photos courtesy of Karen Schindler (baselinepress.ca), Thomas Li (thomasliphotography.com), and ANIMA
Border Ballads 2025
When there is sincere love borders dissolve. Neither race nor skin can put barriers in its way.
Enter a world where myth and music intertwine, where sailors, selkies, lovers, and rebels blur the lines between past and present. Border Ballads is a haunting, gender-fluid folk journey celebrating transformation and the beauty found at every border. Between nations, hearts, and selves. Performed by the queer & trans ensemble ANIMA.
Program co-created and performed by Daniel Cabena, Luke Hathaway, Henry Oswald Peirson, Lesley Emma Bouza, & Paul Genyk-Berezowsky; featuring words & music new & old.
Premiere at the Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick St. (at Weber St), Kitchener | Friday, 24 October 2025, 8 p.m. | Tickets $35
wedded pride 2025
there is only a narrow space / in which to see them face to face / to face to face to face …
A unique celebration in word & music, ancient & modern, of queer love, friendship & marriage, in honour of Pride and of the 20th anniversary of the Civil Marriage Act.
featuring performers Daniel Cabena, Luke Hathaway, Henry Oswald Peirson, & Lesley Emma Bouza
It is 20 years since the Civil Marriage Act gave all couples — regardless of assigned sex at birth of the parties therein — equal access to the legality of marriage here in that part of Turtle Island sometimes known as Canada.
It is 447 years since eleven male-identified folx, of divers gender presentations, partook of the sacrament of marriage en groupe at the Basilica of St John, in Rome — an event some scholars understand to be, if not the first queer marriage, then certainly a very queer marriage!
It is more than 2000 years since the lovers of the Song of Songs celebrated their hierogamy — their sacred union — with a fluidity of gendered pronouns, amid a banquet of ecstatic imagery drawn from the natural world.
For millenia then — and, more recently, for decades — we have sought the sacrament of marriage to bless our queer unions; and, our unions have blessedly queered the sacrament of marriage.
This program of ancient and modern texts and tunes celebrates queer weddings and queered weddings: the ways in which we commit ourselves to our partners and our friends, our children and our communities; the ways in which we enter into conversation with the Biblical stories of radical union and communion; the ways in which we turn to poetry and music both to make and to renew our vows.
premiere at St Matthews Centre, 54 Benton St, Kitchener | Friday, 6 June 2025, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. | PWYC
the sign of jonas 2025
fisherman fisher / bring me a fish …
music by Benton Roark | words by Luke Hathaway
an ANIMA / Mother Country co-presentation
Sparse in construction, timeless in imagery, arcane in meaning, mythological in characters and narrative, the sign of jonas is an apocalypse folk tale — a story of personal and cultural collapse, and regeneration.
Join us as we bring to life this song cycle lost and found. The fragments of text speak of journeys, of death and rebirth, of decay and regrowth; the music, blending Baroque polyphony, art song, old-timey, and ambient styles, is a ceremonialized cycle of part songs, responsorials, rounds, and incantations.
Maritime premiere at the Halifax Public Library (HPL), Central Branch | 16 October 2025
Co-presented with the HPL and the Department of English Language and Literature, Saint Mary's University
Ontario premiere at 10C Shared Space, Guelph, ON | 20 March 2025
the sign of jonas is available as an album via Milltown Records
CAENEUS 2024
Mme Sosostris’s canteen, / a beggar can become a queen, / a queen become a corporal …
music by James Rolfe | words by Luke Hathaway
production: James Rolfe and ANIMA
——
A bronze-age transition story — retold in 1940s America — retold in and for our own time.
Caeneus presents us with a queer world in which the Army sanctions G.I. drag … only to turn around and criminalize/pathologize same-sex love and gender variance.
The music, by James Rolfe, draws on 1940s soundworlds of vaudeville and cabaret — infused with older soundworlds that gesture to this story’s complex, ancient, and intercultural origins.
first-stage workshop | Pike Bay Community Hall | August 2023
featuring Lesley Emma Bouza (NADINE); Daniel Cabena (musical direction, co-production, BIRD); Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (MOPSUS); Luke Hathaway (writing, co-production, BARTENDER, EXCLUDED G.I.); Juliet Palmer (pianist); Henry Peirson (theatrical direction/dramaturgy, GAY SERVICEMAN); James Rolfe (composer, co-production, SPY); Garry Williams (dramaturgical mentorship, RECRUITER)
second-stage workshop | 10C Shared Space | Guelph | August 2024
featuring Guillaume Bernardi (direction); Lesley Emma Bouza (REMI); Richard Burrows (percussion); Daniel Cabena (musical direction, co-production, BIRD); Aliayta Foon-Dancoes (violin); Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (BEN); Elyssia Giancola (stage direction); Luke Hathaway (writing, co-production); Brian McQueen (LUCY); Juliet Palmer (clarinet); Henry Peirson (assistant-direction, PATRICK); James Rolfe (composition, co-producer); Asitha Tennekoon (EUGENE); GaRRy Williams (assistant musical direction, piano); Claire Yurkovich (active listening, production assistance)
Project development has been supported by Saint Mary’s University and by the Canada Council for the Arts.
