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Memory one is from his second year, when Adilman and fellow students marched alongside their professors to support saving the theatre and music departments, as they were at risk at the time. Not only were they saved, fast-forward a few decades and offerings in Dal’s music and theatre programs have increased. The Dal Arts Centre has expanded with the construction of the new Fountain School of Performing Arts building and Joseph Strug Concert Hall, providing students with opportunities to learn, work, perform and create in state-of-the-art facilities.

Adilman, who was recently added to AV���ֲ�’s list of notable alumni, says he feels “really, really good” about fighting for education and the university’s acknowledgement that performing arts are important.

Memory two comes from working at Dal’s campus radio station, CKDU.

“[CKDU] introduced me to Halifax the city, but through Dal,” he says, noting that his work there exposed him to a lot of culture from an educational standpoint. He also said because there were relatively few entertainment opportunities in Halifax at the time when compared with those that existed in his hometown, Toronto, he and his friends worked together to create venues for film, visual art and music.

It was through his experiences as a theatre student, working for CKDU, and building opportunities in Halifax that Adilman learned how to put on shows, be on air, and develop his voice.

“I started my professional life there in very indie circles,” says Adilman, who remained in Halifax for most of the 90s before returning to Toronto. “Everything I learned from those years…still applies to right now.”

Today, Adilman is co-founder (along with Daveed Goldman) of the Toronto-based drop-in choir event, , which has inspired thousands of people to sing and has hosted events at Massey Hall, Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall. This December, he’ll return to Halifax to bring the fully interactive, participatory show back to the AV���ֲ� Arts Centre.

But his career has also spanned filmmaking, writing, acting, and hosting. He’s written for television series including Emily of New Moon and Cold Squad. He also worked alongside his brother Mio creating short films, co-hosting CBC TV series, and acting on The Trailer Park Boys.

Adilman acknowledges three theatre professors that were incredible inspirations to him: Gyllian Raby, Craig Duffy and Jure Gantar.

After a couple of bumpy years at the start of his degree, Adilman credits Gantar, who still teaches in Dal’s Theatre program, with inspiring him to try harder.

“He [Gantar] said, ‘Listen, I know that you're not trying as hard as you could, and I'm aware of it, and I'm going to nail you to the wall if you keep doing that,’ ” Adilman says. “It's kind of a thing that we say at Choir! all the time. Just try harder . . . and you'll feel better about yourself.”

Building communities

Today, not only does Choir! Choir! Choir! bring thousands of people together to sing at their shows, they’ve also inspired groups elsewhere to create their own community singing experiences. One local example in Halifax is The Big Sing, which was founded by a group of Dal alumni.

Given his familiarity with building communities, Adilman says it’s rewarding to know he’s inspired the creation of other such communities.  

“Whenever I hear that those things are still possible, it makes me really happy because if somebody can have even a tiny bit of an experience like I did in that city, then it's just incredible because you know the possibilities are kind of endless,” says Adilman.

“I've encouraged a lot of friends and kids of my friends to go to Dal because of what Halifax represents and what you can do in that city.”