Artistic Staff

Regan MacNay, Director

Regan MacNay was born into a musical family and grew up in the town of Wiarton. Her musical studies began at the age of three at her mother’s keyboard. By Grade 7 she was a member of the Children’s Festival Chorus under the direction of Jeannette Steeves. During high school, she became immersed in the musical community at West Hill Secondary School, where she played percussion in the Senior Concert Band under the direction of Fred Parsons, and sang in the Senior Concert Choir and Chamber Choir under the direction of David Tupper. She also played percussion in the Georgian Bay Symphony under the direction of John Barnum and sang in Jeannette Steeves’ choir, A Cappella. Before graduation from high school, Regan completed her ARCT in piano performance under the tutelage of Shirley Hawkins (piano) and Linda Hawkins (theory and history).

While attending the University of Western Ontario, Regan sang in the St. Cecelia Singers under the direction of Jennifer Moir. In her first year, she was part of a massed choir and orchestral production of Elijah by Mendelssohn, directed by Victoria Meredith. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Music and English degree in 2003, she moved to Toronto to complete a Master of Arts in English Literature at York University. Regan worked for a year as an editorial intern at HarperCollins Canada while she pursued a Publishing Certificate at Ryerson University. Her interests shifted to education, and she moved to Kingston to complete a Bachelor of Education at Queen’s University.
In her first year of teaching, Regan directed three choirs and taught vocal music to students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 at Albert College in Belleville. From there she moved to Peterborough to work at Lakefield College School where she taught Grade 7/8 music, Grade 9, 10, and 12 English, and directed the Concert Choir. While in Peterborough she began studying voice with Pamela Birrell and sang with the Peterborough Singers, directed by Syd Birrell. She had the great pleasure of being the sectional rehearsal leader and guest conductor over the course of the three seasons that she was a member. While living in Peterborough, Regan joined the Ontario Vocal Festival and has participated in choral symposiums led by respected choral clinicians Mark Sirrett, Ken Fleet, Jennifer Moir, Nancy Kidd, Richard Nace, and Hilary Apfelstadt.

Regan moved back to the Grey-Bruce area to pursue her career in education with the Bluewater District School Board, where she is currently a supply teacher. Regan continues to study voice with Laura Pudwell and is extremely pleased and privileged to be the director of the Georgian Bay Concert Choir for the 2011/12 season and the Georgian Bay Children’s Choir for the 2012 spring session.

Linda M. Hawkins, Artistic Director

Linda Hawkins has been associated with the Georgian Bay Children's Choir since Sept. 1990 both as accompanist and conductor of the training choirs, and was a GBCC choir parent for nearly a decade. In 2001 she assumed conducting responsibility of all choirs within the GBCC program. Along with her current GBCC responsibilities, she teaches piano, rudiments, harmony, counterpoint and music history in her private studio. She is a member of ORMTA and volunteers with numerous community groups. Linda has received her music training through the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto, Canada.

As a director of church choirs and ensembles, she has co-written, directed and produced, with her husband John, three childrens musicals, including one for television. Other media work includes narration and production for radio and television.

Treasured and significant influences have been organ studies with Clifford Gates and piano studies with Arlene MacNay, as well as Doreen Rao Choral Music Experience. Linda lives in Owen Sound with her husband. They have three children.

Robin Rich, Accompanist

Beginning her piano studies at age six, Robin went on to attain an ARCT from the Royal Conservatory of Music and a BA from the University of Toronto. After a 10 year hiatus from music, Robin re-discovered music through jazz, pursuing formal studies for 6 years.

As a professional pianist in Toronto Robin had a private piano studio and was regularly engaged as a solo pianist at the Granite Club, the Boulevard Club, Royal York Hotel, Toronto Hunt Club and York Downs. She was also one half of the musical duo, “Frolick & Rich”.

Since moving to Durham 8 years ago, Robin has been involved with many and varied musical pursuits including accompaniest for the Georgian Bay Children’s choir, leader of her own jazz trio, band member of new music group “Gigi Minor”, and composing and performing music for the Hanover Community Theatre. She began The Saugeen Music School in Hanover 7 years ago, where she and 8 other musicians teach an array of instruments and musical styles. In addition to piano, Robin plays alto sax and bass and has just produced her first CD entitled “Sooner or Later”.

Laura Sawka, Accompanist

This is Laura Sawka's second year working the Georgian Bay Children's Choir, accompanying the Little Jewels. She is a fifteen year old St. Mary's High School student and has been studying music for over 10 years. She is currently studying her Grade 10 Piano and taking her Grade 4 Music History course with Mrs. Linda Hawkins.

She has competed in the Grey County Kiwanis Festival for the past 9 years as a pianist and more recently as a clarinettist , both as a soloist and as a member of her school's concert band. While she is not practising piano and clarinet, she can be found at Dancemakers, both as a dancer and as a ballet teacher. She is very excited to be accompanying the Jewels and hopes to work with the GBCC in years to come!