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Mary Bella
CHOIR DIRECTOR
Mary is a classically trained soprano with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance and a Graduate Opera Diploma from the University of Toronto. In addition to singing as soloist, she has performed in over 40 mainstage productions with the Canadian Opera Company chorus and sings with VIVA Chamber Singers whenever she can. She also runs her own web design business, Maestra Web Design
Mary has a passion for the power of music and singing to bring people together and build community. She began conducting about 15 years ago, when she took over the Mimico Children’s Choir, and started the adult Local Vocals as a fundraiser for the children's choir. Reviving in March 2024 after a 4-year "COVID hiatus", the group has grown in size to 50-60 enthusiastic participants per session, and has expanded to include tenors and basses.
Mary and the Local Vocals are especially excited to perform with the Etobicoke Philharmonic Orchestra in November 2025!
Michael Colvin
ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR & TENOR LEAD
Michael Colvin’s performing career spans three decades, with appearances on opera and concert stages across Canada, the United States, UK and Europe. Performance highlights include l’Opéra de Paris, Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Austria’s Salzburg Festival, The Royal Opera in London, and regular appearances with the hometown Canadian Opera Company. His extensive repertoire includes leading roles in operas by Mozart, Rossini and Britten and supporting roles in works by Strauss, Wagner and Tchaikovsky. His musical journey began as a youth at St. Michael's Choir School in Toronto where he received a solid grounding in choral music. He served for many years as church cantor and choir director at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and was tenor lead in several professional ensembles including the Tafelmusik Chamber Choir. He is also co-founder of the Victoria Scholars Men's Choral Ensemble.
In recent years, alongside his opera career, Michael has started composing for choirs, with premieres by The Elmer Iseler Singers, Victoria Scholars, Brampton Children's Chorus and Local Vocals. Lifelong partner of LoVo director, Mary Bella, Michael is one of the group's biggest fans, and is honoured to serve as assistant conductor and section lead for the lower voices whenever his schedule permits.
Becky Wicks
PIANO ACCOMPANIST
Becky trained classically in piano and violin at an early age, along with her three older sisters, encouraged by her musical parents. She learned to love jazz through listening to and playing with her father, a jazz saxophonist.
After graduating from Western with a Bachelor of Music degree, she taught high school music and was a consultant with the Toronto Board for 30 years. She has played with a variety of choirs and ensembles, most recently the GTA Swing Band, Vintage, Jazz Generation, Bach to Blues Choir and Jazz Project. She also played viola in the Etobicoke Philharmonic, and an Australian folk band, and has arranged and composed choral music and a musical “The Princess and the Pea”.
Since retirement, she has been busy as a freelance musician, playing for church services, weddings, choirs, and subbing for jazz bands. She continues to compose and arrange music.
Linda Roland
PIANO ACCOMPANIST
Linda grew up in Beamsville Ontario where she studied piano, sang in the church choir and was the organist at her church. She studied Music at Western and Humber College.
Linda went on to work as a freelance musician in musical theatre as a rehearsal pianist, show pianist, and conductor in London, Toronto, Grand Bend, etc. until she went to Germany to work on long running productions of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s CATS and STARLIGHT EXPRESS as a conductor and music director.
After retiring Linda returned home to Canada. She is pleased to be the (back-up) accompanist for this wonderful group of women.
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