Musical Leadership
Conductor 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 and help with the music library.
Accompanist 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.
This year Allie will be on temporary leave. Kathy Russell will be the accompanist for the second half of the Fall Session.
Accompanist Kathy Russell
A native of rural Saskatchewan, Kathy Russell moved to Vancouver Island in 1994 to study music at UVIC. She holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in piano performance. Kathy has developed a great love for choral music, and in the past decade has accompanied numerous choirs in the Greater Victoria area.
Kathy has lived in since Sooke in 2009 with her husband Kevin, son Konnor, and a cat named Salome. Kathy is now very pleased to join the Sooke Community Choir as interim accompanist. Prior to 2020 (COVID) Kathy had worked with the SCC as our accompanist. We are all happy to have this opportunity to work with her once again.
Contact Us
For all questions regarding membership and daily functioning of the choir please email:
Mailing Address
Sooke Community Choir
PO Box 603
Sooke BC V9Z 1H6
Donation & Fundraising Information
As a registered non-profit organization, we are always happy to accept donations to help us cover operating costs, buy new sheet music, sponsor youth, etc. If you are interested in donating to the Sooke Community Choir, or have any other fundraising and board-related questions, please send us an e-mail at:
Board of Directors
- Nina Cole, President
- Anne Miller, Co-President
- Bettina Oare, Finances
- Shonagh MacRae, Finances
- Darlene Proudfoot, Secretary
- Wade Wiley, Administrator
- Hildegard Burkart, Director
- Judy Cole, Director
- Carol MacDougall, Director
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We strive to provide a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all of our members and guests, recognizing the diverse identities of persons and the rights of all individuals to be treated with dignity and respect irrespective of their gender, race, sexual orientation, ability, ethnicity, religion, class, age, or national origin.
We respectfully acknowledge that we enjoy our activities on the unceded traditional territory of the T’Sou-ke First Nation of the Coast Salish peoples. We honor their enduring connection to this land and recognize their stewardship throughout history and into the future.