English 
French Diane Kolin
Director and Founder
Diane Kolin (she/her) is a singer, a voice teacher, a disability rights activist, an author, and a PhD candidate in musicology in York University, Toronto, Canada.
As a singer, she explores low voice repertoire as a classical contralto and as a jazz artist. She performs in Canada, in the United States, and in Europe. She advocates for more accessibility in orchestras and choirs.
As a scholar, her diverse research interests include Critical Disability Studies, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Franz Liszt. Her dissertation focuses on professional musicians, composers, and music specialists with disabilities, in the intersectional fields of Music, Education, and Critical Disability Studies. The study of Beethoven’s deafness and Diane’s personal history led to her research in disability and music. Her collaborations with disabled musicians in the professional musical world allow her to expose new ideas to make the artistic world more accessible for people with disabilities, and to improve accessibility in artistic venues. She often participates in conferences to present her research and ideas.
Between her duties as editor in chief of the Journal of the French Beethoven Society – Association Beethoven France et Francophonie – Diane frequently publishes book chapter and articles in peer reviewed journals.
Her publications and next events can be found on her website.
Alexia Vassos
Social Media Manager
Alexia Vassos (she/her) is an actor and writer currently based in Toronto. An alumna from the Theatre and Drama Studies joint program between the University of Toronto and Sheridan College, she holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours and an Advanced Diploma in Acting.
Since graduating, she’s appeared both on stage and screen in a variety of theatre productions, commercial campaigns and TV/film ventures. In her recent endeavours, Alexia has been able to combine her love of the arts with her passion for disability advocacy, moderating events, participating on panels and facilitating workshops that focus on accessibility within the industry and reflect her experiences as a disabled artist.
She currently works as the Head of Programs and Outreach for Creative Connector, researching and delivering accessible opportunities and disability arts cultural activity across Canada to artists and boosting awareness of the disability community. She is so thrilled to be joining ArtsAbly in their mission to improve access in the arts.