Releasing the Trauma Effects of War: Healing through the Integration of Music with Therapeutic Approaches to Trauma Recovery

This is an integrated presentation on how music and performance can contextualize injury and recovery from war related trauma among veterans and their families. This will be demonstrated through a performance developed and directed by Nancy Hermiston including music students and veteran students performing the well-known "Sleep" Chorus from Silent Night, an opera depicting the famous Christmas truce of World War I, a moment when arms were laid down, voices came together in song and, for a short time, humanity returned to the earth. 

Nancy Hermiston is the Chair of the Voice and Opera Divisions of UBC's School of Music, as well as the Director of the UBC Opera Ensemble. She will be accompanied by series presenter Richard Vedan and series convener Marv Westwood.