Suzanne Abbott

     In 2000, Mezzo-soprano Suzanne Abbott graduated from UBC with a Bachelor of Music degree, majoring in Opera (Gold Medal recipient).  While in university, she had the privilege of performing in operatic roles, which included Meg Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible, and Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. In oratorio and concert work, Suzanne has appeared as a soloist with organizations such as the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra, the Handel Society, Opera Breve, The Vancouver Song Circle, and the Gallery Singers.

     Suzanne eventually discovered her passion for teaching music to children, so in 2002, she returned to UBC to complete her Bachelor of Education.  Currently, Suzanne appears 'in performance' on a daily basis at Gleneagles Elementary School (West Vancouver), teaching Grade 2 and music to her school.  She has been a member of the Cantata Singers for 6 years.

Maureen Bennington

Maureen has enjoyed singing in choirs all her life, and has been a member of VCS since 1981.  Choral highlights include the Bach B minor Mass performance in 2000, and the 2008 choir trip to Montreal.  When she is not singing, Maureen can be found at the UBC Music Library reference desk answering musical questions.  Her specialty?  Name that tune.

Missy Clarkson

Missy has been active in the Vancouver choral music scene since 1998, when she studied voice under Lars Kaario at Capilano College.  A former member of the Capilano College Singers, Laudate Singers and the Vancouver Bach Choir, Missy was also a founding member of madrigal group Tatterdemalions, now in their 14th year at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.  This year will be her second season with VCS, and she feels incredibly fortunate to sing with a group of such kind and talented people.

When not singing with the choir, Missy can be found reading all sorts of books, traveling to far-off lands, but most likely snipping the day away in her newly-opened boutique hair salon in downtown Vancouver.

Elspeth Finlay

Elspeth is a graduate of UBC's School of Music. After attaining her Bachelor of Music degree in 2004, she went on to get her Bachelor of Education degree from UBC in 2005. She feels fortunate to be a part of VCS and its inspiring atmosphere. Elspeth also teaches music to children on a daily basis in her job as an Elementary Music Teacher in North Vancouver. When not singing, teaching, or writing children's books, Elspeth loves reading , sipping lattes with her friends, and waiting for the latest offering from "Masterpiece Theatre."

Paula Kremer

    Educated at the Vancouver Academy of Music and the University of British Columbia, Paula has studied with Margot Ehling, Marisa Gaetanne, Bruce Pullan, Phyllis Mailing, Lauren Wagner, and Laura Pudwell.  Holding an ARCT in both piano and voice, Paula is a member of the BCRMTA and has been teaching music extensively for over twenty years.
    As a mezzo-soprano, Paula has enjoyed singing with the Vancouver Cantata Singers for the past fifteen seasons and performing as a soloist with such artists as the Assad brothers and Simon Carrington. She has conducted the Celesta Girl's Choir, collaborated as an accompanist, worked in the music ministry of several churches, performed at local clubs in a rock band, and been the assistant music director for eight summers working with children and youth at the former Ailanthus Center for the Performing Arts.  Particularly, Paula has been fortunate to study aspects of choral conducting at Eton College, Westminster Choir College, and Eastman School of Music.  In 1997, Paula joined the faculty of Vancouver Community College's School of Music, where she is now a full-time instructor teaching in the field of aural skills, piano pedagogy, choral ensemble, and voice.
    Some of Paula's favourite things include yoga, dragonboating, black labs, acupuncture, fine food, great wine, solfege, and snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes.  Paula is an avid fan of Marianas Trench.

Maria Legayada

Maria Legayada is very excited to be part of the Vancouver Cantata Singers this year. During her secondary years at Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary School in Port Coquitlam, she was involved in the Vocal Jazz Choir, Show Choir, Liturgy Choir and Senior Concert Choir. She performed in two musical productions, Bye Bye Birdie and Fiddler on the Roof. Maria is a member of a Praise and Worship band known as PS 98 (Psalm 98) in which they performed in Australia for World Youth Day 2008. They perform concerts in various parishes in the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Currently, Maria is going into her second year in the University Transfer Music Program at Douglas College. She studies voice with Erica Northcott, Adele Clark and is a member of the Chorus and Chorale Choirs at Douglas College directed by Eric Hannan. Aside from singing, Maria loves to dance, travel and play basketball.

Michelle Yale