Provincial Reps

Provincial Representatives

British Columbia Choral Federation

Willi Zwozdesky, Executive Director

Willi Zwozdesky is widely-known as a choral conductor and for his work as an arranger, which form a large part of an active musical career that also includes music publishing and arts management. A native of Alberta, Zwozdesky later moved to Seattle, where he completed a Master of Music in choral conducting and a Master of Arts in music theory at the University of Washington in 1981. Following his move to Vancouver in that year, he established himself as a leader in the city’s cultural community, working in choral music, education, musical theatre, and most notably, as the conductor of the Vancouver Men’s Chorus, a position he still holds today. He also trained in arts administration at The Banff Centre School of Management and at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver.

At the core of Zwozdesky’s career are his choral arrangements, many of which regularly appear in concert programs and recordings across Canada and abroad. In 1990 he established Rhythmic Trident Music Publishing, which focuses on his own and new Canadian work. An active choral clinician and adjudicator, Willi has also volunteered on a number of national and regional organizations, including the Canadian Music Centre, GALA Choruses, Inc., the World of Children’s Choirs 2001 and, presently, the Association of Canadian Choral Communities. In 2004, his dedication to choral music was recognized with both a Legacy Award from GALA Choruses for his contributions to that movement and a Willan Award from the British Columbia Choral Federation for outstanding service to British Columbia’s choral community. In addition to his freelance work, he serves as the Executive Director of the British Columbia Choral Federation.

Alberta Choral Federation

Brendan Lord, Executive Director

Brendan Lord holds a Bachelor of Arts(Music) degree from Augustana University College, a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta, and is currently studying for the Doctor of Music degree in choral conducting, also at the U of A. His conducting teachers have included Dr. Marc Hafso, Dr. Robert de Frece, Dr. Debra Cairns, and Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff. Mr. Lord has recently completed two major recitals which included J.S. Bach’s rarely performed Easter Oratorio and the Canadian premieres of James MacMillan’s Cantos Sagrados and James Bassi’s Harpsonnets.Recent awards include the Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada fellowship, and the University of Alberta President`s Award. He is a frequent adjudicator and clinician with choirs of all ages and abilities, and is an active composer and arranger of choral music having had his pieces performed across Canada and the United States. In addition to his work as a freelance musician, Mr. Lord is the Executive Director of the Alberta Choral Federation and a member of Pro Coro Canada.

Saskatchewan Choral Federation

Denise Gress, Executive Director

Denise Gress is Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Choral Federation (SCF). A born organizer and administrator, Denise has many years experience in project, event and organizational management. A business owner for 10 years, Denise is committed to providing exceptional service to both the SCF and the Association of Canadian Choral Communities (ACCC) and looks forward to meeting members and forging new relationships.

Denise’s interest in choral and instrumental music was rekindled during her involvement as Administrator of a large Regina high-school music program. “I enjoyed working within the musical community and I am very pleased to be involved in this capacity again”, she says. Although not a musician herself, she is an excellent audience member and appreciates all musical endeavours (or tries to!).

Denise has worked at all levels of government, in the co-operative sector and with private business. Her forte is organizing systems and events and she is excited about collaborating with her counterparts across Canada and the volunteer Board members of ACCC to increase opportunities for choral music study, performance and appreciation across Canada.

Manitoba Choral Association

Robert Neufeld, Executive Director

Robert Neufeld holds a Bachelor of Arts (Music)degree from the University of Winnipeg and a Bachelor of Religious Studies (Choral conducting concentration) degree from Mennonite Brethren Bible College, now known as Canadian Mennonite University.
He was self-employed for many years as a contract cleaner. He conducted the 50-voice choir at Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church in Steinbach, Manitoba for 14 years. He is busy as accompanist (piano and organ) for weddings, funerals, festivals, grad recitals and church music events. He is a member of Canzona (Winnipeg’s premiere baroque ensemble), the CMU Alumni Choir and has sung occasionally with the Winnipeg Singers, Renaissance Voices and Ecco. He was on the board of the EastMan Choral Association from 1989-2006 and was their representative on the MCA Board in the early 1990’s. Robert has served as Executive Director of the Manitoba Choral Association since August 2006.

Choirs Ontario

Elizabeth Shannon, Executive Director

Elizabeth Shannon is the Managing Director of Choirs Ontario, where she is responsible for the management of services, programmes and projects that promote the awareness, appreciation and performance of choral music throughout Ontario. Elizabeth currently also serves as the Managing Director of Talisker Players Chamber Music, a unique ensemble in Toronto specializing in the performance of vocal chamber music. Prior to moving to Toronto, Elizabeth was the Artistic Administrator of the Victoria Piano Summer School and Faculty Representative to the Board of Directors at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Victoria, British Columbia.

Elizabeth is also the founder and former Artistic Director of Via Choralis, a mixed-voice chamber choir on the Saanich Peninsula in British Columbia. Her conducting experience includes positions with the Victoria Conservatory Children’s Choir, the Sidney Classical Orchestra and the Victoria Piano Summer School Chorus.

Elizabeth is an active music educator and piano teacher, and was a Faculty Member in both the Piano and Theory Departments at the Victoria Conservatory of Music in Victoria, British Columbia where she taught piano, theory and musicianship skills. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, and is an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Alliance des chorales du Québec

Catherine Girard, Executive Director

Catherine Girard has been working with the Alliance des chorales du Québec since 2006. She began as manager of the choral music shop and was made managing director of the Alliance in July, 2008. She has been active in the choral music scene for more than 28 years, as a chorister and, since 1999, as a choir director. Catherine Girard holds a DEC in classical music (major in organ) from the Cégep in Drummondville and is at present director of the choir Do-Ré-Mi in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

New Brunswick Choral Federation/Fédération chorale du Nouveau-Brunswick

Leo Macneil, Executive Director

Leo Macneil has been involved in the performing arts in Fredericton for most of his life, including church and high school choirs. Early piano lessons with the late Robert Bayley helped Leo develop a lasting fondness for classical music. Following studies in political science at St. Thomas University, Leo held a number of positions in writing, quality assurance, marketing and online content management. He joined the Fredericton Choral Society in 2001 for Carmina Burana, was reminded how much fun singing is and intends never to be without a choir again. He sang with the Canadian Centennial Choir while in Ottawa from 2003 to 2005. On his return to Fredericton, he joined the board of directors of the Fredericton Choral Society and is currently vice-president of the FCS.

Leo also sings with the Bel Canto Singers of Fredericton and has acted as their treasurer since the winter of2007. He remains active in the direction and promotion of both choirs. Leo is thrilled to be working with the wonderful NBCF board of directors and looks forward to advancing the NBCF's programs and services and serving its enthusiastic membership.

Nova Scotia Choral Federation

Tim Callahan-Cross, Executive Director

Tim Callahan-Cross, Executive Director of the Nova Scotia Federation (NSCF), is a graduate of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. He worked with NSCF as Program Coordinator from 1987 until 1997 when he assumed the position of Executive Director. Prior to working with the federation he owned and operated the acclaimed Halifax restaurant Café Quelque Chose, worked as a dietetic supervisor at the Halifax Infirmary Hospital and was a qualified fitness instructor at the YMCA.

He has served as a volunteer on committees and boards of several choirs, the Nova Scotia Designer Crafts Council, the YMCA, the Family Pride Camping Association and Kinap. Currently he is treasurer of the Cultural Federations of Nova Scotia and member at large of the Atlantic View Elementary School After School Association. Tim makes his home by the water of Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore with his husband Thomas and son Bruno. He has enjoyed singing with local community choirs, is learning to play the guitar and is an avid photographer and gardener.

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