Margaret Allen

Margaret Allan brings over 36 years of experience as a senior public servant and corporate senior manager in the natural resources sector.  For 18 years, Margaret worked on large-scale resource projects, focusing on community interactions by overseeing regulatory approvals, industrial benefits, public affairs, diversity planning, human resources, and community investment.

An experienced director, Margaret believes in the value of the arts for starting important conversations in our rapidly changing society. She is chair of The Rooms Corporation, Newfoundland and Labrador’s provincial museum, art gallery and archives. Margaret has contributed to multiple arts organizations, serving as a founding member of Business and Arts NL and as vice-chair of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra.

Margaret served on Memorial University’s Board of Regents, the Marine Institute Industry Advisory Committee and the board of Memorial’s Genesis Centre, the university’s tech start-up incubator.

Margaret holds an MBA and BA (Hons) from Memorial University and the ICD.D designation.

Karen McCarthy

Karen McCarthy is a seasoned leader and strategist in the energy and utilities sector with over 30 years of experience in communications, public affairs, government relations, customer service, and corporate governance. She currently serves as the Vice President of Communications and Government Relations at Fortis Inc., a leading North American electric and gas utility company with operations in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean.

Karen chairs the Independent Appointments Commission of Newfoundland and Labrador and sits on the Maritime Electric Board of Directors. She holds the ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors, and is pursuing a Doctor of Business Administration degree with a focus on corporate governance and social responsibility.

Deeply rooted in community leadership in Newfoundland and Labrador, Karen is an active supporter of arts and culture and is passionate about the role music plays in bringing people together. She has been involved in the choral community for many years, including being a prior member of Lady Cove Choir and serving on the board of Shallaway Youth Choir. In 2025, she was awarded the Confederation 75th Anniversary Medal for her contributions to Newfoundland and Labrador.

Michael O’Keefe

Michael O’Keefe is a lawyer at Stewart McKelvey, where he is developing a broad advisory and dispute resolution practice across the public and private sectors.

Michael holds an honours undergraduate degree in music performance and musicology from Memorial University, postgraduate degrees in both music performance and public policy from the University of Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar, and a law degree from the University of Toronto, where he was selected to be a Junior Fellow at Massey College. Michael’s academic work has primarily focused on cultural diplomacy and Canada’s approach to international engagement.

In addition to his academic studies, Michael has worked at the House of Commons in Ottawa, in the Office of the Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, and on Bay Street at a leading national law firm. He has also served on boards and committees at several charitable, higher education, and arts organizations. As a trumpet player, Michael has performed in solo, chamber music, and orchestral settings in North America and Europe, including for two seasons as a member of the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra.

Michael is thrilled to have the opportunity to draw on his music, policy, and legal background in collaboration with the HarbourVOICES! team in the lead up to the 2027 Festival.

Matthew Balsom

Matthew Balsom, CPA – Treasurer
Matthew Balsom is a senior finance and commercial executive with more than 20 years of experience supporting complex organizations across Newfoundland and Labrador. He currently serves as Director, Finance and Commercial with the Oil and Gas Corporation of Newfoundland and Labrador, where he leads financial strategy, long-term planning, and governance for major public-sector initiatives.

Matthew brings deep expertise in financial oversight, budgeting, risk management, and board reporting, with a career focused on strengthening transparency and supporting sustainable, well-governed organizations. His professional background spans energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, and consumer-facing industries, giving him a broad perspective on organizational stewardship and long-term value creation. A strong believer in the importance of arts, culture, and community, Matthew is pleased to serve as Treasurer for Harbour Voices. He also volunteers as Treasurer for The Rooms—Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest public cultural institution—and the Dr. Jack Hand Legacy Foundation, which supports families of children undergoing cancer treatment at
the Janeway. Through his volunteer work, Matthew is proud to contribute his financial expertise in support of organizations that enrich lives and strengthen communities.

Kellie Walsh

Kellie Walsh is the Artistic Director of the internationally celebrated youth chorus, Shallaway Youth Choir, the founder and Artistic Director of the internationally award-winning Lady Cove Women’s Choir, the co-founder and now Artistic Director Emeritus of Newman Sound Men’s Choir, has most recently co-founded the Inuit Youth Choir Ullûgiagatsuk from Nunatsiavut, Labrador, and is the immediate Past President of Canada’s national choral organization, Choral Canada.

She is an active guest conductor, speaker, member, collaborator, and innovator.

Kellie’s work has brought her across Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, the United States, South America, Europe, and Asia. As acclaimed as the choirs she conducts, Kellie’s true passion is most profoundly understood by the use of choral music as a medium to unite people and cultures, transcending geography and societal, political and economic circumstances. From deep and proud roots in Newfoundland and Labrador, she has become known in Canada, and internationally, for embracing the medium of choral singing as an opportunity to explore leadership potential, sociocultural identity building, reciprocal respectful cultural collaborations, and the transformative impact of choral singing and sharing.  

