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Beverlie Robertson
GUITAR
AUTOHARP, BANJO, BANJO-UKULELE-BANJO-UKULELE, DULCIMER, GUITAR-ACOUSTIC, GUITAR-SPANISH GUITAR, GUITAR-TWELVE STRING, PERCUSSION-NOVELTY, PIANO-ACOUSTIC, PIANO-CLASSICAL, UKULELE, VOCALIST-CONTRALTO, VOCALIST-FOLKSINGER, VOCALIST-SINGALONG
Home Address: Private
Business Address: Private
Full Name:Beverlie Robertson
Professional Name:
Personal Email: Private
Business Email: Private
Home Phone: (705)765-0340
Mobile Phone: Private
Work/Management Phone: Private
Web Site:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/beverlie.robertson/
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Youtube Channel:
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Biography:

Canadian Folk Singer, Musician, Folklorist

“…rich, musical experience…” Waterloo Chronicle
“…her anecdotes as much as her music charmed the audience…” Robert Reid, The Record
“…original, entertaining and a high degree of skill…” John Kraglund, The Globe & Mail

Beverlie Robertson has an interesting musical and academic background. She has a BA in Modern Languages from the University of Toronto and studied music at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, the University of Toronto and Conrad Grebel College at the University of Waterloo. Her teachers were Godfrey Ridout, John Beckwith, Louise Tandy Murch and Robert Gill (Hart House Theatre). She continued graduate studies at McGill University, Montréal.

She has been performing professionally for many years, accompanying her songs on 6 and 12-string guitars, dulcimer, autoharp and percussion. As one of the folk trio The Chanteclairs, a group with a Canadian & international repertoire, she traveled extensively in North America, Europe and the UK. Thanks to her studies and travel, she sings in 8 languages. The Chanteclairs were a major influence on Canadian folk music during the sixties. She performs on radio and television networks in North America and the UK, in venues from the CNE Grandstand and Roy Thomson Hall to intimate coffee houses, universities and at folk festivals. She also performs and lectures at universities through Canadian Studies, Music, English and Modern Languages Depts. A pioneer in folk music in education, she has a great passion for bringing music to school children. Among her most popular workshops are: A Canadian Woman’s Life; The Blues – from Northwest Africa to the US; Growing Up Canadian; Poetry that Sings, Novels that Rhyme…the traditional ballad; as well as professional development workshops for teachers. She has recently developed a songwriting program that integrates music, poetry, rhythm and current events for elementary school students. This program is presented in conjunction with curriculum needs. She sings Canadian folk songs in French and English on many aspects of Canadian life. She has served on the Artistic Advisory Committee of the Mariposa Folk Festival, the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival/Muskoka Chautauqua and other organizations. She performed with Mariposa-In-The-Schools for many years, is a founding member of Kaleidoscope in the Schools in Muskoka and is a director on the Board of the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival/Muskoka Chautauqua. She is included in the International Who’s Who in Music.

Music Career Highlights:

With Knowing Eyes; Canadian Women in Song with research notes by the late Edith Fowke, illustrations by Elizabeth Hoey (illustrator of 4 Folk Songs of Canada books by Edith Fowke), cover art and graphics by Barbara Fauth. Published by Brandy Creek Music and Publications. Printed by Pandora Press.

Panelist & singer, Ontario Council of Folk Festivals conference, Ottawa, 2006. Discussed & performed songs from With Knowing Eyes.

Taught & performed a course based on the songs & contents of her book at Wilfrid Laurier University and UW.

Performed songs from her book, With Knowing Eyes at the Mill Race Concert for International Women’s Day, Cambridge, ON. The songs in this book paint a social history of women’s participation in the development of Canada.

Performed at the Muskoka Lakes Music Festival, accompanied by Ken Whiteley and Kirk Elliot, 2005.

Founding member, Kaleidoscope in the Schools, Muskoka. Kaleidoscope is an organization bringing professional artists and musicians to Muskoka area schools.

