Dr. Charlene Pauls has enjoyed a multifaceted career as a Soprano Soloist, Choral Conductor, Pedagogue and Voice Clinician across Canada and on international stages. She has appeared as soloist with conductors such as Robert Shaw and Helmuth Rilling, and has directed choirs on stages that include the World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia, and Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. Her background as a professional singer has greatly informed her approach to choral directing, and has provided a strong foundation in building healthy choral sound. Dr. Pauls has been affiliated with the Oakville Choir for Children & Youth since 2005, and serves as the “Raise Her Voice – Chamber” conductor, and Associate Music Director. Highlights from recent years include collaborating with Dr. Sarah Morrison on producing the OCCY 2016 recording, “Shine On”, appearances at Podium 2018, and being part of the Canada Council project “…float…” in St. John’s Newfoundland in July 2018. In addition to her involvement with OC, Dr. Pauls is also Music Director at the Anglican Church of the Incarnation in Oakville, and Artistic Director of the Guelph Chamber Choir, a dynamic organization in neighbouring Guelph with an active concert season of oratorio and concert programs. Dr. Pauls has a home voice studio in Oakville, is in demand as an Adjudicator across the county, and frequently presents research at academic conferences across North America. In 2018, Charlene received the Ontario Arts Council “Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting,” a biennial award to acknowledge excellence in the field.

A native of Newfoundland and Labrador, Maria Conkey (she/her), is emerging as an inspiring and innovative conductor, clinician, and pedagogue in Canada’s choral scene. She is passionate about choral music as a means to create community and foster leadership in young people. In addition to her new role as Artistic Director of the Oakville Choir for Children & Youth, she is also currently the Junior Choir Conductor at St. Michael’s Choir School.

Maria is a graduate of Memorial University and the University of Alberta, where she studied choral conducting under the direction of Dr. Debra Cairns and Dr. Leonard Ratzlaff. She has worked with internationally acclaimed conductors such as Maria Guinand, Jon Washburn, and Fred Sjoberg. Past engagements include Artistic Director of Young Voices Toronto, the Conductor of the award-winning senior choirs at St. Bonaventure’s College (NL), and the Choral Director at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist (NL). She has also worked with Shallaway – Newfoundland Youth in Chorus and several children’s, youth, and adult choirs, including the Alberta Youth Choir and the University of Alberta Madrigal Singers. Maria is serving as President-Elect on the Board of Directors of Choirs Ontario.

Anjanette Bailey has a Bachelor of Music degree in Education & Piano Performance from McMaster University where she studied with Valerie Tryon. Anjanette also works on the Admin side of the OC and she is thrilled to be joining the Artistic Team this season!
Throughout her career, Anjanette has had experience in Choral Music as an accompanist, administrator, chorister and conductor and brings that knowledge to the role of Collaborative Pianist with Vibrant Voices. She is currently also a Collaborative Pianist with the Hamilton Children’s Choir, Esplori ensemble. She has been teaching piano for over 30 years and teaches lessons part time out of her home studio in Hamilton. She is passionate about music and collaborating on choral music opportunities for all ages.

As a conductor, director and choreographer, Markus Howard has worked in the arts throughout Canada and abroad. He has appeared in 27 countries working with musicians of varying ages,cultures, and experiences, conducting choirs and opera, and as a private vocal coach. His talents have been recognized by Yamaha Music, the Swedish Ministry of Culture, the Ontario Arts Council, and the International Association of Jazz Educators. He has been nominated four times as a candidate finalist for the Leslie Bell Prize for Conducting. Markus led the award-winning Guelph Youth Singers for ten seasons, and the La Jeunesse Choirs for 18 years. He returns to La Jeunesse this season in his new role as choreographer for their Musical Theatre Division. Other
ensembles previously under his direction include the University of Toronto Massey College Choirs, the Hart House Jazz Choir, the Oriana Singers of Northumberland, his professional ensemble LA MOVIDA, and St. James Cathedral Choir. As well as a busy season of adjudicating, Mr. Howard
leads the Durham Philharmonic Choir into their 30th Anniversary Season.

Recent engagements include concerts with Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Halifax Summer Opera, and positions with Mirvish Productions The Lion King, the Canadian Opera Company Education Division, Randolph Academy, and as a classroom instructor for the Royal Conservatory of Music,
Glenn Gould School and Young Artists Performance Academy. Mr. Howard is a proud recipient of a Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International for his work with youth in the arts.

Jennifer McKillop is a dedicated educator and accomplished musician whose passion has shone brightly through her teaching, conducting, and performances for over 20 years. Holding an Honours Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, she crafts engaging and enriching musical programming for young children across the Niagara Region, Hamilton and the GTA, that sparks creativity and fosters a lifelong love for the arts. 