Ki Adams

In 1974, Ki Adams moved from the USA to Canada for a teaching adventure in Newfoundland and Labrador. He never returned. Instead, like many others who come to the island for a visit, he decided to stay. With a BMusEd (Evangel College) and MMus Organ (Northwestern University), he was the first music teacher at Eugene Vaters Academy/Collegiate, an all-grade school in St. John’s. There he developed a comprehensive K-12 classroom/choral program with award-winning choirs. After 13 years teaching, Ki became Music Consultant with the provincial Department of Education where he worked with music teachers across the island to design and implement the music education curriculum for the province. In 1995, he accepted a tenure-track position at Memorial University (MUN) Faculty of Education, cross-appointed to the School of Music, where he taught graduate/undergraduate courses in music education and organ. Keenly aware of the importance of life-long learning, Ki completed specialist diploma programs in both Kodály methodology (University of Calgary) and Orff-Schulwerk (Hamline University). In addition to teaching at MUN, Ki taught at Western University and Acadia University in Kodály summer programs.

Ki’s research and writing range from his career-long involvement in the publication of music education curriculum documents/resources, many specifically related to choral music education, to papers and presentations on choral music education at national and international conferences. Ki has been an active choral conductor and organist for over 50 years. From 1992-2006, he was Founding Associate Conductor/Accompanist for Shallaway Youth Choir (formerly Newfoundland Symphony Youth Choir.

Ki has held executive positions with provincial, national, and international choral professional organizations: Choral Canada, International Kodály Society, Kodály Society of Canada. Currently, he is International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) Board Member, World Youth Choir Foundation President, and The Singing Network Co-Founder/Co-Director. He is currently Music Director at St. Thomas’ Anglican Church.

Andrea Rose

Andrea Rose enjoys an active role in music/arts at local – international contexts as a musician, educator, scholar, and organizational leader. She holds undergraduate degrees in music and music education (Memorial University), and Masters in Music and PhD in Curriculum and Instruction (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA). 

Following a ten-year period as music teacher at Holy Heart High School in St. John’s, NL Andrea began her career as professor, Memorial University. Upon her recent retirement, Andrea was awarded the prestigious designations of Professor Emerita and Honorary Research Professor. She is also the recipient of awards including the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching (MUN), Honorary Life Member (Canadian Music Educators’ Association, Founders’ Award for Achievement in the Arts (HHM), and the designation of 3M National Teaching Fellow by the Canadian Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.

Andrea has served in leadership roles with organizations including the International Society for Music Education, Debut Atlantic, Action Canada, and Teach for Canada. She is currently Director of Higher Learning with The Canadian Music Educators’ Association, and Director/Advisor for Education and Outreach Programs, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. 

A past Co-Artistic Director of FESTIVAL 500 Sharing the Voices International Choral Festival and founding Co-Director of The Phenomenon of Singing International Symposia, Andrea is the Co-Founder/Director of The Singing Network (TSN). The TSN has hosted Choral Canada’s national festival and conference PODIUM on the EDGE: Singing from Sea to Sea to Sea, and has partnered with the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM) to present The Exchange! components of two World Choral EXPOs in Lisbon, Portugal (2019/2022). 

Andrea is delighted to be a part of creating and presenting HarbourVOICES! and looks forward to our harbours and shores being filled with singing and songs as we share cultures, traditions, and stories!

David Buley

David Buley enjoys his lengthy career of teaching classroom and private lessons in music, conducting choirs, accompanying for ballet companies, and playing various instruments. He was a long-time member of And Wolf Shall Inherit the Moon, the Epilogue of R. Murray Schafer’s Patria cycle, and has acted as the Music Director for performances of Schafer’s Zoroaster (Soundstreams), as well as  The Enchanted Forest, and The Princess of the Stars for Patria Music Theatre Productions. His resumé includes: Organist for the Princeton Theological Seminary Touring Choir;  Music Director of: The Windsor Classic Chorale, (Windsor, Ontario); Saint George’s Round Church (Halifax, Nova Scotia); Acadia University Chorus and the Acadia Vocal Ensemble – under his leadership a semi-finalist in the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. David has also conducted university opera productions and led numerous choral singing tours to Europe and the U.S.A. He is the founder of Young Sudbury Singers and Ariadne Women’s Chamber Choir of Sudbury, Ontario, and founding director and singer with the a cappella ensemble, Octatonic Decadence – a winner of the Canadian Federation of Music Festivals’ Richard W. Cooke prize.

David studied at the University of Kings’ College and St. Mary’s University in Halifax, NS, with further graduate degrees in choral conducting, sacred music, liturgical studies and musicology through study at Westminster Choir College and Drew University, NJ. David holds a Professional Certificate and is a License candidate (DEIEB) in Jaques-Dalcroze Eurhythmics, and will give a keynote address at the International Conference on Dalcroze Studies in Pittsburg, in 2023. David is Associate Professor of Music Education in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL, and is the Music Director at St. Mary’s Anglican Church. 

With deep interest in music and education in and through community, David is a recipient of the Rainbow District School Board’s Joan Mantle Music Trust Community Award as well as the Sudbury Community Builders Award of Excellence. He serves on of the Board of Directors of Strong Harbour Strings and of the Bruneau Center For Excellence in Choral Music. Current community partnerships that David enjoys being part of include the Lullaby Project-NL; the SSHRC-funded project: Community Music in Coastal Labrador; and the HMP-Phoenix Garden Project the 2022 recipient of the Memorial University President’s Award for Public Engagement. Married and devoted to Jan, David is also owned by a vibrant border-collie, Nellie, and spends a good deal of time singing outdoors with the largest choir on earth.

