Amanda Todd's short life has been put to music and on Thursday, May 19 the multi media piece "My Name is Amanda Todd" by composer Jocelyn Morlock will be premiered at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
"I am definitely honored in that we get to share Amanda's message once again through a different medium," said Carol Todd, who has created the Amanda Todd Legacy project to raise awareness about mental health, social media and youth in the years since her daughter's death.
Performed by the NAC orchestra, Life Reflected is made up of original compositions reflecting on the diverse experience of four women. In addition to the 10 minute multi-media piece about Amanda Todd, whose Youtube video detailing her torment by cyber abusers went viral, there will be compositions reflecting on the lives of author Alice Munro, astronaut Roberta Bondar and Mi'Kmaw elder and poet Rita Joe.
Todd said she was initially apprehensive about the idea. But through meetings and collaboration with creative producer Donna Feore and Morlock, the composer, Todd grew increasingly comfortable and is now pleased with the music and accompanying visuals, which use colour, light and the snowflake symbol, to represent the Port Coquitlam teenager who committed suicide in 2012.
"When you listen to it, you will listen to the calmness off her life, when it gets to turmoil the music rises and that's how the visual effects will be portrayed," Todd said, who added that it's an honor for her daughter to be included in the illustrious company of other prominent Canadian women.
In addition to attending the performance with her family, Todd will make a presentation to Ottawa high school students as part of the NAC's effort to bridge connections with youth on important topics.
Local MPs Fin Donnelly, Port Moody-Coquitlam, and Ron MacKinnon, Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam, are also expected to attend Thursday's world premiere of Life Reflected.
Also in recent week, Todd appeared befor a TEDx audience in an inspirational speech that reflected on her daughter's life and things people can do to reach out to others. The video is available here