Jennifer proudly serves as the General Manager of the Niagara Youth Orchestra, a role that allows her to support and advocate for talented young instrumentalists, and teaches music to students from kindergarten to grade eight at Cairn Christian School. She also shares her passion with a wider audience as a radio announcer and private voice instructor, while maintaining an active performance schedule. Her multifaceted career showcases her unwavering commitment to music education and its transformative power. Jennifer is so excited to work with Oakville Choir’s Growing Voices! 

Throughout her extensive career as a music teacher (TDSB), Susan Wieler was dedicated to providing a rich choral/arts experience for every student. She is a Vocal Specialist (OISE) and an Orff Specialist (RCM), and a participant of choral conducting and Orff courses and workshops, across Canada. Recently, Susan returned from teaching at the Canadian International School in Vietnam, where she was a Conductor of the school’s choirs, as well as a presenter at an inaugural Orff workshop at the Vietnam Institute for Arts Education (VIAE).

Susan is a founding board member, and former board chair of the VIVA! Choir in Toronto. She currently enjoys singing in the VIVA! Chamber Choir, and playing ukulele with the Ukes of York, in Toronto. She believes that all children should have the opportunity to make Music and experience the Arts. She can’t wait to work with Growing Voices and is thrilled to be a part of the OC for the 2025/26 season. 

Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Miryam Mendoza is a dedicated music educator with over 25 years of experience teaching children and youth. She specializes in choral singing and early music education, guiding students from their first musical steps through to more advanced ensemble work.
Miryam holds an Advanced Certificate in Early Childhood Music Education from the Royal Conservatory and Ryerson University. She is trained in Orff, Dalcroze, and Kodály methodologies, which she integrates to create engaging, age-appropriate, and inspiring music experiences.
In Canada, she has taught at Rotherglen School, where she leads music programs for Kindergarten through Grade 8, including choir, guitar, recorder, handbells, and Orff ensembles. She also co-directs the school’s annual musical theatre production. Beyond the classroom, Miryam has worked with the Oakville Suzuki Association’s summer camp, conducting choirs and directing musical theatre groups.
A long-time Oakville Choir parent and now conductor, Miryam brings her passion, expertise, and warmth to every rehearsal and class. She is committed to helping children build confidence, develop strong musical skills, and discover the joy of making music together.

As a youth, Lianne Tan sang in the Georgian Bay Youth Chorus and the Hamilton Children’s Choir, and she continues to greatly value children’s and youth choir organizations. As an adult chorister, Lianne has sung with such esteemed choral directors as Brenda Uchimaru, John Tuttle, Ian Sadler, Stephanie Martin, Lee Willingham, and John Laing, in choirs including the University of Toronto Trinity College Choir and the Cathedral Singers of Ontario. During the global pandemic of 2020/2021, Lianne enjoyed singing with the UK’s Stay At Home Choir, under conductor-composers Karl Jenkins, Gareth Malone, and Christopher Tin.

Lianne holds the ARCT diploma in piano performance, and the CRCCO diploma in organ. She is active as a church musician in the Hamilton and Halton regions. She also enjoys playing the cello in the Dundas Valley Orchestra. Since 1997, Lianne has served as Music Director and Organist at West Plains United Church in Burlington, where she leads the 16-voice choir and curates the Live!@West Plains concert series. Lianne also serves as cantor on the Taizé music team at St. Aidan’s Anglican Church, Oakville. In 2012, Lianne was awarded the Order of Niagara from the Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Niagara, for her services to church music.

From 1998-2018, Lianne was chapel organist and science teacher at Appleby College in Oakville, where she collaborated with Dr. Sarah Morrison to provide the chapel choir programme. Lianne also holds degrees in biomedical engineering (M.Eng., McMaster), education (B.Ed., Toronto), and lay ministry (DipLM, Wycliffe).

Lianne finds great joy in accompanying, leading, and supporting singing, and is thrilled to be part of the OCCY team!

Yvonne Choi is an award-winning pianist, sought-after collaborator, and clinician, celebrated for her artistry on some of the nation’s most prestigious stages. She has appeared at venues including Roy Thomson Hall, Centre in the Square, and the Living Arts Centre, earning recognition for her versatility as a soloist, chamber musician, and recording artist.

A passionate mentor who is deeply committed to community and innovation, Yvonne also offers her expertise in the art of collaborative piano through workshops and clinics, inspiring the next generation of performers and music lovers. She maintains an active teaching studio, where her students consistently achieve top distinctions. Yvonne is on faculty at Appleby College, and collaborates with the award-winning Oakville Choir for Children and Youth. Her career spans orchestras, choirs, universities, theatre productions, and leading arts organizations across Ontario. 

In addition to her performance career, Yvonne has become recognized for her creative work in audio production and digital media, partnering with organizations such as OperaQTO, McMaster University, Oakville Choir for Children and Youth and the Mississauga Festival Choir.

She holds advanced degrees in piano performance from the University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University, and has studied under internationally renowned mentors including Lydia Wong, Leslie De’Ath, Marietta Orlov, and Jamie Parker.