Biography

Image: Bobbie Belfry

Kael does 2SLGBTQI+ and music-themed workshops, concerts and keynotes.

Kael has a PhD in Education from the University of Toronto. During their doctoral research, they investigated how songs composed and recorded from interviews they conducted with 2SLGBTQI+ families opened up dialogue with equity-seeking youth about gender, sexuality, embodiment, and relationships. Currently, Kael is a Postdoctoral Fellow and instructor in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies at York University where they are working on two arts-based research projects with newcomer and refugee young people. These projects examine how community music programs, songwriting, recording, performance, and other creative activities enable newcomer and refugee youth to develop and extend their expressive skills, build connections and collaborative networks, and experience personal empowerment and wellbeing. As part of this research, Kael uses an innovative, participatory research creation method they developed called, “collaborative ethnographic songwriting.” A robust method for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating research data through music, collaborative ethnographic songwriting supports equity-seeking people to compose, record, and document their stories in song. Using this method, Kael has worked as an artist researcher on various research digital storytelling and research-informed theatre projects as well as with 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and families, breast cancer survivors, and newcomer and refugee youth.

Kael is also singer-songwriter and whip smart wordsmith, and they’re sure to entertain. Slam-storytelling meets many a queer-themed tune in Kael’s songs, which just might have you rolling in the aisles with laughter or dabbing tears from your eyes. With five albums under their belt and a slew of singles, they perform at live music venues, music and Pride festivals, youth and arts conferences, universities, public schools, union meetings, and in people’s living rooms and back yards. Kael also combines musical activism with public pedagogy by facilitating workshops, giving concerts, and delivering musical keynote addresses for universities and colleges, secondary schools, conferences, and community service organizations.

Kael Reid, PhD
pronouns: they/she
Postdoctoral Fellow
Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies York University, Toronto, ON

Testimonials

{Quest University students and faculty had the wonderful pleasure of attending a workshop and concert by Kael Reid. The intimate workshop gave students a chance to get to know the stories behind Kael’s music, as well as creating an open, safe environment to discuss queer issues. Kael’s performance left the students with a renewed sense of passion and esteem, showing them all that integrity, honesty and self-love can stay strong regardless of external pressure.{

Ferin Lee Adams-Waneka & Tari Ajadi

Students, Quest University - Squamish, BC, Canada

{Kael's music and her dynamic question-and-answer format opened a space for students to learn about the challenges LGBTQ2S+ students face on a daily basis. My class expressed that Kael's performance provided a great model of social justice activism and inspired them to work even harder to create a safe and welcoming school where every student feels like they belong and have important contributions to make.{

Virginia Puddicombe

Teacher, Kingston Collegiate & Vocational Institute, Limestone District School Board, Kingston, ON

{Kael performed at Penetanguishene Secondary School today, and her concert was a phenomenal success. Her energy and enthusiasm were infectious and really engaged the students. She has an incredible talent and presence, and her writing workshops provided valuable strategies for self-reflection and insight.{

Jenn Coutts

Teacher, Penetanguishene Secondary School, Simcoe County District School Board, Barrie, ON

{Kael's energy and passion created quite a vibe among students and staff lucky enough to see her. The students and teachers appreciated her immense talents and found her "inspiring" and "motivating": she moved several students to tears. There were a lot of powerful messages and one that stood out was the reminder that people shouldn't be afraid to share their unique spark and be true to themselves.{

Elizabeth Alton

Vice Principal, Trillium-Lakelands District School Board, Lindsay, ON