Do you want to join us and help support the choral community? We are always looking for Directors to add their expertise to the board. Please send an e-mail that includes your resume along with your interest to board@archoirs.org. Role description: Click ARC Director for more information.
Patrick Cook
Patrick's Bio
Patrick has lived his entire life in Calgary, save for a short stint in Edmonton, where he attended the University of Alberta. With a business education in hand, Patrick has worked for both RBC and ATB since graduation, the latter he continues to work for today. Patrick has continued his financial education having completed the Canadian Securities Course and the Wealth Management Essentials course.
Drawn to ARC by his partner's participation, Patrick has come to appreciate the atmosphere ARC has created and the strong sense of community it has been able to foster. Patrick's favourite song is "Governess Shadow" by July Talk.
Treasurer
Robyn Jackson
Robyn's Bio
Robyn brings to ARC over 25 years of experience in the charitable sector in event and project management, fund development, and leadership roles. She has enjoyed serving a variety of causes, including arts and festivals, animal welfare, women and children's services, professional associations, and disability supports. She even spent 2013-2018 as ARC’s Executive Director!
There is music in the genes on both sides of her family and she remembers singing into the mirror as a kid, wholeheartedly believing she could be the next Olivia Newton-John. Her 2 years spent with Up With People primed her to be a member of ARC - though “Uppies” don’t call it choreo, they call it vamping! Robyn has no favourite songs but can never pass up a good show tune or a harmony with The Indigo Girls.
Secretary
Gail Kennedy
Gail's Bio
According to her siblings, Gail sang before she talked. Not surprising as the 4 older siblings were always playing piano or playing their records. Her parents enrolled her in dance lessons at age 6 and she adamantly exclaimed that she “didn’t want the slow dancing, just the fast dancing with the noisy shoes!” The tap dancer was born!
At 12, Ms. Kennedy auditioned for the local summer stock theatre in Helena, Montana, singing America the Beautiful. Her audition was successful and she sang and danced as a town child in her first musical Brigadoon. She continued to study drama, music, and dance through high school and university, eventually with a secondary education focus. Jobs for high school drama teachers weren’t to be found, so Gail pivoted sideways and started sewing costumes for the professional theatres in Edmonton. She was sought after as a makeup specialist and was given a grant by the Alberta Government to pursue film and television makeup and makeup effects artistry in New York State.
Ms. Kennedy has worked as a professional makeup and makeup effects designer and supervisor in Canada for nearly 50 years, garnering 6 Emmy nominations with one win.
Gail served as Vice President on the Board of The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 212 for 15 years. She is also on the Board of Performing Arts Lodges of Canada, Calgary chapter, an organization dedicated to pursuing affordable housing options for arts workers.
Ms. Kennedy is excited to be with the ARC family and to continue the ARC excellence with her new found friends.
Director
Carleen Smith
Carleen's Bio
Past President
Carleen is a born and raised Calgarian. She attended the University of Lethbridge where she achieved her Bachelor of Fine Arts in New Media and is now a graphic designer for a Real Estate brokerage.
Carleen has been singing her entire life and finds sharing her voice, both solo or with a choir, extremely exhilarating and something she can never stop doing. Her favourite things about ARC: the people and the amazing productions that consistently get better every year! Carleen's favourite song is: "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence and the Machine
Past President