Choir Members

Born and raised in Vancouver BC, Nick is delighted to be returning to Laudate Singers for his fourth season after a brief hiatus. He has been singing and performing music since elementary school. During his undergraduate studies at McGill University, he sang with the a capella ensemble New Earth Voices and with the light opera company McGill Savoy Society. He trained for several years under Matthew Chittick (M.Mus; Calgary Opera) as a classical baritone.

Nick returned to Vancouver in 2011 to study medicine at the University of British Columbia, during which he served for three years as Artistic Director of the UBC Medicine Choir and sang for three seasons with the Vancouver Peace Choir. Personal favourite repertoire since joining Laudate has included Charpentier’s Te Deum, Vivaldi’s Magnificat, and the Romancero Gitano suite by Carlos Castelnuovo-Tedesco.

When not singing, Nick works as a geriatric psychiatrist and researcher based in Vancouver and at the University of British Columbia.

Thanks in part to some negative experiences in high school orchestra, I ended up pursuing a career in science—a lucky break, because this gave me the opportunity to do music for pleasure.  I’ve had a longstanding interest in “early” (Renaissance, Baroque) vocal music: past vocal highlights include advanced workshops over the years (with Paul Elliott, Nancy Argenta, Daniel Taylor, Ben Butterfield and others) along with concert performances and CBC broadcast; a sabbatical stint with David Fallis and the Opera Atelier chorus; and appearances as a soloist in concert (Bach cantatas, passions, Handel Oratorios, song recital).  I’ve also been fortunate to sing with a number of fine choirs, including 20+ years with Chor Leoni and Christ Church Cathedral.  More recently, I’ve enjoyed trying to expand my vocal repertoire to include more opera and other classical works, as well as jazz and other contemporary music.

Originally from Marseille, France, Lou received a Master’s degree in Music Therapy from Paris-Descartes University. She also holds a Master’s degree in Teaching and Education from ESPE Paris. Following an opportunity to move to Canada, she obtained her MT-BC and MTA status, her Teaching Certificate and joined ET Music Therapy as well as VSO School of Music as Music Therapist and Faculty member. Trained percussionist, pianist and singer in the Music Conservatory of Marseille, she has been a member of various orchestras, bands and choirs in Paris, France and Calgary, Canada. Singing being essential in her life, she is thrilled to join Laudate Singers this year to pursue her passion. When not practicing music, Lou is enjoying her new life in Vancouver, hiking, climbing, swimming, exploring as much as she can. 

Maureen is very pleased to return to Laudate Singers after nearly 10 years off pursuing other adventures.  A North Vancouver native, she’s been singing in choirs since early childhood.  Life-changing  experiences with BCMEA Honour Choirs and post-secondary ensembles such as the University of Victoria Chamber Singers and UBC’s University Singers cemented choral music as being central to her life and identity.  More recently, Maureen has had the pleasure of experimenting further with vocal jazz, another genre close to her heart, and exploring a wide variety of musical styles with the former vocal ensemble Sound Eclectic.  A lover of nature, she spends a good deal of time hiking, running, gardening, paddleboarding, and doing yoga in this beautiful corner of the world.  In addition, Maureen is a Secondary Teacher of English and Social Studies and the mother of two high-energy boys.  

Mark started singing in choirs and playing the violin in orchestras and chamber ensembles at school in England, and continued studies in the USA. He was a member of choral ensembles in the UK, the USA, and Canada, performing in concerts, tours, recordings and radio broadcasts. His voice teachers and mentors in Canada were George Roberts, Bruce Pullan and Peter Butterfield. An alumnus of Laudate Singers, the Vancouver Cantata Singers, and the Vancouver Chamber Choir, he has sung at Festival Vancouver, Early Music Vancouver Bach Festival, and on tours in North America, Europe and Asia. Mark has appeared as a guest soloist with ensembles throughout BC, performing works including Monteverdi’s 1610 Vespers, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, St. Matthew Passion, St. John Passion, Mass in B minor, Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and Mozart’s Requiem, and Ariel Ramirez’s Misa Criolla. His solo work includes performances with Handel Society of Music, Postmodern Camerata, Vancouver Voices, Turning Point Ensemble, Borealis String Quartet, Victoria Philharmonic Choir and Okanagan Festival Singers, and Capilano University Choirs. His recitals include Lieder, Art songs and song cycles by Benjamin Britten.

Originally from Calgary, Caroline has been singing since childhood, along with studying piano and, briefly, flute. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics at the University of British Columbia, and her PhD from the University of Waterloo. She balances her love of choral singing with her career as an infectious disease researcher. She has sung with the Vancouver Bach Choir, the Grand Philharmonic Choir in Kitchener with Howard Dyck, Montreal’s Orpheus Singers and the Collegium Musicum of London Chamber Choir. She is excited to have joined Laudate Singers, and particularly enjoys Laudate’s diversity of repertoire. 

Having graduated from Capilano University with a Classical Music Diploma in trumpet, piano and voice, Preston currently studies at the University of British Columbia and is actively working towards finishing his Bachelor of Education in Music; sharing his enthusiasm for music with other unanimous individuals.

Passionately ambitious and driven about anything he does, Preston first started his musical training on piano at around age 5, setting off his continued involvement in the music community at a very young age. Throughout his high school years, he attended the Sarah McLachlan School of Music; while there, he took part in the choirs, studied piano, music theory and began taking voice lessons. Upon graduating high school Preston began his studies at Capilano University, deciding to further expand his musical knowledge and pursue trumpet as his main instrument, which he began learning at age 8. While continuing his education with the trumpet, piano, and singing, he loves being active in the music community, taking part in various groups, churches, and semi-pro choirs.

Eager to have joined Laudate near the end of the 2015/16 season, he looks forward to singing with other like-minded musicians under the direction of Lars Kaario once again.

This is Amy’s first year with the Laudate Singers and she is looking forward to singing with Lars and the wonderful singers in the choir.

Choral music is an important part of Amy’s life. Amy has sung in many choirs, including the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, the Mendelssohn Singers, the Vancouver Bach Choir, Pandora’s Vox and Espiritu. Amy is also a church musician and has been choir director, cantor, organist at various Catholic parishes. She was a Board member at Choral Canada and is currently a Board member of the BC Choral Federation.

Amy is an actuary by profession and is a pension consultant who works with organizations to help them manage their pension arrangements for employees.

A native of San Francisco, California, Linda Webster expressed musical talent at a very young age, starting with piano lessons at age 5. She trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where she also sang in choirs and took voice lessons. In addition, she had the privilege of singing with the San Francisco Opera on several occasions, including as a young soloist in Massenet’s Werther. She eventually became a professional concert pianist, performing with the San Francisco Symphony and other orchestral and chamber ensembles, television and live radio broadcasts, and concertizing. But she never lost her love of singing. In recent years, she resumed her vocal training and sang with the Capilano Festival Chorus before joining the Laudate Singers in 2021.