Musical Leadership

Pianist Allie Picketts

Allie Picketts is a musician and poet with many years of teaching, writing, editing, and performing experience. She was born and raised on the stolen lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), scəw̓aθən (Tsawwassen), and other Coast Salish Peoples, and is thankful to have lived within the traditional territory of the T'Sou-ke Nation since 2010, with the exception of three years in the Cayman Islands. Allie received her ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music and her Bachelor of Music from the University of Victoria, both in piano performance, and is a registered music teacher with the BCRMTA. She can normally be found with an instrument, in the forest, or both.

Conductor & Workshop Leader Laura Dowhy

Laura has been alto in our choir since the early 90s and was the accompanist for several years. Her family has lived in Sooke since 1974. Her education includes an A.R.C.T. in piano performance and a B.Ed from U.B.C. majoring in Music and Drama. She still teaches privately.

“The Sooke Community Choir is a social experience with the common goal of preparing and sharing musical performances. I love our choir and do all I can to help the choir thrive. I have volunteered on the executive many times. Currently I am a back-up conductor for
rehearsals and I help with the music library.”

Voice Coach Nancy Washeim

Soprano Nancy Washeim’s national and international career has featured solo performances with a wide range of musical organizations, including the McGill Baroque Orchestra, McGill Symphony Orchestra, London (England) Bach Festival and the Regina Symphony Orchestra. Broadcast appearances have included Bach’s Cantata BWV51: Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, aired by Radio Canada.

Nancy has enjoyed numerous performances with the Victoria Chamber Orchestra, Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra, Vancouver Island Symphony, Vancouver Handel Society, Okanagan Festival Singers, Victoria Choral Society, and the Victoria Baroque Players. Most recently, Nancy’s passion for the voice led her to continued studies where she received her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology.

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