Sound Investment Choir thanks all our sponsors for their generous help:

for providing online ticket sales and email publicity

for radio publicity.

for providing media coverage to promote this Christmas concert, please visit them online for local news, events and more, in the Collingwood area.

Thanks to all of you who helped make CHRISTMAS TIME a success! It was a wonderful evening, the house was packed, the audience very enthusiastic and we all had a great time.

Many thanks to our sponsors, volunteers, our guest artist Susan Connolly, our accompanist Keiko-Yoden-Kuepfer and of course our director Danil Biba, who with great skill and patience makes us reach levels we didn't think we could!

OUR MUSIC TEAM

Music Director, Danil Biba

Danil's passion for choral music began during his childhood. He was educated at the High School of Music in Minsk, earning a Choir Conductor diploma. He then embarked on a multifaceted career as a conductor, pianist, organist, and composer of choir arrangements.

Since receiving his bachelor's degree from Minsk Conservatory of Music and his master's degree from Dresden University in Germany, Danil has become a highly skilled musician, proficient in various genres. He finds joy in working with students of different ages and abilities, both individually and in choir settings.

He directed the Harmony North Chorus in Collingwood from 2022 to 2023

and was impressed by the vibrant artistic community in the Georgian Bay area.

In 2023, Danil joined Sound Investment Community Choir as Music Director.

Danil has had extensive teaching and conducting experience in Belarus, Germany and Canada. He is also a co-founder of Trio Classic Hassiba and a talented pianist.

Danil is impressed with the choir’s professional commitment to performing choral music. Singing acapella, chord building, vocal and breathing exercises are studied as a part of choir rehearsals.

Accompanist, Keiko Yoden-Kupfer

Keiko Yoden-Kuepfer is an accomplished concert pianist, organist, and accompanist. She is originally from Katano-city, Osaka, Japan, one of the sister cities of Collingwood. She has performed both locally and internationally and – while in Japan – has taught in high schools and at the Osaka International University.

Since making her home in Collingwood in 2006, Keiko has been sharing her expertise with students and the local community. She has accompanied the Sound Investment Community Choir since 2010 and conducts the Youth Ensemble, the church choir, and other instrumental groups. She was the music director and organist at All Saints' Anglican Church for 16 years, and now she is a freelance organist who keeps quite busy visiting several churches in the region.

Keiko is a very active member of the Georgian Triangle Music Teachers' Association, Royal Canadian College of organists Simcoe-Muskoka branch and is the Collingwood-centre representative of the Royal Conservatory of Music. She is also involved in the Collingwood-Katano Sister-City Committee where she is helping to develop a friendship between these two cities!

Keiko’s love of music blossomed when she began learning the piano in Japan at age seven. At twelve
years of age, she began studying voice and then organ. By the age of seventeen, she had added the
double-bass and had also begun conducting.
Keiko graduated from Soai Music High School with a major in concert organ performance. She received
her BMusE (Hon) from Osaka National University majoring in Piano Performance. After graduation, she
worked as accompanist and interpreter for music students in Germany, Italy, and Austria. Keiko continued
her studies in Canada and received an associate diploma with First-Class Honours with Distinction from
the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and from the Royal Canadian College of Organists.

Keiko has a music studio in Collingwood where she teaches both in-person and virtual lessons.

CHOIR HISTORY

The choir was founded in 1973 by Ann Sneyd, and began as a ladies glee club under the name: the Collingwood and Area Welcome Wagon Newcomers’ Club Ladies Glee Club. In 1974 the official name of The Sound Investment was adopted. In 1991, men were invited to join and the name was changed again to become officially:

The Sound Investment Community Choir.

Ann Sneyd, a local Royal Conservatory music teacher, was involved in music programs in several churches and was the recipient of The Order of Collingwood as well as The Companion of the Order of Collingwood. Ann directed the choir until 2000 and continued as an active choir member until 2015 when she moved away from Collingwood.

Sound Investment has enjoyed the leadership of many talented directors, including Velma Cook (2000 - 2010), Brian Rae (2010 - 2013), Albert Greer (interim 2013), John Wervers (2014 - 2016), Aaron Bell (2016 - 2021) and Katrin Veski (2021 - 2022). The current director is Danil Biba.

Choir repertoire has included a wide variety of music from Bach to Beatles! The choir celebrated 45 years of song in 2018, with a special anniversary concert titled Memories. That same year the choir also welcomed Septini Sapni, a choir from Dobele Latvia as part of a cultural exchange event, hosting members and performing a joint concert that was a wonderful experience for all.

Sound Investment Community Choir is proud to have been sharing music and song in the South Georgian Bay Area for over 50 years. The choir also provides companionship and a supportive, friendly learning environment for its members.