Laura Hawley
Laura Hawley is a Canadian composer, conductor and pianist, known for her distinctive compositional voice, compelling approach to leadership and artistic programming, and multi-faceted community engagement.
As an internationally recognized composer, her works have been commissioned, performed, and recorded by many of Canada’s finest ensembles including Elektra Women’s Choir, Pro Coro Canada, Inuksuk Drum Dancers, Canadian Chamber Choir, Spiritus Chamber Choir, Cantiamo Choirs of Ottawa, Halifax Camerata, and Shallaway Youth Choir. Laura has written a variety of instrumental and choral works for children, youth, and developing adult musicians; works that lend themselves well to educational growth.
An active clinician throughout Canada, Laura has worked with a wide variety of community-based choral and orchestral ensembles. She has taught in the music departments at both of Ottawa’s universities and Concordia University of Edmonton. She teaches piano, theory, harmony and history in her studio.
Deidre Kellerman
Deirdre Kellerman (she/her) is a choral conductor and vocal coach based on unceded Algonquin territory (Ottawa, ON). She is the Artistic Director of Tone Cluster – quite a queer choir. Previous conducting positions include Assistant Director of the Ottawa Choral Society and Director of Music at First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, where she conducted their three choral ensembles.
Since settling in Ottawa in 2015, Deirdre has become a regular fixture in the area’s choral community. As a workshop facilitator and guest conductor, she has worked with the Cantata Singers of Ottawa, Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus, Canadian Centennial Choir, Aella, and CAMMAC.
Deirdre has studied across North America, including a residency at the Banff Centre’s Choral Art program, studying with Lone Larsen and Michael Zaugg. She was nominated for the 2018 Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting. An avid chorister, Deirdre has sung with a wide variety of ensembles, including Xara Choral Theatre, and the National Youth Choir of Canada. She sits on the board of directors for Choirs Ontario, and leads alumni relations for the National Youth Choir.
In high demand as a vocal coach, Deirdre is passionate about music education and life-long learning, and maintains a busy teaching studio.
Deirdre holds a M.Mus in Conducting from the New England Conservatory and B.Mus in Vocal Performance from Acadia University.