Speaker
Don Skoog is currently offering two presentations for libraries, schools, and literary organizations.
Words and Songs: Exploring Emily Dickinson’s Poems through Music, which examines her verses by listening to and discussing different types of music written based on her poetry. A version of this program was first presented in Taipei, Taiwan in 2025. This program is great for libraries and literary organizations.
The Soul of Middle Eastern Music is a concert presentation by Mr. Skoog and members of the Chicago Arabic Music Ensemble that explores Arabic, Persian, Armenian, and Turkish music through songs and stories. This program is great for libraries and schools.
Mr. Skoog has given talks, demonstrations, and clinics at the University of Wisconsin (Madison and Milwaukee), Northwestern University, Valparaiso University, Vandercook College, Kansas State University, Colorado State University, Illinois Wesleyen University, the Nashville Jazz Workshop, Millikin University, College of DuPage, Concordia University, and the PAS Illinois Day of Percussion, as well as hundreds of presentatons in grade- and high-schools through Classical Music Chicago, and has given many library presentatons on Jazz, Flamenco, Latin, and Arabic music.
Recent Presentations
Music and Meaning, exploring the effect of music on Dickinson’s verse. Paper presented at the Emily Dickinson International Society International Convention (Taipei, June 2025.)
Ecologies of Song, exploring Dickinson’s verses through their musical settings. Music and poetry workshop, presented at the Emily Dickinson International Society International Convention (Taipei, June 2025.)
Making Emily Sing, Exploring the rela/onship between Poetical and Musical Time in setting Dickinson’s poetry into song. Paper presented at the American Literature Association’s Annual Meeting (Chicago, June 2024).