About Our Director, Eveline MacDougall

Steeped in classical music throughout childhood (both parents were professional musicians), Eveline discovered the beauty and power of folk and world music while in her teens.

She founded Amandla in January, 1988, initially as a way to do anti-apartheid activism through song.

From 1989 to 2004, Eveline taught private music lessons (mostly piano and voice, with some violin). She has directed several other choirs for people of all ages and was the director, in 1999, of a large-scale production of the Misa Andina (Andean Mass), working with Altiplano (a five-person South American ensemble) plus 90 singers from several states.

Eveline has been an artist-in-residence in schools and after-school programs in Massachusetts, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

She’s been a member of political musical/theatre troupes, including Blue Angel Arts and Thin Ice Theatre, small-ensemble companies which have toured New England presenting original works drawing on themes of citizen empowerment and building democratic movements.

A multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Eveline has played with a number of Pioneer Valley bands. She currently sings and plays plays fiddle, viola, and accordion with the Green River String Band.

Eveline homeschools her son, Gillis (born 2004), and is excited about Song Squad where she brings kids and families together for group singing, with a focus on introducing music from around the world in multiple harmonies.

One of Eveline’s favorite quotes is one Pete Seeger told her in 1990 (attributed to Mahalia Jackson): “Learning a song in another person’s language makes it less likely you will harm them.”