Fred Plotkin on Fridays: Deantha Edmunds

Fred Plotkin, pleasure activist, and passionate opera expert, speaks each Friday with fascinating people in the music world. He is the author of Opera 101 and Classical Music 101 and leads opera symposia for New York Times Journeys. In this episode, Fred speaks with Deantha Edmunds, Canada's first Inuk professional classical singer, celebrated for her powerful performances, compositions, and efforts in empowering Indigenous voices through music and storytelling. In 2025, she became the first Indigenous woman composer to win a Juno Award for classical composition and was invested as a Member of the Order of Canada for her cultural leadership. Her work spans opera, throat singing, and collaborations with major ensembles, focusing on climate activism and language revitalization.