Acclaimed singer-songwriter earns BFA
http://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/news/story_10220913.shtml
Condensed by Native Village

Manitoba: Singer-songwriter Sandy Scofield has won many awards, including:
 

Five Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards Three consecutive Juno Nominations The 2008 American Indian Summer Music Award The 2007 Canadian Folk Music The 2003 Western Canadian Music Award

And this month she crowned her achievements with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in music from Simon Frazier University.

"I come from a family of untrained musicians," says Scofield, a Métis/Cree/Saulteaux from St. Laurent. "So I’m interested in learning more. At SFU, I’ve learned composition from Owen Underhill and Martin Gotfrit, and electro-acoustic music from Barry Truax."

One reviewer describes Scofield as a "complex artist who can move effortlessly from centuries-old aboriginal vocal styles to satiny pop to robust rhythm and blues and rock." Her music encompasses rockabilly, Cajun and zydeco bands to sophisticated folk-rock, jazz and vocal ensembles.

Scofield performed professionally as she pursued her degree. She took several semesters off to tour and performed across the world in such places as  Korea, Mexico, Austria, France and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Yet despite her busy schedule, Sandy still made time to perform at special SFU events and study African music and drumming in Ghana, Africa.

"I have a compulsion to create," she says, "and also to mentor young people with new information as I receive it."

Sandy is especially interested in composition and electro-acoustic music. She is often sought out for her composition and sound design. She has also produced or co-produced most of her own albums.

Now, she’s setting her sights on a master’s degree in music.

"I want to continue to learn," she says, "and perhaps do a little less performing and little more composition. (And) I want to make a bigger contribution to the national Aboriginal music scene."

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