Christine Donkin

This week on Moveable Do, Steve welcomes celebrated Canadian composer and educator Christine Donkin. Known for her striking melodic clarity and structural inventiveness, Christine’s works are performed by major ensembles around the world and are widely featured in educational syllabi. Whether she’s writing pedagogical miniatures or large-scale choral pieces, Christine brings a thoughtful and compelling voice to contemporary music.

In this episode, Christine shares her early musical memories from rural Alberta, her passion for teaching and mentorship, and her approach to creating music that bridges artistry and accessibility. We explore her exploration of retrograde and palindromes, her collaboration with Indigenous artists, and the powerful refugee narrative behind Following the Moonroad. Plus—find out which animal choir she’d love to compose for!

Pieces featured on this episode:

• Sirkel (performed by Cantus)

• The Moon is the Stone That Shines (from Following the Moonroad)

• Palindrome in A Minor (Racecar) (performed by Catherine Donkin)

• Ascending Major Sixth – Foreground-Background (performed by Catherine Donkin)

For more about Christine Donkin and her music, visit christinedonkin.com. For the full archive of Moveable Do episodes, head to MoveableDo.com.

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