Community Musician
Music Educator
Conductor
Pianist

Dion J. Flores

  • KW Sentro Choirs

    If you love singing and connecting with your Filipino heritage, there’s a group for you!

    Register today!

    Registration

  • MA Capstone Manuscript

    Read about my autoethnographic research into my experience with racism, discrimination, and exclusion in the Canadian music conservatory system and how community music helped me to find pathways to heal from this trauma.

    Media
  • Publications

    Publications

    Click below to find my research.

    Research
Happy 1st birthday to my niece Giuliana! As a gift, I gave her her first musical instruments. Hope my brother and sister-in-law don’t mind Boomwhackers, a xylophone, and percussion instruments! I tried my best to write her card in Tagalog, one
Today, @kwsentro ‘s Filipino Community Singing Group and KW Filipino Children’s Choir performed at West Hill Retirement Residence in Waterloo. We were thrilled to be able to share our Filipino culture, traditional Christmas carols, and ev
Last night kicked off KW Sentro's December performances! Check out the Filipino Community Singing Group and the KW Filipino Children's Choir perform Night of Silence by David Kantor at the FIL-CAN ASSOCIATION OF KW's Christmas Party! Our special arra
This morning, I had the pleasure of presenting my research to a global audience at the International Centre for Community Music's Student Research Symposium. I talked about structures of inequity that underpin my experience as a racialized individual
It’s crazy how many times I’ve read these books and each time I revisit them, I always learn new things or I am reminded of structures of inequity I have either forgotten or should be seeing and naming. Sometimes in conversations about ra
Happy to be sharing my research at the first Doctoral Special Seminar Topic (DSST) on Community Music Therapy of Laurier’s inaugural PhD in music program. Yesterday, I spoke about KW Sentro’s operations and outlined the 8 chapters of my m
Maligayang kaarawan sa aming magkapatid! (Happy birthday to us brothers) Today, me and my brother turn 30 and 37 respectively. We are seven years apart but have the same birthday. This has been my reliable fun fact at parties for years. After my me
And the language learning and reclamation efforts continue! These books have been on my wish list for a while now and I’m excited to dig in. The Beginner Tagalog book is arriving tomorrow. I hope to use these texts to develop Tagalog learning l
LINK IN BIO: I am thrilled to share with my community the manuscript that I wrote for my Master of Arts in Community Music entitled “Confronting Racism in Canadian Music Conservatories: Healing Trauma Through Community Music.” This articl
My face when I hear "But there's no racism and White supremacy in Canada! We're the nicest and most polite people you'll ever meet! We're a social democracy after all." Check out the link in my BIO to an email I sent to the President, Asso
Today, I attended my convocation at Wilfrid Laurier University for my Master of Arts in Community Music, my second degree from this institution and 4th degree overall. This school has been instrumental in my growth from my first piano lesson, choir r
Blog Post #3 "Freirean Liberatory Practice" My decolonizing work, research, and practice have been undoubtedly and deeply impacted by Paulo Freire’s work. Back in 2016, when I first checked out Pedagogy of the Oppressed from my scho
Truly humbling to have performed in Sing Fires of Justice this afternoon. The program represented stories and narratives from a number of cultural traditions speaking on fire, Truth and Reconciliation, and climate justice. We are truly blessed to hav
Join @kwsentro and the Filipino Community Singing Group at Sing Fires of Justice tomorrow at Martin Luther University College starting at 3pm. We will be singing Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran among other songs accompanied by some of Kitchener-Waterloo
Blog post #2: “An Important Story About Demanding Equity and Justice from a Historically White University Institution” In the summer, as I thought about wearing traditional Filipino garments and cultural items to my fall convocation, I
I wanted to share some thoughts and reflections regarding my latest research activities. Check out my first blog post! Text below: ______________ Too long, definitely read. “The Reality of Racial Burnout” My research into race, Whit
We’re making history! Last night we had the first rehearsal of the KW Filipino Children’s Choir. We learned about solfege, how our voices work, and Filipino customs. I asked the kids, “How many times can you remember to do mano po t
What a spectacular day singing, conducting, and playing the piano for the Bahandi Singers at Hallelujah Fellowship Baptist Church. I’m rocking my very first Barong Tagalog whose pattern features the Philippine sun. In the first photo, where I
Kamusta po kayo mga manganganta at interesado sa musika! Mag register po kayo sa adult and children's choirs (separate choirs) na mag uumpisa sa September 11. Register sa links below. Libre po ang mga programang ito. Links in bio! Email nyo po ak