MEMBRA JESU NOSTRI 2023
music by Dietrich Buxtehude | words by Luke Hathaway, Arnulf of Leuven, and anonymous others
score preparation / adaptation: James Rolfe | co-production: Baseline Press and ANIMA
——
A queer and trans-y reenactment of the devotional rhythms of this beautiful Medieval hymn, as set to music by Dietrich Buxtehude in 1680.
A work of spiritual reclamation and erotic celebration, this work also celebrates the quotidian rhythms of caregiving, and acknowledges the agony of grief.
This sung devotion is a coming together of music and texts and of friends old and new. It’s a work of breath and movement and of heartfelt listening.
The text was originally published in chapbook form by Baseline Press
workshop presentation / chapbook launch | 10C Shared Space | Guelph | 25 June 2023
featuring Daniel Cabena (countertenor & violin); Chris Fischer (tenor); Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (baritone); Luke Hathaway (spoken word); Jonathan; Oldengarm (organ); Judith Souman (violin)
performance | King’s University | Halifax | 9 February 2024
presented by UKing’s Lit and Pride Societies; featuring Daniel Cabena (countertenor), Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (baritone), Luke Hathaway (spoken word), Garth MacPhee (harpsichord), and Garry Williams (tenor)
performance | 10C Shared Space | Guelph | 7 June 2024
featuring Lilly Gutierrez (soprano); Lesley Emma Bouza (soprano); Daniel Cabena (countertenor); Chris Fischer (tenor); Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (baritone); Joëlle Morton (violone); Jonathan Oldengarm (harpsichord & organ); and the Cardinal Consort of Viols (Sheila Smyth, Linda Deshman, Sara Blake, and Valerie Sylvester)
performance | Metropolitan United Church | Toronto | 27 June 2024
Livestream recording accessible here.
presented by Met United; featuring Elijah McCormack (male soprano); Lesley Emma Bouza (soprano); Daniel Cabena (countertenor); Chris Fischer (tenor); Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (baritone); Joëlle Morton (violone); Jonathan Oldengarm (harpsichord & organ); and the Cardinal Consort of Viols (Sheila Smyth, Linda Deshman, Sara Blake, and Valerie Sylvester)
A performance score is available for order via ANIMA: animaearlymusic@gmail.com
THE HOUSE OF OUR PILGRIMAGE 2023
co-creation: Daniel Cabena, Paul Genyk-Berezowsky, and Luke Hathaway
production: ANIMA
——
A program inspired the Cantigas of Santa Maria — that great corpus of 13th century songs celebrating the sacred feminine — this musical journey seeks to disrupt and reclaim in equal measures.
Our intergenerational community of practice includes the 13th and 14th c. sensibilities of Guillaume de Machaut; Jehan de Lescurel; and Alfonso X, the Wise — and the beautiful contemporary contribution of James Rolfe.
premiere | Wilfrid Laurier U. Faculty of Music ‘Music at Noon’ Series | Waterloo | 1 February 2024
featuring Daniel Cabena (voice and instruments), Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (voice and instruments), Luke Hathaway (spoken word)
performance | Church of St John’s | Elora | 2 February 2024
presented by the St John’s Elora Concert Series; featuring Daniel Cabena (voice and instruments), Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (voice and instruments), and Luke Hathaway (spoken word)
NAVRÉ DE TON DART 2022
Of bodies changed to other forms / I speak to you in changèd voice, / in altered form….
co-creation: Daniel Cabena, Paul Genyk-Berezowsky, Luke Hathaway, Terry McKenna, Judith Souman
production: ANIMA
——
Using songs of Gilles Binchois and John Bedyngham, with their associated parody Masses—and new adaptations (by Luke Hathaway) of poetry by Christine de Pizan — this program tells a late-medieval story of gender transition, which is also a story of the progress of love, sacred and profane.
