Cyberbullied teen Amanda Todd given voice in new NACO work
'It's an important, powerful story,' NACO music director says
Amanda Todd's one great dream was to be on stage, says her mother, Carol Todd.
The 15-year-old from Port Coquitlam, B.C., died by suicide in October 2012 after being relentlessly tormented by cyberstalkers.
- Amanda Todd stood up to stalker in Facebook conversation
- The Fifth Estate: The Sextortion of Amanda Todd
On Thursday the teenager's words of hope and courage will live on in a new musical work commissioned by the National Arts Centre Orchestra. My Name is Amanda Todd blends music, multimedia and Todd's own thoughts on bullying and harassment.
'This is my little girl'
Carol Todd says she was still steeped in grief and skeptical when the NACO approached her two years ago about a musical project based on Amanda's experience.
"How are you going to portray my daughter's story through music and performing arts?" Todd recalls asking. "This is my little girl. How are you going to do that?"
"This performance will inspire hope, and is a message about humanity and how we must treat each other to be better people."
Todd's death provoked an intense public reaction because of a YouTube video she posted just weeks before. In it, she flips through a series of hand-written notes detailing the threats and harassment she endured after a topless picture of her was shared on social media.
The NACO's music director, Alexander Shelley, says watching the video convinced him to set Amanda's story to music.
"It's an important story, a powerful story," says Shelley. "Looking at the battle Amanda had to fight in her young years, and the way she found a moment where she stood up to it, despite what happened afterwards, is inspiring."
Resources
Groups that provide support services to young people:
- Ottawa Distress Line: 613-238-3311
- Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
- Child, Youth and Family Crisis Line for Eastern Ontario: 1-877-377-7775
- Eastern Ottawa Resource Centre: 613-741-6025
- Mental Health Crisis Line (Ages 16 and up): 613-722-6914
- Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa: 613-260-2360
Composer spent time with teen's mother
My Name is Amanda Todd is a 10-minute orchestral work composed by Jocelyn Morlock, who spent time with Carol Todd learning about Amanda's hopes, dreams and musical preferences.
The NAC Orchestra will perform the piece while words and images float across a large screen. The immersive production is directed by Donna Feore.
The piece will premiere along with a new work dedicated to former Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar. Composed by Nicole Lizéee, Bondarsphere traces Bondar's life as astronaut, physician, scientific researcher and photographer with music, video and still images.
Both works are part of the series Life Reflected, musical portraits of Canadian women who have made a lasting impact.
My Name is Amanda Todd debuts Thursday, May 19 at 8 p.m.
You can watch Omar Dabaghi-Pacheco's interview with Carol Todd and Alexander Shelley Thursday here.