Torri was born and raised in Yellowknife, NWT. He grew up in a very musical family where both his parents were involved in singing and playing piano/organ on a weekly basis. Torri started piano lessons at the age of 4 and that remained one of his greatest passions up until University. He attended University of Manitoba for his undergrad degrees (B of Music/ B of Ed), during which he was actively involved in numerous vocal groups (University Singers, Bison Men's Chorus, VocalEase) where he also developed a keen passion for Vocal Jazz.

After University, Torri spent 7 years as a full-time worship pastor in Winnipeg and Minneapolis. Upon returning to Canada, he received a Masters in Music (Choral Conducting) from the University of Calgary where he studied for two years under Malcolm Edwards. Alongside his studies, Torri became involved in the Calgary Choral scene, holding positions with Youth Singers of Calgary, The Savridi Singers, and was a founding director of Harmony through Harmony. During this time, his day job included building a music program that included concert band, jazz band, choir and vocal jazz that won multiple awards at local, national and international competitions. He has also been an adjudicator and clinician for Westwinds and Three Hills Musicale. 

Torri is excited to join ARC and work with an amazing group of singers and staff people - and to be a part of the new chapter in ARC's next 20 year history! 

Torri's musical tastes are incredibly varied - classic rock, pop, Broadway, jazz, and even some occasional modern country! But the two most frequent “go to” stations would be Bach or Jazz.

A born and raised Calgarian, Leslie has been involved in the arts scene, specifically music (concert/jazz/marching bands), for most of her life. She is a CPA, CGA by day and an avid volunteer by night, supporting various organizations to further arts, education, western culture and overall continue to keep Calgary shining! 

She is excited to partner with ARC to not only support their current business needs, but also strategic initiatives to keep the songbirds singing, helping to provide a great space for community building, creative activities and engagement within the city. 

The main reason that music is so important to Leslie is her philosophy that individuals do not need to share a common language to understand and communicate with one another when music is involved and it is a large mood shifter. The moment certain songs, such as YMCA, Bohemian Rhapsody, Friends in Low Place and others come across a radio, everyone turns into the best backup singer! Classical and Jazz are usually playing in her home to set a relaxing background atmosphere but nothing is better than country in the car for a long drive!

Christene Gordon B.A., B.Ed., M.Sc. (ARCT – Performer voice)

After 20 years working in senior leadership with the Alzheimer Society of Alberta and
Northwest Territories, Christene retired in February 2024.

In addition to her work in the field of dementia care she has had over 30 years
experience as an educator; specializing in program design, development and delivery in
various settings including the Calgary Board of Education, Calgary Zoo, Calgary Health
Services and Heritage Park.

Musically her tastes lean towards classical, opera and musical theatre and she would
travel anywhere to hear Bryn Terfel, Cecilia Bartoli or Elaine Fleming. Her hobbies
include travel, gardening, baking for friends and family and walking her beloved border
terriers, Caper and Reiver.

She joined ARC in 2010 and found herself singing and loving every second of the
eclectic repertoire that the ARC choirs perform. She served on the ARC board executive
from 2013 -2019, with terms as Vice President, President, Past President.

Born and raised in Calgary, John grew up enjoying music through playing piano. He entered the choir scene in college as he completed a BFA in drawing at ACAD and a Master of Christian Studies from Ambrose. One of his many talents is composing music and he has more recently begun sharing it with people, including our ARC family! 

One thing that excites John about ARC is that he loves making great vocal music with other people, and this community gives him the opportunity to stretch singers who have less experience or confidence with their voices. To John, music is something that helps us feel and understand, while singing together creates felt connections that other forms cannot. His favourite choir song is "O Maria" by Anuna and his favourite non-choir song has got to be "Inspector Norse" by Todd Terje!

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.

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.

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Accompanist 

Garrett is a born and raised Calgarian, who began his musical training at a young age through the singing-based Kodály music program at Mount Royal. He sang in children's choirs before switching to focus on playing the piano from junior high onward. As well as attaining his piano performance ARCT he studied music composition at the University of Calgary and is a national award-winning composer. 

He enjoys working as an accompanist, especially with choirs like ARC, because of the chance to collaborate and be a part of a group and community of excited people who are all there to share their love of music. He believes that music has such a strong power to unite people and connect all our emotions and powerfully tell stories. 

Garrett loves pretty much all music: from early medieval chants to modern avante-garde orchestral pieces, film scores, pop and rock. A long-time favorite song of his is Tusk by Fleetwood Mac.

Mike Smith has previously served as an ARCS Board Director and has rejoined the board to offer insight and experience as he is a member of more than one ARC choir and is one of the original ARC members still singing and performing. He joined the Second Chants choir directed by Brian Bowman around 1998 and moved with Brian to become a founding member of Up2Something in 2002. Mike has sung solo, terrified, in many year-end concerts and notes - "when you are the only person on the risers, they shake in rhythm with your knees". He has taught in Junior and Senior High Schools where he founded and ran the Calgary Region Schools' Programming Competition (1981 - 2000) that attracted Elementary, Junior and Senior High students from across Southern Alberta. He is a recently retired University of Calgary Engineering Professor having received Provincial and National awards for his innovations and enthusiasm in presenting Science and Engineering to Elementary and University students. Mike has put in many volunteer hours with a variety of organizations as well as ARC, currently contributing to the Alberta Disabled Sailing Association, the Spark Science Centre, the Alberta Science Network and the Harmony First Chorus .

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Lorel Leal Lorel had her Canadian upbringing on a family farm. One thing that excites her about ARC is creating great music, all together as a community. To Lorel, music brings satisfaction, comfort and a personal sense of accomplishment! Favourite song? I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor!

Amy has had a passion for music since a young age. She enjoyed piano lessons, band and
choir all thru her school years. Her university career took a sharp u-turn from a music and
education degree to graduating with a bachelor of management, major; marketing from the
University of Lethbridge.

She is very proud of her 13 year career in seniors housing and health care. She has a passion
for seniors and the support they and their families need when they are diagnosed with cognitive
impairments.

Now, her career path has shifted into motherhood. She has two amazing boys and enjoys all the
things being a stay at home mum.

ARC is more than just a choir, it’s a community, it’s a happy place! It’s an extended family where
she’s grown as a singer and built confidence thru all the support of the members and artistic
team.

She is honored to be a board director and help shape the future of ARC.

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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

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