Board of Directors

Executive Committee

MAME GOEHNER, PRESIDENT
Lyrical soprano Mame Helise Goehner has been performing and studying music since the age of six. Studying under the expertise of Opera Nuova’s founder Kim Mattice Wanat and Canada’s top baritone Peter Barcza, she has won several major scholarships and festivals throughout Canada and Europe. Mame completed her BMus and MMus at the University of British Columbia under the tutelage of Bruce Pullan and Nancy Hermiston; while at UBC, Mame was a lead member of the UBC Opera Ensemble. She has toured throughout Europe, personally sang for the Queen of England and has showcased many private recitals and performances in Canada. Mame currently teaches and runs a thriving music school in Calgary, AB, and travels across Alberta doing Masterclasses, teaching clinics and adjudicating

KAREN HUDSON, PAST PRESIDENT
Karen Hudson is the director of the Choral Department at Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, one of three public schools with a student population of about 850 students, in Lethbridge, Alberta. LCI has a long tradition of excellence in choral singing with four choirs; the choirs have been successful on both the Provincial and National level, and perform throughout the year at many local events, festivals, and competitions throughout Western Canada and internationally. Karen is also active herself as a choral singer. She is the co-founder and a member of the Ventus Women’s Choir and a member of the Chinook Chamber Singers. Karen is active as a clinician and conductor throughout the province.

JOSHUA MOHR, SECRETARY
Joshua Mohr was born and raised in Camrose. He obtained a Bachelor of Music at Augustana University College, and went on to study music at the University of Manitoba and law at the University of Victoria. In May of 2012, Joshua was called to the bar in British Columbia. In May of 2012 Joshua was called to the bar in Alberta, and worked for Sirrs LLP for three years before joining Knaut Johnson Francoeur. Joshua is the Chair of the Management Council for the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre. He is a member of the Camrose Daybreak Rotary Club, and the Camrose Kinsmen. He spends most of his free time keeping up with his son, Ellis and his wife, Danielle.

CAROL CALLAGHAN, TREASURER
Carol Callaghan was born and raised in ranching country in SE Alberta, currently living east of Calgary. Along with serving as Treasurer on her church council and involvement in various small-town organizations, she has been at the helm of a successful rural natural gas utility for 16+ years, where numbers and budgets have become her second language. Having discovered her love of choral music with Rosebud Masterworks Choir (directed by Bill Hamm of the Rosebud Theatre & School of the Arts), she is currently singing with the women’s ensemble Blend Vocal in Calgary, where she has also served as Treasurer and is currently President. Carol is so pleased to be able to contribute her financial skills and experience to Choir Alberta and be part of the support and programming this organization provides to choral groups across our province.

Directors

NICOLE HOUNJET, VICE PRESIDENT PROJECTS & PROGRAMS
Nicole Hounjet is honoured to sit on the Board of Choir Alberta and is excited to bring vibrant and enriching programs to singers and conductors at every age and stage. She has been the Music and Fine Arts Director at Foothills Composite High School/Alberta High School of Fine Arts for the past 12 years. During her time at FCHS/AHSFA her ensembles (choirs, bands, and jazz) have all regularly performed and have been recognized at provincial and national music festivals. An accomplished musician, Ms Hounjet completed her music degree at the University of Alberta where she was mentored by wonderful women, passionate about choral music: Dr. Debra Cairns and Dr. Ardelle Ries. Since her time at U of A, Nicole has continued to study with with wonderful teachers including James Jordan, James Whitbourn, Gregory Boers, Richard Nace, and Rodney Eichenberger. Nicole also conducts the Westwinds Women’s Choir which is a part of the larger Westwinds Music Society.

LAUREL HALKIER, VICE PRESIDENT MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Laurel Halkier has a Visual Communications degree from the University of Alberta, where she remains a sessional instructor, teaching business practice to 500 Level students. She has been an invited speaker at design and publishing conferences and lectures, and has served as jury member in numerous design and communication competitions. Laurel also holds a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University, and maintains a coaching practice focussed on supporting women in all levels of leadership. Laurel renews her spirit by singing with Vocal Alchemy, and serves on the board of the Choir Alberta.

KATE KOPLOVICH, VICE PRESIDENT DEVELOPMENT
Kate Koplovich is a passionate advocate for performing arts; herself being involved in various aspects for over 20 years. Kate’s 15 years of choral experience with the Calgary Girls’ Choir and Cantare Children’s Choir allowed her to compete in provincial and national competitions and tour nationally and internationally showcasing Alberta’s incredible choral talent! Alongside her extra-curricular choral experience, she was an active member of the Strathcona-Tweedsmuir Junior High and High School Choirs, has performed in various musical theatre productions, and remains an avid pianist. Kate holds a Master’s of Science in Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment from University College London and a Bachelor of Environmental Studies from the University of Waterloo and works at Deloitte. She is honoured to be part of Choir Alberta and shape performing arts in Alberta.