premiere | Brunton Auditorium | Sackville | 23 September 2022
presented by the Sackville Festival of Early Music; featuring Daniel Cabena (voice, vielle, recorder); Luke Hathaway (CHRISTIAN DE PIZAN); Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (voice, Renaissance guitar, recorder); Judith Souman (vielle, recorder)
performance | St. Barnabas Church | Blue Rocks | 25 September 2022
presented by Musique Royale; featuring Daniel Cabena (voice, vielle, recorder); Luke Hathaway (CHRISTIAN DE PIZAN); Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (voice, Renaissance guitar, recorder); and Judith Souman (vielle, recorder)
performance | Guelph Youth Music Centre | Guelph | 28 October 2022
co-presented by Guelph Musicfest; with performances by Daniel Cabena (voice, vielle, recorder); Luke Hathaway (CHRISTIAN DE PIZAN); Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (voice, Renaissance guitar, recorder); and Judith Souman (vielle, recorder)
performance | Conrad Grebel University | Waterloo | 1 February 2023
presented by the Conrad Grebel U. ‘Music at Noon’ Series; featuring Daniel Cabena (voice, vielle, recorder); Luke Hathaway (CHRISTIAN DE PIZAN); Paul Genyk-Berezowsky (voice, Renaissance guitar, recorder); and Judith Souman (vielle, recorder)
Recorded as an album in Port Greville, N.S., with sound engineering, production support, and videography by Colleen (Coco) Collins.
THE AFFIRMATIONS 2022
‘a trans-mystical work of love and change’ — Ali Blythe
poetry by Luke Hathaway | audio book created and performed by Daniel Cabena & Luke Hathaway, dir. Cate Cochran
production: Biblioasis
——
The mystics who coined the phrase ‘the way of affirmation’ understood the apocalyptic nature of the word yes, the way it can lead out of one life and into another. Moving among the languages of Christian conversion, Classical metamorphosis, seasonal transformation, and gender transition, Luke Hathaway tells the story of the love that rewired his being, asking each of us to experience the transfiguration that can follow upon saying yes—with all one’s heart, with all one’s soul, with all one’s mind, with all one’s strength … and with all one’s body, too.
https://www.biblioasis.com/shop/new-releases/the-affirmations/
BALLAD
I was well past child-bearing years
and children had, though only three,
when I was walking on the strand
and a sea-grey selkie said to me,
O come away, my beautiful one,
arise and come away with me.
I am a man upon the land,
I am a selkie in the sea.
O how can I away with you?
A man I have, and children three.
If you had come when I was young
I would have gone away with thee.
And home I went to my husband true
and bounced my babies on my knee,
but my dreams were full of the selkie’s song
and the Eli, Eli of the sea.
So I went down to the shore again
and said, All right, I’ll go with thee:
come up and claim what is thine own.
No answer came from the seal-grey sea.
So I went home to my husband true
and sang to my beautiful children three,
I am a woman on the land,
I am a selkie in the sea.
O come away my beautiful one.
O why hast thou forsaken me?
THE LOVER AND THE BELOVED / WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED 2021
music by Guillaume Du Fay | additional words by Luke Hathaway, Francesco Petrarch, and Francis Quarles
production: ANIMA
——
A convergence, a part-singing — an homage to three-part harmony and Guillaume Du Fay.
workshop performance | Wilfrid Laurier University ‘Music at Noon’ Series | Waterloo | 8 April 2021
featuring Daniel Cabena (voice and viele), Stephen Tok (voice), and John Wiens (voice and Renaissance guitar)
A POOR PASSION 2020
musical consultation: Zachary Wadsworth and Tim Pyper
production: Inter Arts Matrix and ANIMA
——
An adaptation and a queering of an iconic work, Bach’s Johannes-Passion, with new words by Luke Hathaway.
first-stage workshop | Rabbit Hill | Guelph | August 2020
featuring James McLennan (tenor / evangelist), Sheila Dietrich (soprano), Daniel Cabena (alto), Chris Fisher (tenor), Daniel Lichti (baritone), Henry Peirson (baritone), Anna Ronai (harpsichord), and Terry McKenna (plucked strings)
The full English libretto of our Poor Passion is published in Luke Hathaway's book The Affirmations (Biblioasis, 2022).
The development of the work was supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.
THE TEMPLE 2018
music by Zachary Wadsworth | words by Luke Hathaway
production: ANIMA
——
A new cantata for the Feast of the Presentation, The Temple expresses the ecstasy and extremis that exist in the space of new (queer) parenthood. The work was composed by Zachary Wadsworth in a week’s time — using words written for the occasion by poet Luke Hathaway.
The project was an exploration — by imitation — of the working methods of Johann Sebastian Bach, whose Ich habe genug … (BWV 82) was our source of inspiration.
The score is available for download here | the text was published as a chapbook by Baseline Press
premiere | St John the Evangelist Church | Kitchener
co-presented by Spiritus Ensemble; featuring Daniel Cabena, Sheila Dietrich, and Daniel Lichti (soloists)
performance | St John the Evangelist Church | Kitchener | 25 November 2018
presented by Spiritus Ensemble