Doug Hammond, President and Human Resources Management
president@singingout.com
Doug joined Singing Out in January 2015. After his first term, he made the decision to stand for the Board where he served for three years as the Music Advisory Co-Chair working closely with the Artistic Director on musical selection. This will be Doug’s fourth year on Singing Out’s Board of Directors where he has taken the role of President and Human Resources Management. He is excited to lead the Board this year and is looking forward to the new challenges it will bring. Doug brings to the choir his experience through a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master’s in Musicology majoring in Choral Conducting both from York University. He also brings his knowledge of administration through a decade as a college administrator. In his spare time, you can find him rehearsal for community musical theatre productions, playing softball and spending time with dog, Riley.
Jane Barry-Shaw, Vice President and Policy
vicepresident@singingout.com
Jane has been a member of Singing Out since January 2017. She feels well prepared to face the challenges of her new role as Vice-President of the board, following last year’s success heading up the all-important Ministry of Snacks. Jane is originally from Montreal, and was a member of Choeur Maha, an auditioned, feminist choir featuring pieces in a wide variety of languages and musical styles, from 2011-2016.
She earned a Master’s degree in Nursing from McGill in 2007, and currently spends her time shaping young minds as an undergraduate nursing instructor at Ryerson University. Jane enjoys fitness training, travel, cooking, exploring the arts and restaurant scenes, and on occasion, busting out some breakdance moves from her bygone days as a b-girl.
Radi Annab, Treasurer
treasurer@singingout.com
Radi began his journey with Singing Out in the Fall of 2017, performing in the Fall and Spring concerts of the 2017/2018 season and at Unison Festival in Calgary in May 2018. He became a member of the Board and Treasurer of Singing Out in August 2018. Radi has more than two decades of experience in the financial industry, earning an MBA in finance and international business as a Fulbright scholar, and has served on corporate boards. Besides reviving his passion for music through Singing Out, he is a Pilates aficionado, speaks five languages, is an animal lover and dotes over his two cats, Archie and Moose.
Joanna Rowe, Secretary and Venues
secretary@singingout.com
Joanna joined Singing Out in September, 2018, in the alto section. She has a long history of choir membership in various provinces, and is excited to participate in leadership through the Board of Directors. Joanna works in education. She has particular passions in mental health, learning disabilities, and advocacy for LGBTQ students and staff. She plays the flute well and the piano badly.
Michelle Veronesi, Music Advisory and Artistic Co-Chair
music@singingout.com
Michelle has been a member of Singing Out since 2017. Since then, she has performed at the UNISON festival in 2018, five Singing Out Concerts and three cabarets. She became the Alto Section Leader in September 2017, Cabaret Co-Chair in December 2018, and is now the Co-Chair of the Music Advisory Committee. Michelle was a member of the Canadian Children’s Opera Company, attended Etobicoke School of the Arts for their music program, and was the Concert Manager and an active board member for Hart House Chorus. Michelle is thrilled to be a member of the Singing Out board and choir and feels as if the choir is a second home to her. When not in rehearsals for Singing Out, Michelle enjoys reading fantasy novels and trying new restaurants with her partner Alison.
Byron Elzinga, Marketing/Outreach
marketing@singingout.com
Byron joined Singing Out in January 2019, after watching choirs on various talent TV shows. As he watched, he thought back and remembered the enjoyment he experienced as part of his high school choir, so he started to search for local choirs he could join and found Singing Out. Byron fell in love with the passion and dedication he found within the Singing Out community and looks forward to singing in future concerts with Singing Out.
Byron is a huge Come From Away fan, (ask him about it – he never tires of talking about that musical), and can often be found in one of the Mirvish theatres catching a show as part of his season subscription or through organizing a group event with friends, family and coworkers.
Michael Bennett, Fundraising
Fundraising@singingout.com
Michael has been a member of Singing Out since September of 2000. Over the years he has served on Board of Directors, the Production Committee and the Music Advisory Committee. A teacher and composer, Michael has written several LGBTQ-themed songs for Singing Out including “The What’s Under the Christmas Tree for Me Blues”, “Married Again” (For the First Time) and “Gay Village Whiplash”. His poem, The River Sings My Song, has been arranged for Singing Out by Canadian composer Matthew Emery. In addition to LGBTQ compositions, Michael has written songs for children: “Dandelion Wishes” (Remembrance Day), and “Terry’s Dream” (Terry Fox) , and several holiday songs: “The Colour of Winter”, “Follow Far”, “An
Invitation to Snow”, and others. His composition “Not Just Passing By” was recently awarded the Platinum Pride Award of Resilience in the Rainbow Harmony Project Chorus Competition.
“Singing Out has provided me with opportunities that I would never have dreamed were possible when I first joined. It has been a truly life changing experience.”
Anton Corvus, Membership/Accessibility and Inclusion
Inclusion@singingout.com
Anton joined singing out in earnest in 2016. Anton had no singing experience before joining the choir, and was very happy no auditions were needed to join. In his second year on the board he’s excited to be in the newly created and shared role of, “Membership / Inclusion and Diversity,” where he brings a passion for equity, inclusion and support for increased choral diversity. Anton recently completed a five year psychotherapy training program, only tenuously related to his previous jobs of hypnotherapist, journalist, web designer, firefighter & automotive designer. Currently he’s learning American Sign Language
Cynda Ashton, Membership/Accessibility and Inclusion
Membership@singingout.com
Cynda joined Singing Out in January 2013 and has enjoyed singing in numerous concerts since then. She was even lucky enough to meet her partner through Singing Out and they are getting married in the fall of 2019! Outside of singing, she works as a social worker with children and youth and is an avid cat lover. She is excited to be collaborating on the new Membership/Accessibility and Inclusion portfolio.