Faith Colobong

Give a brief bio about yourself/your background/your history.

I was born in the bright tropics of Pohnpei, Micronesia and spent my very early years there before immigrating to hypothermic Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada with my family in May of 2006 (though brr-cold, Winnipeg is easily home for me). I was raised by two Filipino parents who sacrificed everything (continue to sacrifice) and started from scratch just to secure a promising future for my older sister and I, and for that I am eternally grateful. I hold onto the unwavering strength and resilience that I inherit from both my father and my late mother.

My parents have nurtured my penchant for music and curiousity since I was young—from filling my bookshelf with books, bringing me to the library frequently, obliging in my many “projects”, funding my piano lessons, to gifting me various musical instruments over the years on Birthdays and Christmases. I have since gone off to pursue Music Education at Brandon University.

What education have you taken?

I graduated from École Secondaire Sisler High School’s Accelerated Program (AP) in Winnipeg in June of 2018. I am currently in my penultimate year of the 5-year concurrent Bachelor of Music/Bachelor of Education (Instrumental Stream) program at Brandon University.

How did you become interested in your field/area of study?

I have always loved learning, so pursuing education just made sense. My mother—though not an educator by profession—was an academic through and through and was careful to instill in me that same lifelong love of learning. She was the first “teacher” to instill the love of inquiry, and the teachers I had growing up did the same. I was inspired by those formative figures in my life to embark on the cause for education.  

Music, to me, is as natural as breathing. I do not remember a time where I was not striking something, humming, singing, or simply moving my body in expression. At school, I sought refuge in the music room. Since elementary, I have been blessed with the opportunity to take part in divisional honour choirs and honour bands, as well as summer band camps. As I matured, my perspective on music education widened. I saw its powerful potential. My high school band director, for instance, had students engage in “Music-as-Service” by visiting and playing music at our neighbouring senior’s home and local hospital. At this point I observed the “Hidden Curriculum” and realized that education was not about just learning content, but about learning how to be human. After witnessing the myriad possibilities of music education, I knew in my heart that that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. 

I am forever grateful for the various music teachers I have had over the years that fostered this ineffable love of music of mine, including my piano teacher of almost a decade, Maura Doyle, my elementary music teacher Dana Petrezelka, junior high music teachers Deborah Wallace, Cristina Almeida, Alain Guilmette, and Stephen Oberheu, and last but certainly not least, my lovely high school band director Alexis Silver.  

I am equally grateful for the wonderful professors I have had the opportunity of learning from throughout my time at BU, including Dr. Dean Beaubier, Dr. Zahra Kasamali, Dr. Steve Asselin, Dr. Gretta Sayers, Dr. Wendy Zander McCallum, Dr. Sheila Scott, Dr. Sheelagh Chadwick, Dean Greg Gatien and many, many more.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?

I am very grateful to have had the opportunity in the first place to study away from home, to study what I love, and to have made lasting connections, friendships, and memories at the prestigious Brandon University School of Music—I consider that an accomplishment in and of itself. Accomplishments I am also proud of include my placement on the Dean’s Honour List and induction into the President’s Honour Society for each year of my degree thus far. I am also proud of the scholarships and awards I have received during my time at BU, some of which include: the Patricia A. Coleman Scholarship in 2020, the General Proficiency Scholarship in Second Year Music for highest standing in Second Year Music in 2021, and most recently, the Don Wright Scholarship in Music Education (Instrumental Music) in 2022.

I am equally proud of my time serving on the Brandon University Student Music Educators Association (BUSMEA) executive council since 2020—first as the Media Relations Officer, then as the Vice-President during the 2022-2023 school year. The student-led association organizes professional development opportunities to supplement other music educators’ and music education students’ learning. I am especially proud to be part of this year’s small-but-mighty all-women council (+1 mighty female faculty advisor) that successfully delivered the 17th Annual Da Capo Conference in January of 2023 (in person for the first time since 2020).

With regard to performance, I am proud of having the opportunity to perform several shows with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra (WJO) in the past year (my first show with them was actually in celebration of International Women’s Day!).

Last but not least, I am beyond proud and honoured to be nominated for the International Women’s Day Award. I am so delighted to be nominated by and alongside other remarkable and powerful women.

Where do you see yourself in the future? What do you hope to undertake or accomplish once you leave BU?

I see myself teaching kids in the near future. I see myself being taught by them just as much, too, and I can’t wait. I see myself as a band director, but I would deem myself already lucky teaching in any capacity (early, middle, or senior years—General, Music and/or English). I also hope to pursue graduate studies in Music Education—with specific interest in critical pedagogy—one day. Aside from career aspirations, in the future I see myself settling down with the One my heart adores, finding a doggy best friend, as well as satiating my wanderlust and travelling to countries I have been longing to explore (grad trip to Japan, perhaps?).

What is your philosophy in life?

My philosophy in life is to always choose kindness. To love, unapologetically. And to be gracious and grateful.

In one sentence, how will you #EmbraceEquity?

I will #EmbraceEquity by being a staunch advocate for those whose voices are not heard, by never being idle, resolving to break barriers and challenge the status quo in my own profession as well as in ordinary day-to-day.

First Nominator’s Comments:

Members of the 2022-2023 Brandon University Student Music Educators Association (BUSMEA) council are five intelligent, industrious, and engaged women who are committed to music education and who demonstrate leadership in the field. BUSMEA is a student-run association that organizes, plans, and fundraises for clinics and professional development opportunities, including Da Capo, an annual one-day conference held in the School of Music with professional development opportunities for pre-service and current music educators. Attendees at this year’s highly successful in-person conference came from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and South Dakota.

This exceptional group of women have addressed the unique challenges faced by music educators in a post-pandemic world, all while navigating their own education that was interrupted by the pandemic. It is rare at such an early stage in a young person’s education to see them balance their diverse responsibilities. Yet these women already realize the crucial role their contributions will make in the rebirth of music education, and they recognize the value of working with their peers and future colleagues in their ongoing education to continue adapting to a post-pandemic world. Their commitment to leadership within the School of Music has provided opportunities to share their experiences and educational resources with their peers, fostered avenues of collaboration among their peers and with future colleagues, and created meaningful professional engagement opportunities to prepare students for careers in music education.

Second Nominator’s Comments:

While I realize that it is customary to nominate outstanding women as individuals, I feel that it is necessary to nominate this stellar team as one unit.  They work together to advance their pre-professional community while excelling as individual students on campus at Brandon University.

Responsible for organizing professional development opportunities for BUSMEA members, Abby, Faith, Leeanne, Kendra, and Janina serve Brandon University, the School of Music, and the Music Education Community with unique and thoughtful initiatives. Following on the successful programs of past BUSMEA Councils, they are successfully negotiating change following the challenges of the 2020-2022 academic years. They are working to reunite a professional community and reinvigorate a discipline and a community of learners that has experienced unique obstacles because of shutdowns and strict guidelines.

Other significant issues are also at the forefront of Council discussions. They have sought to contribute meaningfully to BUSMEA programming through discussions of accessibility, equity, and social justice in music. Despite these students’ diverse interests, backgrounds, and goals, they collaborate to advance the development and engagement of their colleagues in music and education. The 2022-2023 BUSMEA Council is a model of strength through cooperation.