Rachel Abma - Windsor, ON
Allison Eagles - London, ON
Catherine Lippitt - Calgary, AB
Christina Murray - Halifax, NS
Brenda O'Connor - London, ON

 

Rachel Abma grew up in a close-knit musical family in Brights Grove, Ontario. Although her classical training began at the age of 13, Rachel has been singing all her life. She now lives in Windsor, Ontario, and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Environmental Science at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research. Before coming to Windsor, Rachel completed a Bachelor's degree in Biology At Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. While there, she enjoyed a full and enriching musical experience as a part of the Calvin College Capella choir. During her time with the group, the Capella performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony and toured Michigan, Florida, and Chicago. Rachel also continued her classical training in opera and oratorio while at Calvin College. Rachel has been hired to sing at a number of churches, and is a frequent Cantor in the Taizé services at All Saints Anglican Church in Sarnia, Ontario. She is currently a member of the Windsor Classic Chorale.

Allison Eagles is a vocal coach, accompanist, chamber musician and adjudicator in high demand in the London musical community and throughout Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Mount Allison University and a Masters degree in Collaborative Piano from the University of Western Ontario. In addition to coaching and performing, Allison teaches voice, piano and theory to students of all ages at her private studio and has been the accompanist for the internationally renown Amabile Youth Singers since 2004.

 

Catherine Lippitt began her musical training in Calgary, Alberta, singing in choirs. Some of the groups she has sung with are: Ad Libitum Vocal Ensemble (Calgary), the Alberta, Manitoba and National Youth Choirs and the Festival Ensemble for the European Music Festival in Stuttgart, Germany with Maestro Helmuth Rilling. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manitoba and a Masters of Music from the University of Western Ontario, both in Vocal Performance. She also has a Licentiate Diploma from the Western Board of Music. Catherine also performs as a soloist in recital and Oratorio. Currently, she is a Vocal Coach with the Cantaré Children's Choir, Faculty for the Vocal Academy Program at Mount Royal University, and the Soprano Section-leader with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra Chorus.

 

Christina Murray Christina Murray is the artistic director of Camerata Xara Young Women's Choir, the vocal & diction coach for the Halifax Camerata Singers, and the conductor of the Bay Chorale, all based in the Halifax area of Nova Scotia. She approaches her conducting practice through the voice and is known for her innovative programming. In demand as a clinician and adjudicator, Christina takes great delight in inspiring people to sing!

Christina holds an undergraduate degree in music (voice/conducting) and philosophy from Mount Allison University, has done graduate work in feminist liturgical practices, and has subsequently studied conducting with Diane Loomer, Jon Washburn, Michael Zaugg, and Elise Bradley. An active and accomplished choral singer, as a young person Christina was selected for two tours with the National Youth Choir of Canada and now enjoys singing with the Halifax Camerata Singers and the Canadian Chamber Choir.

Christina served as head of choral studies at Kodaikanal International School in South India from 2002-04 and was resident conductor of the Nova Scotia Youth Choir in 2005 and 2006. She is a current board member for the Nova Scotia Choral Federation and is dedicated to the vibrant future (and present!) of choral music in her province and nation!

 

Brenda O'Connor is a displaced Maritimer at heart, currently making her home in Southwestern Ontario where she teaches elementary music and math by day, and sings in as many choirs as possible by night. She is a graduate of Mount Allison University and the University of Western Ontario, and is a recipient of both the Don Wright and Dawson Woodburn Awards for excellence in music education. She is passionate about providing opportunities for youth to experience choral music at a high level, and was awarded the inaugural New Brunswick Choral Federation Youth Achievement Award for her efforts to help establish a New Brunswick Youth Choir, and for her involvement on the NBCF Board of Directors. She is a proud former member of the National Youth Choir of Canada (2004 and 2006), the Nova Scotia Youth Choir (2004), the Fredericton SchoolGirl Choir, and almost countless other choral endeavours.