About Edmonton Columbian Choirs

Heather Bedford-Clooney has a B. Mus. Ed, an ARCT (voice) and a ATCL and LTCL in Speech and Drama. She has done graduate work at the University of Alberta, Dartmouth College (New Hampshire) and Westminster Choir College (New Jersey).

With a remarkable 50-year career as a voice teacher in Edmonton, Ms. Bedford-Clooney has fostered the development of many successful students who regularly compete in local and provincial festivals. Several of her students have also participated in the National Music Festival, and many have gone on to become prominent performers and voice educators.

An accomplished musical theatre performer herself, Heather has served as the musical director for a variety of productions, including West Side Story, The Music Man, Cabaret, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Anne of Green Gables, The Fantasticks, Oliver, and The Wizard of Oz. She also produces an annual Broadway Night for the Edmonton Columbian Choirs (ECC).

As the Artistic Director of ECC, she conducts the Chanteuses. They have performed on Parliament Hill, collaborated with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and have twice been finalists in the CBC Amateur Choir Competition.

Ms. Bedford-Clooney has held numerous leadership roles, including Past President of Choir Alberta, Choral Canada (ACCC), Music Alberta, and Opera Nuova. She is also the Executive Director of both the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival and the Shean Piano and String Competition.

Her numerous award and accolades include:

• Richard Eaton Award for Distinguished Service to Choral Music in Alberta (2008)
• Alberta Centennial Medal (2005)
• ACF Con Spiritu Award (2003)
• Induction into the City of Edmonton Cultural Hall of Fame (2015).

Elaine Dunbar holds a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from the University of Alberta; an A.R.C.T. in singing performance from the Royal Conservatory; a B.F.A. in theatre acting from Ryerson University in Toronto; and has studied musical theatre at the Banff Centre. She is a member of the RCM College of Examiners and of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association.

Elaine is a teacher and performer of music and theatre. She conducts 2 choirs for the Edmonton Columbian Choirs, is a sessional instructor for MacEwan’s musical theatre program, is music director at Grace United church, is a vocal coach and show band leader for 2 high school programs in Sherwood Park. She has a theatre company for youth called Underdog Theatre Co. Ms. Dunbar also teaches privately.

Elaine has performed as an actor throughout Canada, has performed 2 seasons with Pro Coro choir, and was a member of the Good Spirit trio who performed at the Winspear in honour of the mayor’s birthday in 2010.

Linda gives workshops and masterclasses throughout Alberta, working with both pianists and singers, as well as acting as a music festival adjudicator. Her private music studio consists of students of all ages and levels, working on piano and voice skills, as well as advanced theories, including Harmony, History, Counterpoint, Analysis, and Pedagogy. She makes time for free-lancing as an instrumental/vocal accompanist for exams, festivals, recordings, auditions, competitions, and recitals, as well as accompanying The Festival Singers in Sherwood Park. She has been accompanist for ECC’s Chanteuses Ladies Choir for many years.