Our Team
Melanie Tellez
Artistic Director
Conductor, Ilumini
As a choral leader, Melanie brings a unique combination of engagement and joy to her role, motivating singers to trust themselves, and one another, in their choral journey. Recently appointed Artistic Director with Hamilton Children’s Choir, Melanie considers herself lucky to have spent the past decade with HCC, leading singers as young as 6 and as old as 24, as they learn repertoire, study music theory and history, work on choreography, perform, tour, and deepen their self-confidence as artists. Helping young people sing with open hearts is one of Melanie’s favourite ways to frame her work.
Originally from Nova Scotia, Melanie now considers herself to be a proud Hamiltonian. Outside of her work with HCC, Melanie is part of the music faculty with McMaster University’s School of the Arts, leading their choral ensembles. Past engagements include: Hillfield Strathallan College, Toronto Children’s Chorus, Young Voices Toronto, and King’s University College of Edmonton. Melanie holds a Bachelor of Music (Voice) from Dalhousie University in Halifax, and a Master of Music (Choral Conducting) from the University of Alberta. She has been thrilled to adjudicate and lead choral festivals across Southwestern Ontario, Alberta and Nova Scotia, and proudly served for six years on the executive board of Choirs Ontario.
In her spare time, Melanie is often found attempting to sing in harmony with her two daughters, who would usually prefer to be reading graphic novels or swimming.
Kate Boose
Conductor, Esplori
Kate Boose is an accomplished and experienced music educator who enjoys guiding performers on their unique journey towards musical excellence. Kate has been part of the HCC Artistic Staff since 2017, while previously supporting the organization as part of the Board of Directors. For over a decade, Kate has been a music specialist at Hillfield Strathallan College and previously spent time as the Director of Choral Music at Abington Friends School (a Private Quaker School) just outside of Philadelphia, PA. Over her career, Kate has performed with world-renowned orchestras, conductors, and performers including The New York Philharmonic, Riccardo Muti, and Moses Hogan. She has also been the Music Director for a variety of musical theatre stage productions and taught private piano lessons. Kate holds a Master of Music degree from Westminster Choir College (Princeton, NJ) specializing in Music Education and Choral Conducting as well as degrees from Wilfrid Laurier University (Hon. B. Mus) and The University of Western Ontario (B. Ed). Kate has earned her ARCT diploma in Piano Performance, Kodaly Level 2 certification, an RAD Intermediate level certificate in classical ballet, and is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers. Kate and her family currently reside in Dundas where they try to fully enjoy the musical happenings in the Hamilton area.
Caitlyn Breukelman
Conductor, Esprimas
Caitlyn Breukelman is a soprano and conductor, holding degrees from McMaster University (B.Mus, Vocal Performance) and the University of Alberta (M.Mus, Choral Conducting). While in Edmonton, she was the assistant conductor to the University of Alberta’s Concert Choir in 2018 through to 2020, and was awarded the John and Logie Drew Graduate Scholarship in Choral Conducting in 2018, in recognition of her academic success and potential as a conductor. Previously, Caitlyn has worked with the Hamilton Children’s Choir as an apprentice conductor and rehearsal assistant and is currently working with their Esplori choir, and as an assistant conductor to their Ilumini choir. She has also worked as a conductor for children’s choirs in Edmonton, including the Edmonton Youth and Children’s Choirs and the Cantilon Choirs.
Brent Fifield
Conductor, Komenci
Brent Fifield has enjoyed a very successful career as a multi-faceted musician. A native of St. John’s NL, he earned his B.Mus (Organ) and B.Ed from Western University and subsequently earned an MMus in Organ Performance from the University of Toronto. He is highly regarded for his musical sensitivity, both as an Accompanist, Conductor, Baritone, and teacher. As an organist, he has performed in recitals across Canada and the UK, a number of which have been broadcast on national radio. As a Baritone, he sang with the Grammy and JUNO award-winning Elora Festival Singers, and Exultate Chamber Singers of Toronto, two-time winners of the CBC National Choir competition. From 2001-2010 Brent held the position of Organist and Director of Music at Christ’s Church Cathedral in Hamilton. Since 2010 Brent has been Organist and Director of Music at Trinity Anglican Church in Cambridge (Galt). Brent is the founder and Conductor of Ensemble Lyrica, a Hamilton-based chamber choir whose profits are donated to local charities. Previously, he has conducted the Brock University Chorus, the Redeemer University Concert Choir, and the Pro Musica Choir of Burlington.