THOMAS SPILA, DIRECTOR
Tom Spila (B. Ed, U of A, secondary music major) recently retired after having taught music at the Elementary, Jr., & Sr. High School levels for a total of 43 years. The past 39 of those were spent at Camrose Composite High School where the music program consisted of concert and jazz bands, mixed chorus, chamber choir and vocal jazz, as well as beginner and advanced guitar. Student groups under his direction have been recognized at regional, provincial, and national levels. He has been the director of the Camrose & District Community Band since its inception in 1983, is a past recipient of the Tommy Banks Award from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, was presented with the first Vondis Miller Legacy Award in 2004, and is a member of the International Bandmasters Fraternity: Phi Beta Mu – Mu Alpha Chapter. He has been recognized for his work by Alberta Education, the University of Alberta (Augustana Faculty), the Alberta Band Association, the Alberta Choral Federation, the city of Camrose, the Alberta Government, and the Governor General of Canada. In 2017, he directed the Southern Alberta Jr. High School Honour Band for the Alberta Band Association. Mr. Spila has served on the board of the Alberta Band Association and now looks forward to working for the music community as a board member of Choir Alberta.

BETH PECSON, DIRECTOR
Beth Pecson is an accomplished choral director, music teacher, pianist, and church musician. She has taught with the Edmonton Catholic Schools as a music specialist for 27 years. Beth is the Conductor of the ECSD All-City Junior High and the Monsignor Fee Otterson Junior High Choirs. In addition to performing at local, provincial and national music festivals, her choirs serve at Liturgical and Eucharistic celebrations. They are also actively involved in faith formation sessions. Beth is currently piloting a High School Liturgical Music program. In 2017 the Council of Catholic School Superintendents of Alberta presented her with an Excellence in Catholic Education Award. She finished her Master of Religious Education Degree (with Distinction) from Newman Theological College and was the recipient of the 2017 graduating class’ Emmaus Award. Beth serves in the music ministry of Annunciation Catholic Church. She is one of the conductors of the Edmonton Youth and Children’s Choirs. Beth lives in Edmonton with her husband and their four beautiful children.

JOANNE COLLIER, DIRECTOR
Joanne Collier has shared her passion for choral singing with people of all ages as either a singer or conductor her entire life. Currently she teaches for Holy Spirit Catholic Schools at The Children of St. Martha School in Lethbridge, is Music Director at St. Augustine’s Church, and Music Director of Vox Musica Choral Society. For nineteen years she was on faculty at Medicine Hat College where she taught voice and directed children’s, youth, and adult choirs including the award-winning MHC Girls’ Choir. Originally from Boissevain, Manitoba, Joanne holds a Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the University of Manitoba and Master of Music (Vocal Performance) from the University of British Columbia. Following an accomplished career of almost twenty years, she entered the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge in 2011 where she received the William Aberhardt Gold Medal upon graduation. She is the recipient of the Alberta Choral Federation’s “Con Spirito” award for contributions to choral music in her community, the Johann Strauss Foundation scholarship for study in Austria, Medicine Hat College Employee of the Year and City of Medicine Hat Civic Award for contributions to the arts.

JULIE FREEDMAN SMITH, DIRECTOR
Julie Freedman Smith has been involved in teaching for the past 28 years. Her experience as an Elementary/Jr. High music teacher, a choral conductor with the Calgary Boys Choir, a voice instructor and a choral clinician has resulted in extensive opportunities to work with children and adults in both individual and group environments. A founding member of Luminous Voices and a regular addition to VoiceScapes, Julie continues to feed her love of performance. Since 2002, she has encouraged parents across the country as co-founder of Parenting Power. Julie holds B.Sc. Biology and a B.A. Psychology with Distinction from the University of Calgary.

TYLER LEAVITT, DIRECTOR
Tyler Leavitt is the choral conductor of Gilbert Paterson Middle School, as well as the Drama Coordinator and lead Fine Arts teacher - a position he has held since 2008. He is an active singer and performer in the community and on stage. Tyler is one of the founding members of the Chinook Chamber Singers in Lethbridge, and has had the privilege of singing under the direction of award-winning conductors, including Dr. George Evelyn and Dr. Marvin Dueck. Tyler's most recent stage performances include "Titanic: The Musical" and "All is Calm: the Christmas Truce of 1914". Tyler holds a B.A. in French and a B.Ed. in modern languages from the University of Lethbridge.

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CHOIR ALBERTA BOARD?
Our volunteer Board is made up of musicians and non-musicians dedicated to supporting choirs and choral practitioners across Alberta. The broad range of skills and perspectives represented on the Board contribute to the effective planning and delivery of the organization's diverse offerings.

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