Cynthia Kinnunen is a music educator and community musician based in Guelph, Ontario as well as a Doctoral Candidate (Community Music), Junior Research Fellow, and Contract Teaching Faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario. In her work, she has spent the last decade and a half creating a career space that navigates between a private teaching practice (piano/‘ukulele); community and educational music events and partnerships locally, nationally, and abroad; and part-time teaching in higher education, now with a PhD in the mix, as well. Prior to returning to music, she spent 15+ years crafting communications, supporting resource development initiatives, and facilitating events for an array of vibrant organizations in the not-for-profit and consulting sectors.

Her current research interests include music-making in midlife and beyond, relational and systems dynamics in participatory community ensembles, women’s well-being as participants and practitioners, and the ‘ukulele in pedagogical and community contexts, with a strong interest in a/r/tography and arts-based/creative research methods. She holds a Master of Arts in Community Music, Bachelor of Arts [Hons] in music, diploma in arts/non-profit administration, grade ten conservatory piano certification, and is a Certified Level 3 JHUI (‘ukulele pedagogy) instructor.