Faculty

​DIANA CLARK
​Diana Clark is Artistic Director of Coastal Sound Music, a multi-level choral organization based in Coquitlam, BC. With an eclectic background that includes a Master’s Degree in Music Performance and a Master of Music Education from Northwestern University, Diana is recognized for her creative work with young musicians and has served as a clinician across Canada. She taught music in SD43 public elementary schools for 32 years, including 3 years as Fine Arts Coordinator. Her workshop sessions offer a treasure-trove of practical ideas that connect repertoire to curriculum and artistry. 

Diana proudly served the Canadian choral community on the Board of Choral Canada and Advocacy Committee from 2014-2024 where she co-coordinated the first-ever National Choral Census (2014-2017), National Roundtables (2020) and the Benefits of Singing Campaign (2022-2023). Diana has been a member of the BC Choral Mentorship Project since its inception in 2010.

When she is not working with choirs, Diana plays Bass Trombone in Inlet Jazz Band, runs with her dog, and enjoys singing in jam sessions with her husband/musician Andrew Clark.
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DR. MARK RAMSAY
Dr. Mark Ramsay is Coordinator of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor in Music Education at Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of Music. He teaches at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and is the conductor of Western University Singers. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts (Choral Conducting) and a Master of Music (Choral Conducting) at University of Toronto under the tutelage of Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt, and a Bachelor of Music Education (Piano) from University of Prince Edward Island.

Mark is the Artistic Director and Conductor of Toronto’s award-winning Exultate Chamber Singers. In recent years, the ensemble has been invited to perform at Podium: Canada’s national choral conference and festival, recorded their sixth album At First Light at the Glenn Gould Studio, and was named first place winner in the adult mixed-voice chamber choir category in Choral Canada’s National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs. Under his leadership, the organization has created programs to support both young conductors and composers, and has commissioned sixteen new works by Canadian composers.

As a writer and researcher, Mark’s work has been published in the official publications of Choral Canada, American Choral Directors Association, Canadian Music Educators’ Association, and Kodály Society of Canada. He has also contributed to three books from GIA Publications. In 2022, Mark co-developed the “Choral Connections” column for the Canadian Music Educator journal in collaboration with colleague Dr. Tracy Wong. He has also worked as a recording assistant for the Canadian Chamber Choir on their two most recent albums, Where Waters Meet with featured artist Sherryl Sewepagaham, and Seasons of Life and Landscape.
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Mark is a strong advocate for music education and community music making. He is currently a board member of Sirens Choral Association and a former co-chair of Podium 2022. Mark also served on the board of Choirs Ontario and is a past editor of their publication Dynamic. He is frequently invited to appear as a guest conductor and clinician for choirs, community festivals, and conferences, and he has worked as an adjudicator at the local, provincial, and national levels including the National Finals of the Federation of Canadian Music Festivals. Mark has worked as a high school music teacher, provincial curriculum specialist, church music leader, and community choir director.
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SHERRYL SEWEPAGAHAM
​Sherryl Sewepagaham is of Cree-Dene ancestry and is from the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta. Sherryl is a composer, music therapist, educator, curriculum writer, and national presenter. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta, a Level III Orff certification, and has worked as an elementary music teacher and teacher-consultant in Edmonton, AB for 14 years. Sherryl is a 20-year founding member of the 2006 Juno-nominated trio, Asani and released her solo album, Splashing the Water Loudly in 2014. Sherryl brings her love of traditional drum songs to the students she works with and to the Indigenous education programs she creates. Currently living in Vancouver, BC, Sherryl completed a Bachelor of Music Therapy degree from Capilano University and will add the therapeutic side of music into her practice while continuing to work on various education projects. 

Presenters

JULIE FREEDMAN SMITH
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. 

LAURA HAWLEY
​Laura Hawley is a Canadian musician known for her compelling approach to musical leadership and artistic programming, community engagement, and distinctive compositional style.  She is artistic director of Da Camera Singers (Edmonton), founding artistic director of Hypatia’s Voice Women’s Choir (Ottawa), and works with ensembles throughout Canada including CAMMAC, Music & Beyond (Ottawa), Cantiamo Choirs (Ottawa), Ottawa Children’s Choir, Choral Canada, and provincial choral federations. 

Many of Canada’s finest choirs have commissioned and performed/recorded her works (published by Rhythmic Trident Music Publishing, Cypress Choral music, and on www.laurahawley.ca), including Elektra Women’s Choir, Pro Coro Canada, Inuksuk Drum Dancers, Canadian Chamber Choir, Spiritus Chamber Choir, Adlesia, Halifax Camerata, and Shallaway Youth Choir. 

Hawley holds a BMus and MA from the University of Ottawa and an ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto.  She has taught at the University of Ottawa, Carleton University, and teaches at Concordia University (Edmonton). 
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DR. BRENDAN LORD
​​Recognized for his unique blend of artistic and administrative leadership, Dr. Brendan Lord is equally comfortable in the boardroom and on the podium. As offstage leader, he is Executive Director of Choir Alberta and Principal of Prairie Arts Management and Consulting. Previously, he has served as Project Director for Podium Conference and Festival and Advisor for Alberta Music Advocacy Alliance. Artistically, he is Music Director of Edmonton's Greenwood Singers and has conducted choirs at all levels including the Calgary Philharmonic Chorus, Spiritus Chamber Choir, Edmonton Public Schools’ All-City Children’s Choir, and Sangkor Women’s Ensemble. Between 2001 and 2016, Dr. Lord was a Sessional Instructor at the University of Alberta where he taught courses in the areas of conducting, music theory, and musicianship.