Artistic Directors
Kellie Walsh
A proud native of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, Kellie Walsh is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Newman Sound Men's Choir, the Founder and Artistic Director of Lady Cove Women's Choir, and the Associate Conductor and Successor of Shallaway: Newfoundland and Labrador Youth in Chorus. She also currently conducts the senior chamber choir, junior high choir, and the multi-award winning treble choir at St. Bonaventure's College, as well as the senior choir of the Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
Newman Sound has won the CBC Galaxy Rising Star Award, and has also been a finalist in the CBC Radio's National Competition for Amateur Choirs. Lady Cove Women's Choir is a two-time winner of the CBC Radio's National Competition for Amateur Choirs, and this past summer won first place in the prestigious international choir competition, the Béla Bartók Contemporary Choir Competition, in Debrecen, Hungary.
Both choirs have busy performance seasons and are very active in commissioning new works, as well as performing and commissioning arrangements of the folk music of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Kellie also enjoys a busy schedule as a workshop clinician and adjudicator. Last summer she was guest conductor for the Nova Scotia Youth Choir summer program, and this past February conducted the first-ever Pan Labrador Youth Choir as part of Festival 500 Labrador. Kellie has worked with such internationally-acclaimed conductors as Maria Guinand of Venezuela, Sir David Willcocks and Alan Hazeldine of London, England, Jon Washburn of Vancouver, Pinchas Zukerman of the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa, and Helmuth Rilling of Germany.
She holds Bachelor degrees in both Music and Music Education from Memorial University, in addition to a Master's degree in conducting, having studied with Dr. Douglas Dunsmore, Dr. Donald Buell, and Maestro Marc David. Kellie serves as a sessional instructor for choral music and music education for Memorial University's School of Music.
Kellie was named Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council's Emerging Artist for 2008, for her contribution to arts and culture in our province, particularly the choral sector.
David Chafe
DAVID CHAFE earned his Bachelor of Music (Honours; Piano Performance) in 2002 and Master of Music in 2004 (Performance and Pedagogy) from the Memorial University of Newfoundland School of Music as a student of Dr. Kristina Szutor. He also holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree (1989) from Memorial University which enables him to manage his career as a teacher, performer, accompanist, recording artist, concert producer and musical director in his St. John's home.
In 2006, David recorded his debut CD of hymns for solo piano It Is Well and was recognized by his peers in the Music Industry Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (MusicNL) as 2006 Gospel Artist of the Year. The following year, MusicNL honoured him with the same award for his follow-up gospel CD Bright and Beautiful. Also in 2007, David was MusicNL's Classical Artist of the Year for the album Over Hill and Valley with baritone Christopher Bowman. This CD was also awarded 2008 Classical Album of the Year by Music Nova Scotia and was nominated as Classical Recording of the Year by the East Coast Music Association. David rounded out his prolific 2007 with the release of Midnight Clear, a critically acclaimed album of sacred Christmas carols featuring singer and instrumentalist Andrew Dale. The music of Midnight Clear is presented in concert each December and is frequently heard on CBC Radio One.
David was recognized by MusicNL in 2009 for his teaching endeavours, receiving a nomination as Educator of the Year. In Summer 2009, he and colleague Sheena Roberts established the first ever Piano Camp for young pianists aged eleven to sixteen years, specializing in efficient and effective practice and performance techniques. This inaugural Piano Camp was a tremendous success, receiving high praise from the students and their parents and is now an annual event happening in St. John's every August.
David is co-founder, co-artistic director, manager, accompanist and singer for the Newman Sound men's choir whose debut CD "The Green and Salty Days" will be released in Fall 2010. He is the founding accompanist for the internationally renowned Lady Cove women's choir. His playing can also be heard on CD's by Lady Cove, Cantus Vocum Chamber Choir, gospel singer Mark House and the gospel group Celebration.
Each year, he produces, hosts and performs in a popular gospel concert which celebrates music with positive messages and showcases an exciting array of established and new talents. David was producer and host of one of the most successful concerts during JUNO week in 2010 when he presented Newfoundland and Labrador's best gospel artists in hugely popular "Gospel On The Edge."
David teaches piano and music theory privately, is mentor to many aspiring young musicians and is the accompanist for some of the most promising students of the MUN School of Music as well as for professional singers, instrumentalists and school choirs. As a solo performer, David regularly performs complete solo piano recitals.
He is an adjudicator for music festivals and conservatories throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. In the community, David is Chair of the Board of Directors of Waypoints, a provider of shelter and social and education programs for young people requiring special assistance. He also serves on the Boards of Directors of MusicNL, The Kiwanis Music Festival Association of St. John's, The Association of Cultural Industries of Newfoundland and Labrador and St. Thomas' Anglican Church.
For more information and updates on David's career, please visit www.davidchafe.ca.
Introducing our Associate Conductor...
Jennifer Hart
JENNIFER HART is a graduate of Memorial University's School of Music where she studied piano with Timothy Steeves and completed the conjoint Music and Music Education programs in May of 2007. Jennifer shares her love for choral music with various community choirs including Lady Cove Women's Choir, The Memorial University Chamber Choir, and St. John's based vocal chamber ensemble, Innismara. She is delighted to be the Associate Conductor/Accompanist of Shallaway: Newfoundland and Labrador Youth in Chorus. Jennifer teaches piano privately, manages the Tuckamore Chamber Music Festival and in September 2010 returned to Memorial University to pursue a Master's Degree in Choral Conducting.
