In This Section

Keep in Touch

Subscribe to BCChoralFed, the BCCF’s email list:

(Powered by groups.yahoo.com)

BCCF Award Recipients

2007

  • Darryl Downton - Herbert Drost Award - Over a span of 40 years, Darryl Downton has enjoyed a thriving career as a director of music, organist, and accompanist in Vancouver, having conducted no fewer than 12 choirs in addition to teaching voice, piano, and organ. He was born in Saskatoon and at the age of 16 he won a Saskatchewan gold medal in organ. He is a graduate of the University of Saskatchewan, and did further studies at UBC and Indiana University. Darryl’s charisma, spirit, sense of fun, and innate musicality are qualities that prompted the Downton Singers to nominate their founder for this award.
  • Carolyn Duerksen - Amy Ferguson Award - Since her arrival in Prince George some 16 years ago, Carolyn Duerkesen has distinguished herself as an inspiring choral director with voices of all ages. Always thoroughly prepared for every rehearsal or classroom situation, Carolyn nurtures voices in healthy, meaningful music-making. She works tirelessly with colleagues to provide opportunities for students to learn and grow musically. One cannot hear Carolyn’s choirs and remain uninvolved. They are a delight to hear and, under her guidance have done well in local, provincial, and national music festivals.
  • Maureen Nielsen - Joyce O. Maguire Award - Since arriving in Prince George some 25 years ago, Maureen Nielsen has accompanied almost every choral group in that city, in addition to a full load of private teaching. According to one local choral director, “Maureen’s natural ability to fit her accompanying style to the need of each musical performance... and her sight-reading skills are phenomenal... She is a key component in every musical performance in which she is involved.”
  • Roberta D. Barlow - Joyce O. Maguire Award - Born and educated in Ontario, Roberta Barlow, has been accompanying instrumental and choral groups most of her adult life. After brief stints in New Zealand and North Vancouver, Roberta settled in Kamloops in 1974 where she has distinguished herself as a collaborative and supportive musician to both church and community choirs. Always available for those “extras”..”Could the women have an additional rehearsal; could the choir sing at a seniors’ home; could the soloists run over their parts”. Roberta does all that and more and is deserving of this BCCF award.
  • Muriel Morris - Joyce O. Maguire Award - Muriel Morris was born in Winnipeg and began taking piano lessons at age six. She and her family moved to Vancouver when she was 13 and she began to accompany operettas and vocal soloists while still a student at King Edward High School in the 1940s. She later earned her ARCT from Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music and also became a Registered Nurse. In 1964 she became accompanist to the Vancouver Jewish Community Choir and since 1981 the Shiron Singers, led by Elizabeth Wolak.
  • Pat Lindberg - Joyce O. Maguire Award - One definition of an accompanist is “someone who provides background accompaniment in the form of an instrumental part that supports the primary part.” Pat Lindberg has provided the Richmond Singers with much more than background music for more than twenty years. Pat studied piano as a child and in High School provided accompaniment for musical productions and friends doing instrumental exams. As a classroom teacher she conducted school choirs, directed, and provided accompaniment for concerts and musicals. Before joining the Richmond Singers in 1985 she was accompanist for the Richmond Community Music School and the Gemini Dance Studio.
  • Thomas Kidd - Malcolm McDonald Youth Achievement Award - Thomas Kidd assumed leadership of the BCCF Youth Council after playing a myriad of supporting roles throughout the years. His philosophical approach and attention to detail behind the scenes more than once put a professional polish on the project - including the design of the BC Youth Choir logo. He is well-known for his thorough reports to the BCCF Board about the Youth Council’s progress, and is held in high esteem by those who attended his legendary tea parties! The youth council thrived under his leadership with more regional representation, a re-developed website and the creation of a paid BCYC administrator position exclusively available to youth. Today, he continues to serve as an advisor to the council – visionary work to which he is well suited!