Brent has had a varied teaching career: he has taught choral conducting at Western University, music analysis at McMaster University, and from 2009-2014 he was an adjunct lecturer in music at Redeemer University. Currently, Brent is teaching music in the Montessori, Junior, and Middle Schools at Hillfield Strathallan College in Hamilton. In addition, he is the Collaborative Accompanist to the Hamilton Children’s Choir Komenci and Esprimas Choirs, and is the conductor of the Hamilton Children’s Choir Profunda ensemble. Brent, his wife Stephanie, and their daughters Audrey and Elizabeth, make their home on the west mountain in Hamilton.
Dion Flores
Conductor, Lumo
Dion attended Wilfrid Laurier University and Memorial University where he completed a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, a Master of Music in Choral and Instrumental Conducting, and a Bachelor of Music Education. He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Community music at Laurier. Throughout his career, Dion has conducted singers of all ages from teaching music in elementary schools, private music studios, and in the community. He also has experience playing piano as a collaborative pianist and chamber musician.
Dion started playing the piano at age four and took up singing in elementary and high school. He has sung with the National Youth Choir of Canada during their Alberta and Ontario tours in 2016 and 2017 respectively, singing at the Winspear Centre in Edmonton, La Maison Symphonique in Montreal, and Koerner Hall in Toronto.
Dion is a member of the Ontario College of Teachers and focused on K-12 music education in his teacher training. Dion strongly believes in the power of mindset in music instruction. It is important that we believe that we can improve with effort and perseverance and cultivate a growth mindset in order to be highly-skilled and self-compassionate musicians. Dion wrote an undergraduate essay in his teacher training entitled “Failing to be Perfect: The Role of Mindfulness and Meditation in Music Performance.
Dion is honoured to be joining the Hamilton Children’s Choir as the Komenci Conductor for the 2022/2023 season. Hearing about the HCC from colleagues and watching their performances has continued to inspire his work with young singers and musicians.
Leslie Kent
Conductor, Poka, Kolibro
Leslie Kent was the founding conductor of the Prelude chorus of the Hamilton Children’s Choir from its inception in 2001until 2010. She was pleased to return to the Hamilton Children’s Choir in such a role after having spent 7 years as a chorister under David Davis from 1986-1992.
Leslie received her Bachelor of Music (Sacred Music) in 1999 from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. During her five years there, Leslie was the co-founder and director of the Moody Memorial Children’s Chorus. Since returning to Canada, Leslie has been teaching private voice and piano and choral conducting in a variety of settings. After a five year break from HCC, Leslie returned in 2015 to take on their Early Childhood Music Education program, known as Kolibro.
Leslie’s most recent adventure is a decision to return to the classroom, pursuing her Master of Music Education at the University of Western Ontario. Leslie is married to James, a recording engineer. They reside in Caledonia with their five children.
Anjanette Bailey
Collaborative Accompanist Esplori
“Anjanette Bailey has a Bachelor of Music degree in Education & Piano Performance from McMaster University where she studied with Valerie Tryon. Anjanette previously worked on the Admin side of HCC and she is thrilled to be back and 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 Esplori. She has also been teaching piano for over 20 years and currently 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.”
Jason Lee
Collaborative Accompanist, Esprimas
Brie-Anne Meyer
Collaborative Accompanist, Kantisto
Brie-Anne Meyer is a pianist, instructor and collaborative artist from the Niagara Region, Ontario. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Music in Performance from Western University in London Ontario, a Masters of Music from University of Ottawa and an ARCT performance diploma from the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Brie-Anne is a Registered Music Teacher with the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association and is an active member of the ORMTA Hamilton/Halton branch. She is also an RCM certified piano and theory teacher for Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced levels.
