodies from a wide array of people, thus called the wisdom series. Now, without further ado, let’s get started.

The very first question I am asking my people, is “what’s the best advice you were ever given?”

For me, it was “don’t take it personal.”

My guests today are:

Lily Ling (Music Director, Hamilton - episode 21)
Jennifer Kane (Founder, NOVA Women's Choral Project - episode 16)
Ashley Killam and Carrie Blosser (Co-Founder, Diversify the Stand)
Tiffany Chang (opera and orchestra conductor, episode 4)
Kira Omelchenko (Conductor, Wilfrid Laurier University Symphony Orchestra, episode 22)
B.E. Boykin (Composer and Conductor, episode 25)
Margaret Flood (Founder, Frost Young Women Conductor Symposium
Noreen Green (Conductor, Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, episode 27), and
my dear friend Michelle Rofrano (Founder, Protrestra, episode 3)

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