Sister Dorothy: Inspiring Creativity Through Music
Dorothy Penner, a singing, song writing, multi-instrumentalist Renaissance musician who performs as Sister Dorothy, has shared her passion for creative expression since she was five years old. She first gained a penchant for performing in Kindergarten when she sang a solo in her school’s Christmas concert.
Today, Sister Dorothy harbors her talents of classical, steel-stringed guitars, electric guitars, the flute, and vocals. All of which have made her the high-energy, multi-talented musician she is.
Whether you find her performing on a concert stage, at a festival, in a school, or in Assiniboine Park for Canada Day, Sister Dorothy always puts on a spirited performance that is loved by all. Most impressively, Sister Dorothy has an expansive repertoire of original music that she enjoys composing and sharing with her audiences.
“I love performing for audiences of all ages,” states Sister Dorothy. “I share my original songs and talk a bit about what inspired me to write them. I hope audiences will hear something they like and be inspired to create something themselves, in whatever art form they choose. As a child, I loved to go to concerts and watch performers. I always wished it was me on stage. Now it is me, and I hope someone watching will think, ‘I could do that too’.”
Sister Dorothy became a member of Folklorama for the performing opportunities that it garners. One of her most beloved memories as a performer was at a Folklorama showcase at the Canadian Museum of History in Hull, Quebec.
Although in-person performances have slowed since the pandemic, Sister Dorothy has been able to bring music and joy to people around the world through virtual performances.
“During the pandemic, I was fortunate to perform a live stream concert on International Women’s Day at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. It was sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund. Folklorama’s Christian Hidalgo-Mazzei was invaluable in helping me meet the right contacts and organize the performance.”
If you would like to become a member of the Folklorama family, contact Katie Green at [email protected]