2006

  • Ron White - Herbert Kent Award
  • Pam Hiensch - Herbert Kent Award
  • Bruce More - Herbert Drost Award
  • Ramona Luengen - Herbert Drost Award
  • George Corwin - Herbert Drost Award
  • Ray Horst - Herbert Drost Award
  • Elizabeth Wolak - Amy Ferguson Award
  • Peter Yelland - Herbert Drost Award
  • Hussein Janmohamed - Malcolm McDonald Youth Achievement Award
  • Marjorie Close - Joyce O. Maguire Award
  • Stephen Smith - Joyce O. Maguire Award

2005

  • Judith Hirczy – Herbert Drost Award
  • Donna Goodwin–Wilson - Joyce O. Maguire Award
  • Brigid Coult - Amy Ferguson Award
  • Rose Loewen – Amy Ferguson Award
  • Elizabeth Scott – Amy Ferguson Award

2004

  • Philip Wallbank - Herbert Drost Award
  • Mavis Weston - Herbert Drost Award
  • Mary d'Isendoorn - Herbert Drost Award
  • Beverley Medford - Herbert Drost Award
  • Marilyn Brodie - Amy Ferguson Award
  • Gloria Brooks - Amy Ferguson Award
  • Carol Anne Parkinson - Amy Ferguson Award

2003

  • James L. Johnson - Herbert Drost Award
  • Gillian Wildler - Herbert Drost Award
  • Grace Dunford - Amy Ferguson Award
  • Janice Brunson - Amy Ferguson Award
  • Marion Owens - Herbert Kent Award

2002

  • Melita Miller - Herbert Kent Award
  • Nancy Hollmann - Amy Ferguson Award

2001

  • Bruce Pullan - Amy Ferguson Award
  • Audrey Fricker - Herbert Kent Award

Willan Council

The Willan Council is made up of past Willan Award winners. Traditionally the Council meets on the Friday evening prior to the Board Meetings.

The Willan Award is awarded annually, and is presented for outstanding service to the BCCF. Nominations are made at the January Board meeting and a vote is held. The results are held in secret until the presentation is made, traditionally at the banquet on the Saturday night of Chorfest.

For 2008, we are very pleased to welcome Wendy Avis to the council. Vancouver singer Wendy Avis came onto the BCCF Board in May 1999. Although she may have expressed some trepidation about being the only singer in the board room, by 2000 she had confidently stepped forward and was serving as BCCF Secretary, remaining on the Executive until this year. Among her accomplishments as a Director of the BCCF, there are several that stand out, some more visibly than others! In the boardroom, Wendy brought her professional skills in the areas of organizational assessment to the BCCF by actively steering us through the SWOT (Strengths – Weaknesses – Opportunities – Threats) evaluation and discussion process. Her guidance and experience have been invaluable in this ever-continuing process. Also, her skills and knowledge of technology were brought to bear by dragging us (kicking and screaming, some might say!) into the computer age. In addition to setting up the BCCF Yahoo communications group, she served as volunteer Webmaster for the BCCF – jobs that have benefited all of us, across the province and around the world through cyberspace. Wendy’s personal interest in various global issues also became part of her work with us, because, through her involvement with the 4th International Children’s Conference on the Environment in 2002, we were led to commission the now widely-performed anthem Let Wildness Sing from Imant Raminsh for first performance at that conference. Wendy’s contributions to our choral community derive from her personal dedication to our common cause. We welcome her compassionate spirit and her array of skills and talents as she joins the Willan Council. Congratulations, Wendy, on your award – we look forward to our continued work together!

Willan Award winners

2007 Wendy Avis
2006 Malcolm McDonald
2005 Sal Ferreras
2004 Willi Zwozdesky
2003 Kelvin Barlow
2002 Imant Raminsh
2001 David Stewart
2000 Morna Edmundson
1999 Stephen Horning & Marisa Gaetanne
1998 Marg McLellan
1997 Dennis Tupman
1996 Shirley Osborne Koers
1995 Terry Anderson
1994 Robin Suddaby
1993 Bruce Pullan
1992 Brigid Coult
1991 Dick Hibberd
1990 Diane Loomer
1989 Ed Schneider
1988 Don James
1987 John White
1986 Susan Proudman Smith
1985 Inez St Dennis
1984 Joyce Maguire
1983 Jocelyn Pritchard
1982 Jon Washburn
1981 John Smith