About Us

Artistic Team

Music Director - Wilson Fowlie

Ontario-born Wilson Fowlie studied music throughout his school years and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from York University, Toronto in 1989. After making B.C. his home, Wilson joined the Maple Leaf Singers in 1991. During 10 years as a choir member, he performed bass solos, led an a cappella quartet, arranged music for the quartet and the choir, served on the Choir Executive and as Assistant Conductor. Wilson became Music Director of the Maple Leaf Singers in 2001.

Choreographer - Julie Hanna

Julie joined the Maple Leaf Singers in 2001, but music and performance have been part of her life since childhood. She has been singing for over 18 years and dancing for 16 years, and has won many awards. Julie ran her own dance school for two years while finishing school and choreographed numbers for Miss Merritt pageants, as well as produced the Merritt Community Christmas Concert. While at university, Julie was a member of the UBC Honour Band. Julie now combines her own experience with on-going learning from renowned show-choir choreographer John Jacobson. She has choreographed numbers for the Maple Leaf Singers for six years.

Accompanist - Gail MacDonald

Gail joined the Maple Leaf Singers in 1998, bringing with her a wealth of musical experience. She has a Bachelor of Music Degree and Teacher Certification from UBC and has taught music, privately and in the school system, for over 30 years. She has directed and participated in many musical productions, and sung in the Brahms Choir, UBC Choral Society, Gallery Singers, Kirby Singers and Gloria Dei Chorale. Currently, Gail is the Director of the Burnaby District Children's Choir. She is also teaching full-time at a secondary school in Burnaby. She accompanies the school choir whenever she can, and often incorporates music in her classes. She is a member of the Canadian Music Educators Association.

Assistant Accompanist - Helen MacCulloch

Born in Vancouver and raised in a musical family, Helen studied singing and piano and received her Bachelor of Music Degree and Teacher Certification from UBC. Helen taught Elementary School in North Vancouver for over 30 years and is now retired. She was the first pianist for the Royal City Musical Theatre Company and played for four of their productions. Helen and her husband have written two children's musicals performed in several elementary schools, and have just completed their first musical for adult theatre. Helen joined the Maple Leaf Singers in 2003, singing in the choir as well as being an assistant accompanist.

Accompanist - Marilyn Rushton

For Marilyn Rushton, music is a second language. She began playing piano at age of 5. Throughout her school years she sang in the school choirs and also a girl's quartet. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from UBC in 1975. She sang on radio jingles and worked in piano bars for nearly 15 years before taking on the role of co-director of the Burnaby Children's Choir from the late 1980s to 2000. Marilyn added to her music education with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from at UBC in 2000, then brought her expertise to both the Maple Leaf Singers and the Deer Lake United Church choir in 2001. Marilyn has also recently started a performance choir for blind/visually impaired youth.