Chris Bowman
Artistic Director of the Cantabile Singers
Christopher Bowman (M. Mus Memorial University, B. Mus Mount Allison University) enjoys making music in many forms – as a conductor, solo and choral singer, educator, and composer. He is full-time Minister of Music at First United Church in Truro, Nova Scotia, and Artistic Director of the Cantabile Society of Truro, where he conducts the Cantabile Singers and works with the Cantabile children’s choirs. He also sings with the Juno-nominated Canadian Chamber Choir and takes great delight in the fact that choral music has given him the opportunity to sing in every Canadian province. Chris is active as a baritone soloist; his debut CD “Over Hill and Valley” with pianist David Chafe won Music NS and Music NL awards, and was nominated for an East Coast Music Award.
Chris loves working with choral singers of all ages and stages, and has conducted community, church, school, and university choirs in Atlantic Canada and Ontario. He is sought after as a clinician, adjudicator, and lecturer, and has taught in various university music departments in Atlantic Canada as a sessional instructor. As time permits, he is a composer/arranger of choral music, and in recent years has become interested in hymn writing; he and Valerie Kingsbury have written dozens of pieces of music for use in liturgical settings under the ‘Tidal Bore Music’ banner.
Chris’ favourite musical collaborations, however, are with his wife Laura, and their children Erica and Meredith. They live in Valley, Nova Scotia.
Artistic Staff of Cantabile Society
Belinda Adshade
Accompanist of the Cantabile Singers
Belinda Adshade grew up in Truro, NS and is thankful for a rich musical heritage that began with singing and playing in her church, and continued with her training in voice and piano locally, and as a student at Acadia University. Appreciated for her sensitive playing, Belinda has been accompanying soloists and groups since she was a teenager. She also has almost 30 years of experience both as a private music teacher (piano and voice) and as a music director for various churches in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. While residing in Miramichi, NB, she was additionally given the opportunity to teach music at Millerton School, and to accompany, and then direct, the community choir known as The Villagers. A former member of Cantabile, Belinda is pleased to have the opportunity to work with them again.
Ann Legere
Artistic Director of the Cantabile Truro Youth Singers
Ann Legere has been the Artistic Director of the Cantabile Truro Youth Singers since the inception of the choir. After her studies in voice and piano, Ann has been directing and accompanying choirs and soloists. She directs Immaculate Conception Church choir and has been on the Board of the Truro Music Festival since coming to Truro.
Upon moving to Truro 22 years ago from Bathurst, New Brunswick, she formed the Cantabile Truro Youth Singers, with her daughter, Lorraine Brocklehurst who has been accompanist since its inception. The choir is made up of students in Grades 4 and up, and performs regularly in concerts throughout the year with Cantabile Choir (Cantabile Singers (Adult), and Cantabile Boys Choir. The choir has been so fortunate in having the addition of Marie Braedley as Assistant Director.
They are regularly invited guests in concerts with “Creative Voices” (ladies choir under Jackie Chambers). They participate yearly in the Truro Music Festival, and TYS girls love singing the Anthem at the Junior Bearcat’s hockey games at the RECC during their season, as well as for other groups in our community who request the singing of O Canada. Her husband, Max, (a retired high school teacher of 35 years at Bathurst High School) is a wonderful support in many aspects of the choir.
We are always looking for new singers. Cantabile Singers rehearse Monday nights and Truro Youth Singers rehearse Friday afternoons. Send us an email, we'd love to have you!
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Lorraine Brocklehurst
Accompanist of the Cantabile Truro Youth Singers
Lorraine has been accompanist for the Cantabile Truro Youth Singers for the past 20+ years.
Along with her piano accompanying, she takes part in all aspects in the choosing and preparation of music for the choir.
Between September and June, Lorraine operates a very busy piano studio for students of all ages.
Erin & Megan, her daughters, (Alumni of TYS), are the center of her life, along with her two cats, Fiona & Jackson, and Erin’s dogs, Lennon & Harley, as well as Megan’s dog, Attie!