News: Member Blog

Sue Kember, director of Atlantic Barbershop Champions The ScotianAires Chorus, has been certified as a Singing Category Judge with international barbershop organization Harmony, Inc. at its Category Training School held in January 2017 at Greenfield NH.

Harmony, Inc. trains candidates for certification in four categories: Singing, Music, Performance, and Chairman of Judges. In the Atlantic Provinces, which comprise Area 1 in Harmony, Inc., there are currently two Performance Candidates (ScotianAires members Jill Reid and Fatima Whelan) and one Performance Judge (Theresa Weatherbee). Sue’s certification now gives the Atlantic Provinces its first Harmony, Inc. certified Singing Judge in six years.

Sue entered the Harmony, Inc. judging program as an applicant in the singing category in January of 2015. The fact that Sue was able to certify after only two years in the program is a testament to her extensive musical education and talents, coupled with decades of experience teaching, directing, and singing barbershop music.

Sue first joined the ScotianAires in 1994 and sang in a variety of quartets including Sudden Impulse and former Atlantic Champions Cadenza and Exit Four. After serving for many years as Assistant Director in the chorus, Sue took over as Director of the ScotianAires in 2006, leading the chorus to a total of six Atlantic championships.

Retired Harmony, Inc. Singing Judge and past ScotianAires director Shelagh Radcliffe recognized Sue’s potential and encouraged the talented young singer. “Sue was like a sponge from the day she walked in the door at rehearsal for the first time. She attended every possible barbershop class that she could and was constantly peppering me with questions, especially when I had been away to a school of some sort,” Shelagh recalls. “It was that enthusiasm and desire to grow and flourish that made my decision to ask her to be my Assistant Director and then to turn the chorus over to her, the right one. I knew that as she grew and flourished, so would the chorus. Her certification is just one more step in Sue’s progression through barbershop and indeed, through her life. She’s not done yet, I’m certain!”

The ScotianAires honoured Sue and her certification at a recent ceremony to which Shelagh was invited as a special guest. There she presented Sue with a treasured music pin to mark this high point in Sue’s barbershop journey. ScotianAires’ president Linda McMaster remarked, “It is so wonderful that others can see her amazing gifts the same as we do, and now all of Harmony will have the opportunity to benefit from her sharing. Well done, Sue!”
Congratulations to ScotianAires director Sue Kember on this significant achievement in the world of barbershop music!

Chor Leoni Men’s Choir and Artistic Director Erick Lichte are pleased to announce the three finalists of the inaugural Canadian Choral Composition Competition (C/4). They are Frances Farrell, Nicholas Kelly, and Bonnie Penfound. An independent jury of choral director Morna Edmundson, VSO composer-in-residence Jocelyn Morlock, and businessman and composer James Carter will award financial prizes of $2000, $1000, and $500 as the finale of the C/4 show.

The competition attracted over 30 entries. “We are extraordinarily proud that this inaugural year of the C/4 competition has yielded so many incredible Canadian male choral compositions,” Erick Lichte enthused. “Seeing the talent and craft of so many composers from across Canada has been inspiring and we are especially happy to present the works of our three finalists this February. We hope this annual competition continues to discover and champion unique Canadian voices in years to come.”

Choral Canada is pleased to announce the addition of two staff members to their team, Hilary Knox as General Manager, and Dianna Alteen as the Programs and Office Assistant.
Hilary Knox
Hilary Knox comes to Choral Canada directly from her role as General Manager of the Health Arts Society of Ontario, working with Artistic Director Jeanne Lamon. She left her previous career as a classical singer, based in London, UK, to move back to Canada to raise her family, at which point she took on the management firm of Gossage Artists Management for several years. Hilary holds a Master of Music (Perf) at Mannes College the New School for Music (NYC) and a Bachelor of Music (Perf) at the University of Toronto. Hilary also completed the Arts Administration and Cultural Management post-graduate program at Humber College in Toronto. Hilary grew up singing in choirs in her native Ottawa ON, including several years in the Ontario Youth Choir, and many choirs in Toronto.

Dianna Alteen
A native of Corner Brook, Newfoundland, Dianna Alteen recently completed her Bachelor of Music in flute from Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is continuing her studies at Humber College, where she is enrolled in the Arts Administration and Cultural Management post graduate program. During her time at MUN, Dianna assisted with the planning and management of numerous events and festivals at the School of Music, including the Honour Band, StringFest, and Newfound Music Festival. She is a former member of the MUN Chamber and Festival choirs, as well as an original member of the MUNkapeli singers. Dianna is also currently the festival manager for Gros Morne Summer Music, an arts organization based on the west coast of Newfoundland.