What an exciting time it is as I begin 2012 as Coastal Sound’s new Executive Director. In partnership with Diana Clark and Carrie Tennant, I have the privilege of taking a leadership role in the future of Coastal Sound Music. I look forward to working with our Board of Directors, our multi-talented Artistic Team, and all of our singers and their families as well.
I sang in my first choir at age 5 and I vividly remember singing Do Re Mi and Edelweiss. As I grew older, the repertoire varied depending on the interests of my music teachers and I was fortunate to sing everything from The Lullaby of Broadway to Ave Verum Corpus as well as Les Toreadors in Bizet’s Carmen and Mack the Knife. Whether it was classical, opera, jazz or pop music I’ve always enjoyed choir and I hope to help bring that experience to many more children, youth and adults at Coastal Sound.
Professionally, my career has included both the performing and literary arts. I’ve worked in sales, marketing and advocacy roles as well as donor relations, special events and fundraising. In early 2011, I experienced the hard work and thrills of being an author when my first book was published by Penguin Books (USA). I’ve also done a great deal of technical theatre and my theatrical on stage claim to fame was “Dead Woman #2” in Our Town. I had just two lines so I don’t normally list that on my resume. My extensive theatre experience in fundraising and marketing will be much more help to Coastal Sound!
In recent years, I’ve described myself as a “community builder” and I’m proud to have been part of the Coastal Sound community in various ways. I began in 2002 by singing in the Adult Choir and in the years that followed I volunteered my time on the marketing, fundraising and strategic planning committees. I also served on the Board of Directors, first under Harold Peters as Chair and, later, with Dave Mitchell. More recently, I have been working with the Artistic Team and Robyn Stewart on various marketing and fundraising initiatives. Stepping into the role of Executive Director feels like a natural next step to me and I look forward to serving the Coastal Sound family in the months and years ahead.
I can’t look ahead without looking back at the history of Coastal Sound and I’d like to thank my predecessors Robyn Stewart and, before her, Dan Mattinson, for their administrative work in building Coastal Sound into a vibrant organization. Similarly, thanks to Diana Clark and her predecessor Donna Otto for their artistic vision and energy.
Coastal Sound is a fabulous choral community. Thank you for the warm welcome.