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Director
Kurt Ala-Kantti, Director Kurt
Ala-Kantti was appointed director of the Ottawa Brahms Choir in 2007. He is also director of several other local
choirs. In the past, he has served for several years as Assistant Director of the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir,
directed by Barbara Clark, was Director of their Young Men’s Chorus, and was Music Director for Atlantic Voices. Kurt
has studied vocal performance with Charlotte Stewart and choral conducting with Dr. Lisette Canton, Wesley Warren and Barbara
Clark, and is currently continuing to pursue studies in music at Carleton University. With a keen interest in
choral performance and excellence, he has been a member of several local choirs, including the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir,
under Barbara Clark, and the Ottawa Choral Society, under Brian Law. Currently he is a member of the critically
acclaimed Ottawa Bach Choir, with which he has performed in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, New York, Nova Scotia, Mexico, Germany
and Austria.
Denise Hawkins, Co-director This
season Kurt will be on sabbatical. Our guest director will be Denise Hawkins. Denise has been active in the National
Capital region for a number of years as a choir director organist, and accompanist. She is beginning her fifteenth season
as director of the Nepean Choir where her energy and enthusiasm have helped to hone the musical skills of the group and to
expand its repertoire. For eleven years, Denise was Director of Music at Knox Presbyterian Church in Ottawa. Recently,
she has been appointed organist at the church of St. Thomas the Apostle. Denise has also been accompanist for a number
of other choirs, including three seasons with the Ottawa Regional Youth Choir. Her formal musical training was done at the
University of Western Ontario where she received degrees in Music Education and Organ Performance. She has also worked
with such prominent conductors as Wayne Riddell, Jon Washburn, Sir David Willcocks, James Jordon and Lloyd Pfautsch.
Denise is looking forward to guest conducting the Ottawa Brahms Choir for the 2011-12 season.
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