Deborah Davis

directeur exécutif

Depuis mon arrivée à Ottawa en 1978, j’ai porté plusieurs casquettes: vérificateur opérationnel, restaurateur, auteur-compositeur, compositeur et interprète. D’une manière ou d’une autre, tout cela a abouti à la création d’un groupe de divertissement appelé Choonga Changa en 1989.

Ma grand-mère a été inspirée par la culture et les arts de son Argentine natale. Elle était passionnée par la langue, la musique, l’opéra et le piano et m’a inculqué son amour du théâtre, des arts visuels et de la garde-robe. Elle m’a emmené dans des musées et m’a dit comment et pourquoi toute culture est si importante et vitale dans la société et qu’elle doit être valorisée.

Mariée à un partenaire incroyablement solidaire et mère de deux jeunes enfants, j’ai changé de cheminement de carrière à la fin des années 80. Je suis passé de mon travail avec le gouvernement fédéral en tant que vérificateur opérationnel, et parfois à des spectacles pour un public adulte avec divers musiciens, pour devenir un artiste populaire pour enfants dans les festivals locaux pour enfants. J’ai créé les chansons et les personnages que je chanterais en tant que chanteur. J’ai commencé avec deux musiciens, pour finalement en ajouter d’autres au fur et à mesure que j’exécutais des spectacles dans de plus grandes salles à travers l’Ontario et le Québec. J’ai produit deux albums de musique pour enfants, dont le premier, Choonga Changa For All The Children, a récemment été remasterisé pour un accès en ligne. www.choongachanga.com

Choonga Changa toured and highlighted hundreds of events from the CNE in Toronto to parties hosted by Governors General and Prime Ministers and most importantly for a wide range of charitable events.

A particular Choonga Changa highlight included a performance in October 1991 as part of The Week of The Child at the Canadian Museum of Nature with a song I wrote called For All The Children. The song was translated into ten languages and performed with ten children representing each of their respective cultures and nations alongside the flag representing their country. The song was also included in a TVO documentary on children’s festivals from around the world.

I began specializing in creating unique historical and musical productions with an emphasis on multicultural, educational experiences and became more engaged as an event planner, entrepreneur, coordinator and performer. This new phase began with the critically acclaimed show What is This Thing Called Jazz? headlining the Ottawa International Jazz Festival’s first Family Day in 1994, with repeat appearances in 1995 and 1997.

In 2000, I transitioned the history of Jazz show into a new production called Satin Dolls, a show portraying the life and times of some of the greatest women of American jazz. Working with a core group of superb musicians and other performers, we expanded on the Satin Dolls show to create The Gift of Jazz: From Africa to New Orleans to the True North Strong and Free, a celebration of the profound impact of Black history and culture on music.

This broad experience of creating and performing shows about Canada and about jazz gave me ideas about creating an ambitious new show about the history of music in Canada as one of Canada’s new millennium initiatives.

In 2000, I assisted in the founding of Odyssey Showcase as a not for profit collective. It became a registered charity in 2004 with the purpose of bringing together funding and performance partners and artists from diverse communities and backgrounds to educate students and the general public about Canadian history and music.
I was the lead vocalist when Odyssey Showcase first presented Canada Roars: A Musical Taste of our Canadian Heritage/Notre patrimoine canadien, une odyssée musicale in 2000 and I continued to perform in every presentation as it became Canada’s longest running bilingual concert show.

I feel very privileged to be associated with Odyssey Showcase and everyone involved in their presentations. Together we have enabled audiences to actively learn about and recognize Canada’s diverse and exceptional figures, places and accomplishments, have enhanced knowledge and understanding of our shared history and values, and have provided opportunities for Canadians to participate in commemorative activities and celebrations.

Odyssey Showcase acknowledges that the land on which we gather in Ottawa is the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people who have lived on this land since time immemorial.

Odyssey Showcase gratefully acknowledges the support of our funding partners.

All photos by Alan Dean Photography, photolafontaine and Stephen Willcock with permission.

© Copyright 2021-Odyssey Showcase
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