Lyz Jaakola
Well, there's the "official bio":
Elizabeth Jaakola (Anishinaabe, enrolled member of Fond du Lac band of Lake Superior Ojibwe) has had a varied musical background, preparing her for a career in music education and American Indian studies at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College. Earning her Bachelor of music degree (1992) in vocal performance, Elizabeth chose teaching at a tribal school as a music specialist before embarking on a performance journey. Performing and writing in many styles/genres, she’s difficult to pigeonhole, but these cameleon-like traits are only natural for a Native woman who readily embraces her mixed heritage. Elizabeth’s past includes performances in the Rome Operafestival (Mezzo Soprano), Choral music at Carnegie Hall, Traditional ceremony singer, Jazz scat singer, Blues siren and Regional soloist in many venues of Northern Minnesota. Her Native-based compositions have been heard on radio stations, television, video, and many stages near to her home on the Fond du Lac reservation in Minnesota. After earning a Masters in Music from University of Minnesota-Duluth, Lyz embraced teaching full-time Music and Indian Studies at Fond du Lac Tribal & Community College. She’s currently compiling her Native-based choral pieces, striving to promote Anishinaabe music performances and education, occasionally gigging around town in her Blues band (Lyz Jaakola & the Smokin Chimokes), recording various projects such as the Native women's handdrum group, Oshkii Giizhik Singers' sweetheart CD and Anishinaabe Youth Chorus' sophomore recording, inbetween teaching and parenting 2 fabulous young sons.
Recordings from Lyz Jaakola: (with guitarist Barry Pirkola)
cassette: “Bridging Two Worlds” 1996 (no longer available)
CD: “Ways of the Wheel” ©2000
(Totally solo projects)
CD: “Finndian Summer” ©2005
CD: “Anishinaabemowin Nagamodaa!” ©2006
(group or compilations)
CD: "Ojibwe: Waasa Inaabidaa" (c)2002
CD: "Mii Iwe Minowewin"(c)2007
CD: "Oshkii Giizhik Singers: It Is a New Day"(c)2008
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Music/American Indian Studies Faculty, Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College, 1997 – present
Self-Employed Musician/Presenter/Speaker 1992 – present
University of Minnesota, Duluth, University of Wisconsin, Superior, College of St. Scholastica
MN, WI, MI, and IL Colleges, High Schools, Elementary Schools, Churches, Civic Organizations
Composer in Residence, American Composers Forum 2006-2007
Head Researcher, PBSEight Documentary Series, “Ojibwe: Waasa Inaabidaa (We Look in All Directions)” 1997 – 2000.
Music Teacher, Fond du Lac Ojibwe Schools, 1992 – 1995 full-time and occasional volunteer since
EDUCATION
H.S. Diploma, Wayland Academy, 1984 (An International College Preparatory Boarding School)
Bachelor of Music, University of Minnesota, 1992
Master of Music, University of Minnesota, 2005
PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCES
1989 Tour throughout Eastern Europe; 1992 Tour including a performance in Carnegie Hall and throughout Eastern Europe; 1992 Summer "Adrift in New York" with Renegade Comedy Theater; 1992 - 2002 Member and Section Leader in Arrowhead Chorale (Duluth's premiere semi-professional choral ensemble); 1995 Rome Operafestival, Italy; 1997 National Indian Child Welfare Conference performance; 2001 Recital "Are you musically P.C.?" exploring Indigenous cultural "mining" in classical musics; 2001 April: "Les Uncomfortables" with Colder by the Lake Theatre; 2001 Art of Peace, Duluth; 2001 June: Park Point Music Festival; 2002 American Indian Higher Education Conference performance; 2002 August: Performance for Finnish Genealogist visit; 2002 September: "Les Uncomfortables" with Colder by the Lake Theatre; 2002 Art of Peace, Duluth: recorded selection on "Art of Peace" CD; 2003 Joined Duluth Blues band "The High Bridge Flyers"; 2003 June: Performance at Duluth's DECC Auditorium for Society for Conservation Biology; 2003 August: Two Cultures-One Spirit, concert with Ulla Suoko and Al Hunter; 2005 April: "Phantom of the Norshor" with Colder by the Lake Theatre ; 2005 June: "Die Fledermaus" with Light Opera of the North, Duluth; 2005 FinnGrandFest performer/presenter: Marquette Michigan; 2005 December: Carlton County Historical Society Midwinter meeting performance; 2005 October International Banquet, Mankato State University; 2006 February: Soloist with Arrowhead Chorale & Randy Lee's Big Band Duluth/Superior; 2006 March: "Girls go Global" KFAI International Women's Day; 2006 March: Art of Peace Duluth 2006 March: Fond du Lac Human Services conference dinner at Black Bear; 2006 April St. Scholastica's American Indian Art & Music Festival; 2006 June 3rd Lady in Mozart's “Magic Flute”; 2006 July Chorus Member in Duluth Festival Opera's “Madama Butterfly”;2007 April Fond du Lac Women's Handdrum opens for John Trudell; 2007 June Hippolyta, “A Midsummer Night's Dream” LOON ; Lead Singer/Guitar/Keyboards with Lyz Jaakola and the Smokin' Chimokes (formerly The High Bridge Flyers) 2003 – present; 2007 June CCHS Midsummer Celebration; 2007 July Chorus member with DFO “Barber of Seville”; Yearly performances @ FDL Women's gatherings and numerous other community gatherings/feasts since 1990s.
PAPERS/ PRESENTATIONS
“Creating a College Level Ojibwe-Anishinaabe Music Course”, Native Nations Conference, Mankato State University, October 2005. (Based on Masters Thesis of similar title).
“'Finndian' Cultural Activities and Songs for use in the Early Childhood Classroom” BHK Marquette, MI January 2006. Whole day inservice.
WORKSHOPS
“Aboriginal Women's Singing Intensive” through Native Women in the Arts, Toronto, Ontario 2000, 2002, and 2006. (3 day vocal training workshops).
"Aboriginal Women's Voices" at Banff Centre for the Arts
Fall 2008, 2009 (5 day vocal coaching classes)
AWARDS
2001 Regional Emmy Award, for PBSEight Documentary Series, “Ojibwe Waasa Inaabidaa”
Nominated for Northeast Minnesota Book Award for “Our Journey”
RECORDINGS
"It is a New Day" Dec, 2008
Oshkii Giizhik Singers premiere recording and 2009 Native American Music Award Winner for "best traditional recording"
"Mii Iwe Minowewin: This is My Voice", 2007
(featuring First Nations Youth Composers, Anishinaabe Youth Chorus, FDL Women's Handdrum Group)
“Anishinaabemowin Nagamodaa!”, 2006
“Finndian Summer”, 2005
“Ojibwe” (compilation with Peter Buffett), 2001
“Ways of the Wheel”, 2000
BOOKS
“Our Journey”, Lerner Publishing, 2001
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Board of Directors, Fond du Lac Tribal College, (Apr 2006 – present)
Advisory Member, First Nations Composers Initiative (2004 – present)
Member, American Composers Forum (2006 – present)
Member, National & Minnesota Education Association (2002 – present)
Member, MnScu Faculty Association Union (2002 – present)
Member, Arrowhead Chorale (1992 – present)
Member, Lyric Opera of the North (2004 – present)
Member, FDL School Board, 1993 - 1995
INTERESTS
Founder/Director, Anishinaabe Youth Chorus 2006/2007
Founding Member, Oshkii Giizhik Singers, Spring 2006