About the Choir
The Mimico Childrens Choir began it's 5th year of music making this fall under the volunteer leadership of professional musicians and local parents Mary Bella and Jennifer Robinson. This choir is a community ministry offered by Mimico Baptist Church.
There are now two divisions: Mary leads the Senior Choir for grades 3 - 6 , and Jennifer leads the Juniors for grades SK - 2. Our main concert is in May, and we are planning some community appearances this year as well. In the past year we have sung for the Christmas Tree Lighting festivities at the new Mimico Square, for Storefront Humber senior's centre, and for occasional church services at Mimico Baptist Church.
Our Volunteer Leaders:
Mary Bella is a professional opera singer with the Canadian Opera Company Chorus, and taught private voice for several years as well as children's opera workshops with the Canadian Opera Company. Mary has a Bachelors and Master of Music Performance and a Graduate Opera Diploma. She also runs her own growing business, Maestra Web Design, creating websites for performing artists and arts organizations.
Jennifer Robinson is an accomplished classical singer with post graduate studies in both opera and concert performance, and has been a core member of the Canadian Opera Company Chorus for over 15 years. Jennifer directs the "Junior" members (grades k - 2), as well as assisting with rehearsals of the choir as a whole.
In Memory our Founder, Margaret Nealon
The Mimico Community Childrens Choir was founded in 2007 by Margaret Nealon, who emmigrated from Australia to Canada in 2006 after years of teaching music in Australia. Margaret studied at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, majoring in voice and piano, and also studied teaching. She was a high school music teacher for a number of years, then moved on to teach infant and junior grades.
A member of Mimico Baptist Church, Margaret wanted to share her love of music and singing with the children of her community. Margaret was awarded a Community Award of Merit in June 2008 for her work with the choir.
In early 2010 Margaret had to return to Australia for cancer treatment, and choir parents Mary Bella and Alison Steer-Campbell stepped in to lead the choir for the remainder of the year. Jennifer Robinson, a colleague in the Canadian Opera Company, came on board in the Fall of 2010, and together Mary and Jennifer have enjoyed continuing the choir tradition with their own children in the choir.
Margaret Nealon died in October 2011, after a brave battle with cancer. We dedicate our performances to her memory, and to the wonderful contribution she made to our community.