The Leadership Team

Annika holds a Bachelor of Music with Distinction, specializing in Music Education from the University of Victoria, and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Music Psychology through the University of Sheffield. Her graduate studies explore how music enhances wellbeing, memory, and emotional connection, directly informing her work with adult choirs. She is especially interested in how singing supports cognitive health and fosters a sense of belonging.

Throughout her career, Annika has worked with a wide range of learners, both adults and youth. She currently serves as the lead Early Childhood Music Educator at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and directs the Choir Kids program, which brings choral experiences to local elementary schools. Her practice is grounded in the belief that music is a lifelong pursuit, capable of enriching lives, building community, and nurturing wellbeing at every stage.

Growing up in Vancouver, Annika developed a profound love of music through piano and choral singing, completing her Grade 10 piano with the Royal Conservatory and performing with ensembles such as the Vancouver Youth Choir and Coastal Sound Youth Choir. Her dedication to choral music has led her to participate in national conferences like Podium, as well as international training opportunities including the Sarteano Choral Conducting Symposium in Italy and the Cascade Choral Conducting Symposium in Washington. She has also worked as an Emerging Artist with Ensemble Laude and intern conductor for the BC Youth Choir.

Annika’s leadership is shaped by her recognition of each singer’s unique strengths and stories. She aspires to create inclusive musical spaces where adults feel empowered to express themselves, explore new possibilities, and experience the joy of singing together.

M.Ed Rehabilitation, MBA Leadership, CCRC | Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Chief Executive Officer

Maria is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the charity/ not for profit industry. She has decades of leadership in the health-care and social services sector, as well as provincial and national governance experience. She holds an MBA in Leadership from the University of Athabasca and an M.Ed. in Rehabilitation from the University of Washington.

With extensive business experience combined with previous roles both as a rehabilitation counselor and senior leadership, Maria has direct relevant operational experience, underpinned by a commitment to caring and inclusive communities.  This is evident through her previous role as CEO of the Alzheimer Society of BC and her current role as CEO of the Family Services of Greater Vancouver.

Maria grew up in a family where music played a significant role.   The joy as well as the comfort of music supported Maria and her family while they care for her mom on her dementia journey.

“Where words fail, music speaks.” Hans Christian Anderson

I was born in Victoria, but the small town of Shawnigan Lake has been my home ever since. I attended public school there until the fifth grade, after which I moved to the Island Catholic Schools System. I spent two years at St. Joseph Elementary before continuing my education at St. Andrew’s Regional High School, where I joined St. Andrews’s singers from grade eight to twelve.

Since the age of four, I have had a deep passion for singing, leading me to begin piano and vocal performance lessons. By the time I turned 16, my repertoire consisted of arrangements from Andrew Loyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera and a completion of several examinations with honours from the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2018, during tenth grade, I joined Voices in Motion, which was introduced to the school as a research study by the University of Victoria. I remained committed to the choir until I graduated.

After completing my high school education, I took a short break from choir activities due to the demands of my college coursework. I obtained my Associate’s Degree in Psychology from Camosun College and am continuing with a Psychology Major at the University of Victoria.

Music uniquely unites us, and I am excited to reconnect with my Voices in Motion family. I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to serve as a board member, and I eagerly anticipate the choir’s expanding opportunities for myself and the wider community.

Treasurer 

Leah was born and raised in the Fraser Valley and is proud to be a farmer’s daughter. After completing her Business degree at Simon Fraser University in 1990 Leah moved to Victoria to work for a small accounting firm. In 1999 Leah switched from public accounting into the not-for profit sector and throughout the years has held various positions in the charitable sector after completing her accounting designation in 2007.  Leah served as the Chief Financial Officer for the Diocese of Victoria from 2008-2024. Leah also served on the executive committee for a non-profit insurance reciprocal, and the Board of Director’s for St. Joseph’s Hospital.   

Leah’s mom was been an enthusiastic VIM member and her joy and excitement of being part of the choir was so contagious that Leah felt called to support the VIM organization. Leah is married to Keith and together they have two daughters and a granddaughter.  In her spare time, she enjoys cycling, yoga, fitness training, reading, and travelling. 

I was born and raised in Vancouver and graduated from UBC with a Masters of Library Science. Both my wife and I got jobs in Toronto and we worked there as public librarians for 14 years. We decided to move back west and settled in Victoria. I went back to school to study computing technology at Camosun and was hired as an information analyst with the Ministry of Health. I took early retirement after 16 years.

I was always interested in music and enjoyed singing as a child. I learned to play the guitar to accompany myself. It was when we moved here that I discovered the joys of choir singing and I have been actively involved in numerous groups since the early 90’s. Aside from singing with Voices in Motion I am a member of the Victoria Choral Society and the Victoria Arion Male Choir and two “living room” choirs. Although I have not had any formal musical training I have learned much just from being in choirs all these years.

I believe in contributing to communities I am active in be it coaching and managing dragon boat teams, acting as music librarian for the various choirs, creating practice files for singers, hosting social events, setting up stages and moving equipment, and serving on boards and committees.

I joined Voices in Motion because of my good friends, Brian and Margie Noonan. Both the Noonans and the Lees have been on overseas choir trips together. I had also sung with Brian in a couple of the choirs.

My hobbies include reading, doing cryptic crosswords (in ink!), cooking, hosting dinner parties, and of course, music!
I have been happily married for 50 years, have a son and a daughter and two grandchildren and we all live in Victoria!

Mary Copland Kennedy, PhD, is an Associate Professor Emeritus in the School of Music, University of Victoria, where she taught undergraduate and graduate courses in music education in addition to conducting the Philomela Women’s Choir. Dr. Kennedy’s research interests include choral music, creativity, and music and community. She has published widely in national and international journals as well as presented papers and sessions at local, regional, national and international conferences. Dr. Kennedy is a founding member of Voices in Motion, having secured the initial school partnership with St. Andrew’s Regional High School and having been a part of the interdisciplinary research team. After a leave of absence, while she was the musical director for St. Aidan’s United Church, she is glad to be back with the VIM family and take up varied roles as board member, choir member, and researcher.

Dinah Ellett grew up in England in a very musical family and had a father who was always singing. She sang alto in many choirs in the UK.

In 1967, she emigrated to Canada with a young family. In Toronto, she worked for Eaton’s in their Human Resource department and as a food buyer/sales manager.

She and Barry moved to Victoria in 1979 when she opened the first licensed Crabtree & Evelyn store, that carried foods and toiletries. She owned and ran that business for 17 years as well as training employees in product knowledge in the Vancouver corporate stores on the mainland.

After selling her store, she joined The Bay part-time and sold Ladies’ Wear for 10 years.

She volunteered with “Bridges for Women” as a mentor, working with women wanting to return to the work force. This involved counselling and training operational skills on how to open their own business.

If that wasn’t enough, she was also the Secretary on her condo strata council for many years.

In September 2019, she and Barry joined Voices in Motion. Barry, who has Vascular Dementia, had never sung in his 80 years. He attended choir regularly and thoroughly enjoyed singing in person and on Zoom. He also performed in both Virtual Choirs that Voices in Motion produced. Barry went into care in September 2023.

From the beginning, she knew she wanted to be part of ViM and help the organization continue that work that benefits those with dementia and Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

“I feel that my experience in business, marketing and HR counselling will be an asset to the Board,” says Dinah. We are delighted she has joined us!