Choir Alberta Staff
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Brendan Lord, DMus | Executive Director
brendan@choiralberta.ca Brendan Lord holds a Bachelor of Arts (Music) degree from Augustana University College, and Master and Doctor of Music degrees in Choral Conducting from the University of Alberta. While studying for the Doctor of Music degree, Dr. Lord was awarded a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship, a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada Fellowship, and a University of Alberta President’s Award. His thesis, entitled Jonathan Dove’s The Passing of the Year and Other Works for Chorus and Keyboard, was awarded Choral Canada’s 2014 national award for Outstanding Thesis or Dissertation. His principal conducting teachers have included Dr. Marc A. Hafso, Dr. Robert de Frece, Dr. Debra Cairns, and Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff. Dr. Lord is recognized for his unique blend of artistic and administrative abilities, and works frequently in both capacities. As administrator, he is Executive Director of the Choir Alberta where, under his leadership, the organization has grown into the largest provincial choral organization in Canada. Dr. Lord was also the Producer for Podium 2016, Canada’s national choral festival and conference, which took Edmonton in May 2016. Artistically, Dr. Lord has worked with choirs of varying ages and abilities including the Sherwood Park Festival Singers, the Edmonton Public School Board’s All-City Children’s Choir, and Sangkor Women’s Ensemble. Since 2006, he has been a regular Sessional Instructor at the University of Alberta where he has taught courses in the areas of conducting, music theory, and musicianship. |
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Gina Friedrich, BSc | Program Assistant
gina@choiralberta.ca Gina Friedrich is a recent graduate from Concordia University of Edmonton with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. She fell in love with choir after joining the Concordia Concert Choir in her first year of university and remained an avid participant for the remainder of her degree. This past year, she was the librarian for the Concert Choir and a Choral Scholar at Holy Trinity Anglican Church. She also sang with two different ensembles in the ETown Vocal Music Society. In 2019, Gina received a George Black Scholarship, which provides a one-year membership in the Hymn Society. |
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Mackenzie Tennessen | Project Manager, Music Conference Alberta
manager@musicconferenceab.ca Mackenzie Tennessen is an administrator, wedding planner, event coordinator, actor, and musician. She was the Program Coordinator for Choir Alberta from 2015-2018. She is a graduate of MacEwan University's Theatre Arts Program, a certified Wedding Coordinator through the Wedding Planner's Institute of Canada, and holds a certificate in Applied Bookkeeping from NAIT. She has been seen on stage in productions with Guys in Disguise, Theatre Network, Theatre Yes, Teatro la Quindicina, and SatCo, and has worked as musical director with Alberta Musical Theatre Company, Scona Theatre Co, and Uniform Theatre. In addition to her work with Music Conference Alberta, she is the General Manager of Alberta Musical Theatre Company, the founder of local theatre company, Uniform Theatre, and is a co-owner and Lead Planner with Primrose Event Planning and Design. |
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Luke Wiebe, BSc | Program Assistant
luke@choiralberta.ca Luke is a recent graduate of the University of Alberta with a Bachelor of Science in physics. He has had a lifelong involvement in choirs, singing in the Edmonton Youth and Children’s Choirs throughout his childhood, and joining the UofA Madrigal singers during his undergrad. Luke is excited to help launch Choir Alberta’s 50th season. |