In addition to performing as a soloist, Brie-Anne enjoys collaborating with others whenever she can. She is an
organist and keyboardist for various choral groups and ensembles throughout Southern Ontario, and also enjoys working with vocalists and instrumentalists as a collaborative accompanist. She has many years of experience in musical improvisation, early music performance and music arranging. She currently resides in Hamilton and in her free time enjoys creating and recording music at her home studio.
Laura Pin
Collaborative Accompanist Ilumini
Ilumini Theory Coordinator
Laura Pin has worked extensively as a collaborative pianist, playing with many talented soloists and choirs including Maureen Forrester, The Amabile Youth Singers, Vox Nouveau, and The Faculty of Music Singers (Western). She completed music studies at the Banff School of Fine Arts and Western University where she studied with Arthur Rowe and was awarded the Alumni Gold Medal. She also holds an Associate of Music in Piano Performance from the Western Ontario Conservatory of Music. As a choral accompanist Laura has toured in Europe, the U.S.A., The Bahamas, Hong Kong, and Canada. Based in Hamilton, she divides her time between playing for The Harlequin Singers and Hamilton Children’s Choir as well as working as a vocal coach and piano teacher. Laura’s diverse workload includes providing music as cantor and pianist for several churches in the Hamilton Diocese and working for area orchestras (Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra) as audition accompanist and orchestral keyboard player.
Recent highlights have included guest appearances with Kokoro and Arcady, working as the festival accompanist for the Ontario Christian High School Choral Festival “Lifted Up” in 2023, and the Hamilton Children’s Choir tour to Belgium in July 2023 for the Europa Cantat Junior Festival. Laura recently retired as accompanist for the Ambassadors Christian Male Choir, a post she joyfully held for 29 years.
Laura was very honoured to have the song “Prayer for the Future” by Jeff Christmas, written and dedicated to her as the first accompanist of the Amabile Youth Singers as part of their 35th Anniversary celebrations.
Her intuitive musicality continues to win the admiration of many soloists, conductors, and music critics.
Jamie Drake
Collaborative Percussionist, All Programs
Dr. Jamie Drake is a Toronto-based percussionist, drummer and composer/arranger, who has performed regularly with HCC since 2014. His musical interests span from environmental chamber music to Motown, and he has performed everywhere from the Lincoln Centre to a small cafe in Shanghai. Jamie received an MMus from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a DMA in percussion performance from the University of Toronto, and also holds an A.R.C.T. in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory. He has premiered works by composers Christos Hatzis, John Luther Adams and Nicole Lizée and performed with Soundstreams, Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, Esprit Orchestra, Amici, NEXUS and many others. As a member of TorQ Percussion Quartet, he has toured across North America and in Europe, and has been a featured soloist with the Toronto Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal and the Buffalo Philharmonic. Jamie has worked as a percussion composer/consultant for CBC, and taught at Acadia University. Active in musical theatre, Jamie has played drums/percussion for Mirvish, Musical Stage Company, Canadian Stage, and Young People’s Theatre for Dora Award-winning productions. He has written or arranged music for HCC, TorQ Percussion Quartet, Musical Stage Company, Talk is Free Theatre, Metropolitan Community Church, and others. His solo percussion album “Night” is available on Bandcamp.
Administrative
Team
Executive Director
Gillian Alexander
Marketing & Events Specialist
Annie Horton
Program Manager
Courtney Porch
Financial Administrator
Aghadir Sassi
Board of Directors
Katie Weresch, Chair
Emily Copps, Vice-Chair
Tabinda Khan, Treasurer
Mark Lee, Secretary
Caitlin Fralick, Director
Nina Geleynse, Director
Katerina Simmons, Director
Wade Poziomka, Director
W. Ian Walker, Director
Robert Wakulat, Director
Gillian Alexander, Ex-Officio
Melanie Tellez, Ex-Officio
