Carol Ann Weaver facts for kids
Carol Ann Weaver (born May 6, 1948) is an American-Canadian composer, pianist, and teacher. She creates beautiful music and has shared her passion for music with many students and audiences around the world.
About Carol Ann Weaver
Weaver was born in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Her family belonged to a Mennonite church. When she was very young, this church did not allow musical instruments in people's homes. Luckily, this rule changed when Carol Ann was a child. Her family quickly got a piano, and she began her musical journey.
She studied music at Indiana University in Bloomington. There, she earned three degrees in music, including a doctorate in composition (which means creating music). She also studied at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Carol Ann learned composition from famous teachers like John Eaton and Juan Orrego-Salas. She also learned to play the piano from amazing pianists like Gyorgy Sebok.
Her Career and Music
Today, Carol Ann Weaver is a Professor Emerita (a retired professor who still keeps her title) at Conrad Grebel University College/University of Waterloo. She has taught music at several universities, including Wilfrid Laurier University and Indiana University.
She created the "Sound in the Land Festival Conferences" at the University of Waterloo. These events bring together composers, performers, and music experts from all over the world. Carol Ann has also traveled internationally as a pianist with singer Rebecca Campbell. She plays keyboards in a duo called Mooncoin with mandolin player Lyle Friesen.
Awards and Special Projects
In 1966, Carol Ann Weaver won a piano competition held by the Virginia Music Teachers Society. She has performed as a solo pianist at many universities. Her music has been played on radio and TV stations in Canada, the United States, Europe, and even Korea.
Carol Ann is involved in important music organizations. She is the chair of the Association of Canadian Women Composers. She is also a member of the Canadian Music Centre and the Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN).
She has written many articles and several books about music, including:
- Departure and Return (2014)
- Sound in the Land: Essays on Mennonites and Music (2006)
- Sound in the Land: Music and the Environment (2015)
- Sound in the Lands: Mennonite Music Across Borders (2011)
Carol Ann Weaver has received support and requests to create music from many groups and organizations, such as:
- Canada Arts Council
- Laidlaw Foundation
- Manitoba Arts Council
- Ontario Arts Council
- Goshen College (Indiana)
- University of Waterloo Orchestra
One of her major compositions is Earth Peace: Missa Brevis for Peace (2016). This piece is for a soprano singer, a choir, a string quartet (four string instruments), and percussion.
Her Music Albums
Weaver has released eight music CDs. These albums feature her compositions and performances:
- Daughter of Olapa (1996)
- Journey Begun (1999)
- Dancing Rivers: From South Africa to Canada (2001)
- Awakenings (with Rebecca Campbell; 2003)
- Thistle and Jewel (2006)
- Every Three Children (2007)
- Paraguay Primeval (2012)
- Songs for My Mother (2018)
