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.
Kaitlin Blanchard, Vice President and Grants Management
vicepresident@singingout.com
Kaitlin began singing with the chorus in 2013. After taking a brief hiatus to finish a Master’s degree and begin their Doctorate, they are pleased to return to the chorus and serve its membership and the LGBTQ+ community as Singing Out’s vice president and grants officer. Kaitlin served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Antigone Foundation for seven years. She currently sits on the board of the Association for Literature Culture and Environment in Canada (ALECC) and acts as a grants officer for the Toronto Queer Independent Film Festival (TQFF). She is a past Mellon Fellow and a current Vanier Scholar. When they are not singing, or searching out new funding opportunities for the chorus, they can usually be found working on their doctorate, teaching at McMaster University, writing poetry, playing soccer, biking, or playing with their collie, Dusty Springfield.
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.
Anton Corvus, Secretary
secretary@singingout.com
I’m the board secretary and I am entering my 3rd year in the choir. This is my first time on the choir board. I love singing, and when the whole choir is almost concert ready, I am blown away by the beauty of our collective voices.
I love that for the Singing Out choir, you don’t have to audition to join ! I have found its a great bunch of folks to hang out with not only during rehearsals and concerts, but also when doing some volunteer work. As a queer transgender man, I greatly appreciate the choirs continuing evolution to better support all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Michael Bennett, Music Advisory
music@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.”
Anthony Castaneda, Marketing/Social Media Chair
marketing@singingout.com
Since joining Singing Out in 2002, there isn’t a lot that Anthony hasn’t done in the choir: ensemble member, board member (production), board president (2009-2011), bass/baritone section leader, production committee chair, choreographer, dancer, set and costume maker, composer, poster and programme designer, the choir’s oldest – in performing years, not age! – drag queen (Eartha), and now, once again, board member for marketing and outreach. Clearly, he has a hard time saying “no.”
Christine Knight, Membership Engagement and Fundraising
Membership@singingout.com
Christine attended her first Singing Out rehearsal the day she arrived in Toronto earlier in 2018. Hailing from the UK, where she taught high school children for many years, the choir has provided Christine with a sense of queer community that was lacking prior to her move. She takes great pleasure in getting to know members of the choir from all sections and of all age groups. She has sat on advisory committees for education policy, and chaired teaching groups in the UK. In her role on the board, she is looking forward to continuing to work on making Singing Out an inclusive space for LGBTQIA2SQ+ folks.