Join our Board!
Tone Cluster – quite a queer choir, is seeking passionate individuals to join our Board of Directors, including the roles of Treasurer and Secretary. As we evolve into a larger queer arts organization, we’re looking for leaders to help guide our strategic growth and contribute to Ottawa’s 2SLGBTQIA+ community through the arts.
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Tone Cluster is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The board provides strategic oversight and guidance over Tone Cluster, and regularly discuss ways to improve the choir. Get to know a little bit more about some of our board members below!
Board of Directors
Chair: Colum Grove-White
Colum has been singing as a tenor with Tone Cluster since 2019 and loved the choir so much he became a board member in 2020. Colum is a Federal public servant and is currently the Director of Orders in Council at the Privy Council Office. He also volunteers with other organizations, including resettling LGBTQIA+ refugees to Canada. Colum lives in Ottawa with his partner and fellow chorister, Jonathan, as well as Cusco, his goofy golden retriever.
Treasurer: Jan Andrews
Singing with Tone Cluster in the soprano section has been a highlight of Jan’s week for 16 years since she first joined the choir – learning wonderful music and enjoying the company of friends in song every Monday night! Her previous experience managing a shelter and then a 25 million dollar program at Health Canada has given Jan a solid background for her Treasurer position.
Secretary: M-E Gilbert
M-E has been singing as a soprano with Tone Cluster since 2019. She became a Board member during the pandemic and uses her skills in writing and policy analysis to support the organization.
Members at Large:
Patrice Mallet
Patrice has been singing with Tone Cluster for 5 years and on the board for the last 2 years. Patrice is a retired federal civil servant.
Thérèse Samuel
Thérèse and her wife Phyllis sang with Tone Cluster while they lived in Ottawa from 2009 until 2012. They joined again as online choristers in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons, after that Thérèse joined the Board as a non-singing member. Thérèse is glad to be connected to Tone Cluster while living at a distance.
Thérèse has previously sung in two other GALA Choruses- Nashville in Harmony in 2006 and Edmonton Vocal Minority (where she and Phyllis met in 1995), and they have attended two International GALA Choruses Festivals and six Unison Festivals, and have sung in various church and community choirs. Thérèse lives with Phyllis in Thornbury, Ontario, and works for The United Church of Canada supporting right relations and social justice ministries throughout SW Ontario.
William Bredeson
William has a been a member of the Board of Directors since 2022. He previously served in leadership roles in student caucuses and departmental committees at several universities, including Simon Fraser University, the University of Toronto, and Carleton University. He supports the Board virtually from Vancouver, British Columbia.
Rick Adams
Rick has been a member of Tone Cluster since 2022. Rick’s prior musical experience includes singing in church choirs and participating in concert and marching bands. Rick is retired from the Federal Public Service and enjoys a range ot outdoor activities and volunteer work.