Listen to musical artist Omar Gittens as he shares his own personal truths, reflections, and experiences reflective of Black History month.
The Barrie Jazz and Blues Festival brings world-class music to Barrie, the City of Barrie recognizes the festival's cultural and economic impact on the city and considers the festival to be one of its signature events.
Omar will share life-long stories of encounters dealing with racial stereotypes, ignorance, entitlement, and privilege present in our present day society. A retrospective on how historical issues of global slavery, racism, and colonization have adversely affected and shaped our current societal norms, and perspectives leading to the breakthrough successes of North American people of colour and mixed race.
Discover more about our speaker:
Over the past fifteen years, Omar has performed as a freelance drummer for various musical artists in southern Ontario area (Barrie, Toronto, Ottawa), and Boston, Massachusetts (U.S.A). In Barrie/Muskoka/Greater Toronto region, he has shared the stage with many musical artists like guitarists Joe Huron and Brian Loree, singers Lisa Hutchinson and Justine Johnson, singer/bassist Jerome Tucker, saxophonists Dennis McAndrew and Mitch Beube, singer/songwriter Tori Hathaway, saxophonist/pianist/vocalist Mark Hathaway, bassists Stuart Steinhart, Kene Hyatt, Peter Loudon, Peter Magno, and pianists Mike Lewis and Amanda MacLeod. He has previously recorded with the smooth jazz group "Quintessential Boys', whose 2007 album is produced by Canadian Juno winning pianist Eddie Bullen. Omar had the honour of performing with pianist Quincy Bullen for the late Dr. Oscar Peterson at the 2006 African Canadian Achievement Awards (ACAA). It was that night that Dr. Peterson received a ACAA Lifetime Achievement Award. Since 2013, Omar regularly gigs with his own jazz trio and quartet at multiple corporate events for the Government of Barbados in Toronto.
Omar began post-secondary studies in Music (Jazz Performance) at York University. Mentors of Omar's during his time there between 2007 and 2009 include saxophonist Kelly Jefferson, drummer Barry Romberg, guitarist Mike Cado, and bassist Al Henderson. He was also the recipient of the Douglas Menzie Phillips Jazz Scholarship as a Music department student at York University.
In 2009, Omar transferred to study music at Boston's Berklee College of Music. He majored in Professional Music, with concentration courses in Songwriting and Contemporary Writing & Production. He was the recipient of the Berklee Canada Scholarship and Berklee International Grant. In 2012, Omar graduated from Berklee College of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree on the Dean's List (Cum Laude).
Since June of 2013, Omar continued to teach private beginner and intermediate drum set students at Music Pro Education Centre in Barrie, Ontario until the school's closing in August of 2017. Since June of 2015, Omar received his second undergraduate degree in Consecutive Teacher Education from York University, and became a certified Ontario occasional music teacher. Omar currently teaches Music, Drama, and Dance (Arts based subjects) in public schools within Toronto.
Our Painswick Branch is located in the south end of Barrie, near the corner of Big Bay Point Road and Yonge Street. The building and facilities are fully accessible. Enjoy the bright and sunny reading lounge, use our complimentary wifi, experiment with technology and maker tools, or book a room for your next event.