Member of Board of Directors, Muskoka Chautauqua and Arts Council of Muskoka.

Member of Mariposa-In-The-Schools for approximately 25 years with a passionate commitment to music in education. Developed performances and workshops for schools, libraries, teachers’ professional development and ESL classes.

Mariposa Folk Festival (numerous performances from the first one held in Orillia to the recent Gordon Lightfoot Tribute Concert on Centre Island), Mill Race Festival of Traditional Music, Algoma Folk Festival and many others.

Recorded the Block Parents’ Song /Parents Secours in French & received an award & citation from the Block Parents of Canada.

Performed at the “Robert Johnson Tribute,” “Leadbelly Tribute,” “Mississippi John Hurt Tribute” and “Son House Tribute” concerts in Cambridge & at the Kitchener Blues Festival.

Stadium shows such as the Grey Cup half-time show, the CNE, the Royal Winter Fair, the Sportsman’s Show, Maple Leaf Gardens, Expo 67, etc.

Special events such as the MITS 20th Anniversary Gala (Roy Thomson Hall), International Women’s Year, International Year of the Child, the first International Children’s Festival (Harbourfront), the Tall Ships Rendezvous (Harbourfront), educators’ conferences, Women of the Blues Revue (Kitchener), Kitchener-Waterloo Arts Council Awards, First Night, Fall Fairs, etc.

Member of the Chanteclairs, 1962 – 2021 with the late Klaas Van Graft. Toured most of Canada, Northeastern US, England and Europe. Recorded album Just for a Lark. 25th Anniversary Reunion concert at Scarborough Civic Centre.

Solo performer touring Canada, Mexico, Argentina, New England States, England & Scotland, Morocco, and Spain.

Owned and operated coffee houses in Victoria BC with husband Charles (blues singer Po Cholly), including working with artists, booking agents, unions, hospitality, municipal officials and media publicity, as well as finances. Presently run Company of Good Cheer gallery coffee house series in Muskoka.

Worked with volunteer organizations such as the Mennonite Central Committee, KW Arts Council, Arts Council of Muskoka, Canadian Federation of University Women, folk festival organizations, parents’ committees, etc as a performer, producer and organizer for fund raising concerts. Nominated as a Woman of Distinction in Muskoka, 2006.

Television and radio interviews and performances for children and adults in Canada, the US & England, including television programs on the CBC, CTV and BBC networks. Dubbed a Pioneer by the late Peter Gzowski during an interview regarding With Knowing Eyes.

Recordings:

Just for a Lark. The Chanteclairs, Universal
Banana Split. Mariposa-In-The-Schools. CBC
Circle of Friends. “ “ “ “ A&M
Cameo…Chansons de mon coeur. Aficionada
Live at the Boathouse; Poor Charlie & Friends. Brandy Creek Music & Publications
With Knowing Eyes. Brandy Creek Music & Publications
Late One Evening; Po Cholly & Friends. Brandy Creek Music & Publications

Writing:

Creative Canada; a Biographical Dictionary of 20th Century Canadian Artists. University of Victoria Press (researcher and biographer). Victoria

With Knowing Eyes; Canadian Women in Song; with research notes by Edith Fowke. Illustrations by Elizabeth Wilkes Hoey and Barbara Fauth. Brandy Creek Music & Publications. Printed by Pandora Press, Kitchener

St John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church 1902-2002; a history published by the Diocese of Peterborough

Memberships:
Toronto Musicians’ Association, local 149 AFM, Life Member
Canadian Federation of University Women, Muskoka
Canadian Power & Sail Squadron – commodore’s citation for service
Honorary Fellow, St. Paul’s College, University of Waterloo 5 years, Board of Governors 1 year
Arts Council of Muskoka, Board of Directors
Muskoka Lakes Music Festival/Muskoka Chautauqua, Board of Directors
Kaleidoscope in the Schools, Founding Member