Our Music Director

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​Deirdre Kellerman is an choral conductor and vocal coach based in Ottawa, ON. She is currently the Director of Music at the First Unitarian Congregation of Ottawa, the Artistic Director of Hypatia's Voice and Assistant Director of the Ottawa Choral Society.

​She was nominated for the 2018 Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting. Deirdre has studied with Canada’s leading choral pedagogues and in 2018, she was one of five international conductors accepted into the Banff Centre’s inaugural Choral Art program. Originally from Nova Scotia, Deirdre sang with Xara Choral Theatre, the Nova Scotia Youth Choir and the National Youth Choir of Canada. She has also sung with Aella, Ottawa’s unconducted advanced treble ensemble.

In high demand as a vocal coach, Deirdre is passionate about music education and life-long learning and maintains a busy teaching studio.

Deirdre holds a B.Mus in Vocal Performance from Acadia University and a M.Mus in Conducting from the New England Conservatory. 

Our Choirs

The choirs are always looking for new voices and there is a place for everyone to sing at First Unitarian! If you are interested in being a part of our musical community, please contact Deirdre Kellerman, Music Director at music@firstunitarianottawa.ca
 
Chalice Choir meets Thursday evenings from 7:00-9:00 and is our largest group. Our repertoire covers it all, from pop arrangements to hymns; folk tunes to choral standards. We value community building, dedication to musical development, laughter and learning. We sing in services approximately twice a month. This is a non-auditioned choir and everyone is welcome. Previous musical experience is helpful but not necessary.
 
Fusion rehearses on Monday afternoons from 1:00-3:00pm. We like to sing music that has lush harmonies and funky rhythms and we work on blend and ensemble development. Fusion sings in services on a monthly basis and is designed for experienced singers. Ability to sight-read and/or learn music quickly is an asset. 
 
Three Rivers Singers meet on Wednesdays from 1:00-3:00pm. We are a small women’s ensemble that sings in a variety of styles, aiming to highlight female composers and themes of welcome, community and empowerment. Three Rivers sings in services on a monthly basis.
 

Listen to a Music Sampling of our Choirs:

Upcoming Events:
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Concerts
Our annual winter concert will be Saturday December 14th at 3:00 pm. More details coming soon! 
Jazz Vespers
Based on a model used by both Unitarians and other denominations, Jazz Vespers is an evening service that blends the arts of writing, music, visual art and spoken word. Fusion takes the lead in these services, sharing vocal jazz standards. This is a laid-back and interactive service, intended to be uplifting and relaxing. Please join us! 
The next Jazz Vespers will be February 2020... stay tuned!