Flashback

I am literally jumping for joy in this photo of me at York University when I was an undergrad in the music department. I had just seen the final proof of the poster advertising What A Difference O’Day Made, a celebratory concert honouring Anita O’Day that I produced at Burton Auditorium in 2005. The legendary jazz singer was my idol, the reason I was studying vocal jazz at York, and would later become a professional performer. She was 85 at the time and as VP of programs for York’s Creative Arts Student Association (CASA) I hatched a plan to bring her up from New York to attend the show. In her time, she had performed with the greats, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Oscar Peterson and others. Now it was our time to perform for her. That night, York musicians, including faculty members, took to the stage, to pay her tribute. Dance students presented choreography inspired by one of her hit songs. When the show was over, more than 100 people stood in line to get her autograph. It was my first time wearing the hat of an impresario, and all these years later – in addition to singing and recording – I am still producing concerts, showcases and festivals, and all because of York, which truly did inspire me to redefine the possible. ■
— Ori Dagan (BFA ’07)