Robert Colbourne

Robert Colbourne is a proud Memorial University alumni who holds a B. Mus (voice), B. Mus Ed and M. Ed.  Robert is the choral director at Holy Heart High School where he conducts 5 choirs, teaches Advanced Placement Theory, IB Music, and Applied Music.  His choirs have performed internationally and have won provincial, national and international first place awards and have been featured in print, radio and national television media.

Robert is also a proud Shallaway Youth Choir Associate Director who directs all of the Nobile ensembles. Robert also maintains a busy private studio teaching voice, piano and theory through the Royal Conservatory of Music curriculum and is an active examiner with both the Collegeboard and the International Baccalaureate. Robert also spreads his love of music to teachers worldwide as an IB Workshop Leader. Besides his choral and academic work, Robert also enjoys working with students in Musical Theatre and has been the vocal director for numerous high school and community theatre productions.

Robert is a past winner of the Jamie Wilkinson Award for Teaching Excellence, was featured on a provincial “NLTA Teachers Change Lives” ad campaign and in 2011, was awarded the Queens Diamond Jubilee medal for his contribution to music education in rural Newfoundland.

Jennifer Neary

Jennifer Neary is the Executive Director of HarbourVOICES! International Festival of Collective Singing Traditions. She has over 15 years of experience in the arts and non-profit sector, leading youth and cultural organizations and turning ambitious ideas into well-run, meaningful projects. Jennifer brings strong experience working with boards and governance teams, with a practical focus on clarity, accountability, and long-term sustainability. She is also the long-time Executive Director of Shallaway Youth Choir and is deeply committed to collective singing, collaboration, and cultural exchange in Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.

Nicholle Andrews

Originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, Nicholle Andrews (She/her) is director of Choral Studies at the University of Redlands and artistic director of the Phoenix Chamber Choir in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is in high demand across North America as a conductor, adjudicator, and clinician.

Professor Andrews has worked with composers including William Bolcom, Joan Tower, Libby Larsen, Gunther Schuller, Imant Raminsh, R. Murray Schafer, Alcides Lanza, and Krzysztof Penderecki, as well as eminent conductors Bramwell Tovey, Sir David Willcocks, Bobby McFerrin, Tõnu Kaljuste, and Georg Tintner. Under her direction, University of Redlands choirs have been invited to perform at festivals and conferences such as Canada’s national choral conference Podium on the Edge, the National Collegiate Choral Organization Convention, the California Music Educators Association Convention, the California All-State Music Educators Conference, and Festival 500: Sharing the Voices. Her choirs have also performed with The Who, Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban and Jacob Collier.

Andrews is a licensed body mapping educator. Her research interests include performance anxiety in musicians, pitch perception, and bodily awareness through conducting. Her publications appear in journals such as the Journal of Research in Music Education and the Journal of Band Research, and she currently serves as collegiate research and repertoire coordinator for the Western Division of the American Choral Directors Association.

At University of Redlands, Andrews specializes in choral conducting, body mapping, and ear training. She also offers graduate seminars in performance anxiety, score study, and rehearsal technique; an undergraduate course on contemporary music titled Ear Cleaning; and a first-year music seminar. Andrews has received recognition for outstanding teaching, including Advisor of the Year, Professor of the Year, and the Faculty Outstanding Service Award.

Julien Bouchard

Deantha Edmunds

Deantha Edmunds is Canada’s first Inuk professional classical singer. She was named a Member of the Order of Canada for her work which seeks to empower Indigenous people and share their stories. She is the first Indgenous artist to win a JUNO for Classical Composition of the Year (2025), and has also received awards from the East Coast Music Association, MusicNL, Arts NL, and the City of St. John’s. She received an Honorary Doctorate from Acadia University in 2025. As a performer, composer, writer, and mentor, Deantha shares her voice and vision with her whole heart, and is drawing accolades from across Canada and the world.

Ryan McDonald

Dr. Ryan McDonald is a multifaceted performer and artist currently residing and performing in Tkaron:to (Toronto). A multiple award winner from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Ryan has appeared as a soloist in concert across Canada and internationally. This past season saw Ryan appear with the Thunder Bay Symphony, Theatre of Early Music, Toronto Consort, Les Arts Florisants, Hart House Orchestra, Opera Parallèl, Canadian Music Centre and join Opera on the Avalons Emerging Artist Program.

Ryan has appeared as a soloist in concert with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Nota Bene Players, Cellar Singers, Elora Festival Singers & Symphony in the Barn. During the 21/22 season, Ryan was a Young Artist with Pacific Opera Victoria’s Civic Engagement Quartet and Confluence Concerts inaugural Young Artistic Associate and joined Opera on the Avalon’s Emerging Artist program during the 24/25 season. Ryan is the co-founder of OperaQ; a company focused specifically on presenting queer theatre by queer artists for queer audiences.