Message from the Music and Culture Faculty members:
It is with great sadness that we join with friends and colleagues far and wide to grieve the passing of Delicia Raveenthrarajan, who, as a student, profoundly impacted the Music and Culture program at the Arts, Culture and Media Department (ACM), University of Toronto Scarborough. Those of us fortunate enough to have crossed her path remember Delicia’s incredible generosity and kindness. She was an inspiring leader and mentor whose life exemplified the deep impact the arts can have in addressing social issues and promoting positive change.
Delicia's accomplishments were exceptional and remarkable, as highlighted in this public obituary. She was the recipient of the Fulbright Scholarship and was shortlisted for the Rhodes scholarships, two of the most prestigious and well-known scholarships in the world. Delicia embraced every opportunity the department offered, including leadership roles with ACM Engage, Music 303, ARTSIDEOUT, and ACMSA. A recent graduate of the Music and Culture program, Delicia was passionate about fostering change through culturally responsive music education. She actively worked to build bridges between UTSC and the larger community through volunteer initiatives such as the National Music Education Policy Summit with the Coalition for Music Education. Her work centered on inclusivity, social change, and accessibility for music-makers from diverse backgrounds. Delicia played a vital role as research assistant in the creation and development of SoundLife Scarborough, the newly formed centre for music and community engagement at the University of Toronto Scarborough. She was a bright light in creative spaces and a true team player, eagerly and generously working alongside her peers. Delicia was always excited about the work and spent countless hours bringing SoundLife Scarborough into existence as a space to serve others.
Delicia spent much time beyond her studies as a committed, action-oriented advocate, serving as a music facilitator where she created accessible music-making opportunities for others. Her deep commitment to engaged music-making led her to serve as a choral conductor at Sistema Toronto, Sir Oliver Mowat C.I., and Timothy Eaton Memorial Church. She was also on the Board of Exultate Chamber Singers. At every opportunity, Delicia focused on the intersections of music and equity with multiple partnering institutions. Delicia was the inaugural Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Director at the Ontario Music Educators' Association (OMEA). She was also a passionate advocate of inclusive and equitable health access for youth and marginalized communities.
We are profoundly grateful for Delicia's contributions to our community and her tremendous generosity in helping foster accessibility for musicians from all backgrounds. We will miss her more than words can say. At this difficult moment, our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all those many people whose lives she touched. Delicia's family has started a GoFundMe to establish a scholarship in her name, a fitting tribute to her legacy. Please find the link to the fund here: link in bio.
In her memory, we thought it appropriate to share some of the profound and skilled work Delicia wrote while at UTSC that beautifully combines her voice with the piano; link to her music.
If you are feeling affected by this news or require support, please access the available services:
• You can book an appointment with Health & Wellness by calling 416-287-7065 or via e-mail health.utsc@utoronto.ca. Health & Wellness is available during regular business hours
• For 24/7 counselling support (in over 146 languages), contact MySSP: call 1-844-451-9700 or download the MySSP app
• Students outside of Ontario, including outside of Canada, should first contact MySSP