The Art of Chanting Weekend
With Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, Charles Kaplan, Seemi Ghazi, Pandit Tejomaya, Deborah van der Goes, David Bodaly, Gary Paterson, “Voodoo” Dave McGrath and Leah Hokanson
February 28 - March 2, 2025
Co-Presented by Bethlehem Centre and Sound, Belonging & Wholeness
Do you enjoy the spirit-lifting and soul-nourishing experience of chanting in the community? Are you curious about how different faith traditions worship through song and chant?
We are thrilled to invite you to the Art of Chanting Weekend! This is an opportunity to join together in the community and sing chants from many faith traditions. The weekend will open with Snuneymuxw Elder and Knowledge Keeper, David Bodaly, offering a welcome and land acknowledgement, followed by ecumenical Christian Taizé chanting taught by Deborah van der Goes. On Saturday we will explore Jewish chanting taught by Laura and Charles Kaplan, Islamic chanting taught by Seemi Ghazi, Hindu chanting taught by Pandit Tejomaya, and Contemporary Ecstatic Chanting taught by Leah Hokanson and Voodoo Dave McGrath. Our Sunday morning Community Celebration will include all of the weekend’s presenters.
Since time immemorial humans have gathered in spiritual communities to sing and chant together. Community singing and chanting is, in essence, community building—opening us to our sense of shared humanity, and to Spirit, Source, and the Divine (whatever language you choose) through voicing a common purpose and intention together.
Weekend Residential and Commuter options are available. We hope you will join us!
Drop-in options
As a part of the weekend, there will also be two gatherings that are open to the wider community:
* All Prices are based on a sliding scale — click the program of interest below to register *
Saturday evening we will experience together: Contemporary Ecstatic Chanting with Leah Hokanson and Voodoo Dave McGrath,
Sunday morning the weekend’s activities will culminate in a: Chanting Celebration that includes most of the Art of Chanting weekend’s chant leaders facilitated by Rev. Gary Paterson.
Click here to view: Art of Chanting 2025 Program Schedule
About the Teachers
Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan
Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan, spiritual director and award-winning teacher, is Director of Inter-Religious Studies at Vancouver School of Theology. Her recent books include The Infinity Inside, a guide to spiritual practice, and Mouth of the Donkey: Re-imagining Biblical Animals, an exploration of Biblical ecology. Laura lives in Vancouver on Coast Salish territory with her husband Charles, who is a musician, chant […]
Learn more about Rabbi Laura Duhan-Kaplan
Charles Kaplan
Charles has been passionate about music for 65 years! These days, he plans Jewish musical events and plays classical and flamenco guitar, solo and with two ensembles. He’s also a prayer leader, with or without an instrument in his hands, and his happiest moments are when co-leading with his beloved, Laura.
Learn more about Charles Kaplan
Seemi Ghazi
Seemi Bushra Ghazi is a lecturer in Classical Arabic at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. She has a special interest in Islamic literature, culture, and spirituality, as well as Islam and Gender. She is working on a Feminist interpretation of the Qur’anic narrative of Bilqis (The Queen of Sheba). Seemi follows the […]
Learn more about Seemi Ghazi
Pandit Tejomaya
Tejomaya is a Pandit, or priest, in the 5,000-year-old lineage of spiritual yogis from the cave monasteries of the Himalayas. In 2017 he took the formal vows of a forest dweller or hermit known as Vanaprastha and lives a life of full-time spiritual practice on Lasqueti Island. Under the ever-watchful guidance of his Guru, Tejomaya […]
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Deborah van der Goes
Deborah has always known music as a way to connect with the Divine. An Anglican priest for 40+ years, Deborah has taught Taize chants in various parts of Canada. For the past thirteen years, Deborah has been one of the musical leaders for the Nanaimo Taize-style prayer services using both voice and instruments. Introduction: It […]
Learn more about Deborah van der Goes
David Bodaly
David Bodaly is a Snuneymuxw Knowledge Keeper and Elder, photographer, harvester, tour guide, genealogist and weaver, exclusively making Coast Salish-style hats and teaching our strong spiritual connection to the cedar. He also offers programs for youth who access services through Katimavik as well as many schools and VIU.
Learn more about David Bodaly
Gary Paterson
Gary Paterson is a Former Moderator of the United Church of Canada from 2012 to 2015. He was the first openly gay person to take the post since the church was formed in 1925 and the first in the world to lead a major Christian denomination. He earned two degrees in English literature and became […]
Learn more about Gary Paterson
“Voodoo” Dave McGrath
“Voodoo” Dave McGrath is well known in the drum circles and the performance community. Dave draws from the musical traditions of Africa, Cuba, and Latin America when sharing his passion for percussion. From the laid-back rhythms of Brazilian Samba to syncopated Afro-Cuban grooves or hard-driving West African Drum and Dance, Dave always seeks to find […]
Learn more about “Voodoo” Dave McGrath
Leah Hokanson
Leah is a lifelong adventurer of music, sound and listening—as a group facilitator, community choir leader, pianist, improviser, singer/songwriter and certified sound healing practitioner. She is co-founder (with Lynette Jackson) of Sound, Belonging & Wholeness, offering programs that explore vocal sounding and intentional listening as portals to Presence, healing and transformation. She also directs the […]
Learn more about Leah HokansonCategories : Bethlehem Centre Programs, Hosted Event