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ABOUT

A professional headshot of Justin Jalea, pictured smiling confidently, wearing a suit jacket and tie.

Canadian human rights activist, conductor, and JUNO-nominated tenor, Justin Jalea is an internationally sought-after consultant for projects that seek positive social change through the arts. In his dual role of musician/activist, Justin has collaborated with organizations such as Americans for the Arts, the National Guild for Community Arts Education, Musicians for Human Rights, the Young People’s Chorus of New York City, and the United Nations.

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Justin is a seasoned choral artist having sung with professional choirs throughout Canada and the United States, including the Canadian Chamber Choir, Pro Coro Canada, Luminous Voices, and the Choir of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York.​​

​​Justin is an experienced conductor and two-time recipient of the Ellen Battell Stoeckel Scholarship from the Yale University School of Music and the CIBC Emerging Artist Scholarship in choral arts. His conducting teachers include Simon Carrington, Jeffrey Douma, and Lone Larsen. Justin has founded numerous vocal ensembles that foster compassion and action for diverse social causes, including the New York City-based ensemble Inspire: A Choir for Unity, whose community-building work is featured in his recently published chapter on choral music and human rights in the Routledge Companion to Music and Human Rights.

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Currently, Justin is an Adjunct Professor of Human Rights and Philosophy in the Faculty of Liberal Studies at Durham College, and an articling student at the global law firm, DLA Piper, focusing on commercial litigation and labour and employment law. Justin remains active as a professional singer, appearing frequently with the Studio de musique ancienne de Montréal, La Chappelle de Québec, and the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montréal.

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Justin holds dual JD/BCL degrees from McGill University’s Faculty of Law. Additionally, he holds a master’s degree from the Institute for the Study of Human Rights at Columbia University, and an MA and BA (Hons.) from the Universities of Alberta and Toronto, respectively, both in philosophy.

Education

Law Society of Ontario

Bar Admission   |   Toronto, ON   |   2024

McGill University
Faculty of Law

J.D./B.C.L.   |   Montréal, QC   |   2019 – 2023

Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg Community Engagement Award

Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity

Artist Residency (Choral Arts)   |   Banff, AB   |   Winter 2019
CIBC Emerging Artist Scholarship

Columbia University
Institute for the Study of Human Rights

M.A., Human Rights Studies   |   New York, NY   |   2014 – 2015 

Tuition Reduction Award, Conference Stipend Award 

Yale University
Norfolk Summer Music

Conducting Fellowship   |   Norfolk, CT   |   Summer 2013

Ellen Battell Stoeckel Scholarship 

University of Alberta
Department of Philosophy

M.A., Philosophy (Ethics & Epistemology)  |   Edmonton, AB   |   2007 – 2009

 Alberta Advanced Education Achievement Scholarship, Graduate Fellowship Award 

University of Toronto
Department of Philosophy

Hons. B.A., Philosophy Specialist   |   Toronto, ON   |   2003 – 2007

 W.B. Dunphy Medal, Canadian Millennium Scholarship, Cressy Student Leadership Award , Robert Madden Student Leadership Award, H.B. Gardner Campus Community Award

Diploma   |   Toronto, ON   |   1993 – 2003

John Arab Memorial Scholarship, Choral Excellence Award

Service & Volunteer

Board Member   |   Amherst, MA   |   2023 – Present

Board Member & EDI Consultant   |   Toronto, ON   |   2021 – Present

Student Ambassador   |   Montreal, QC   |   2019 – Present

Member   |   Ghent, Belgium   |   2018 – Present

AEDI Task Force Member   |   Montreal, QC   |   2021 – 2022

Member   |   Toronto, ON   |   2019 – 2021

Board Member and EDI Consultant   |   Toronto, ON   |   2017 – 2021

Outreach Volunteer   |   Montreal, QC   |   2019 – 2020

Regional Representative   |   New York, NY   |   2018 – 2019

Associate Board Member   |   New York, NY   |   2017 – 2019

Researcher   |   New York, NY   |   2014 – 2016

Consultant & Author   |   Toronto, ON   |   2014 – 2015

Educator   |   Toronto, ON   |   2014 – 2015

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