Behnaz McCallum is a relatively new member, having joined Echo in the fall of 2023. She is very enthusiastic about the singing with the choir, and agreed to share her impressions with others who might be looking for a similar experience.

Behnaz is a retired audiologist with over thirty years of experience, twenty of which were spent working in a private hearing clinic. She is definitely an auditory person. Behnaz holds a graduate degree from Tehran University and a doctorate from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. She found helping people with their communication problems very rewarding, but took early retirement during the Covid pandemic. Behnaz now has time for a wide range of activities including painting, studying piano, and singing. She practices yoga and meditation daily, as she has for many years.

Although she had never sung in a choir before joining Echo, Behnaz plays the Persian frame drum, or Daf. This instrument is used in folk music, and is an important component of Sufi music, which is very spiritual and uplifting.

Behnaz learned about Echo through a newspaper ad. She had always wanted to sing in a choir, and the fact that Echo is a women’s choir and requires no experience and no audition appealed to her. She became a member and participated in her first concert In December, which she found to be a lot of fun.

Following is an excerpt from our conversation.

Echo: What do you like about singing with Echo?

BM: When I started going to rehearsals, I thought, this is what I want: some community, different kinds of music, progressive music; when you care about different people with different orientations, that’s nice…I like the songs, the repertoire. There is always an interesting mix of music. Last season I liked guest artists Andrew Craig and the gentleman from South Africa [Bongani Magatyana]. When Andrew played that drum …I was jumping up and down. I kind of let go…I never sang in front of people before… but the choir actually holds you. I felt supported, and held by the choir and I just let go.…I feel very joyful when I sing.

Echo: You lead a very busy life in retirement, taking care of mind, body and soul. In addition to singing with Echo, you also study piano and paint. Can you talk a little about this?

BM: I have done Persian calligraphy in the past.  After attending a painting class in Alberta during a visit with relatives, I found a class with the TDSB [Toronto District School Board] and started drawing and painting. I haven’t stopped yet. I enjoy the colours…I work from a picture and put my own impression in it. With no place to store canvases, I started painting on paper. I don’t paint to sell.

Echo: Do you have any suggestions on how to improve Echo? Is there anything you would like to see?

BM: I enjoy what we do, but I would like to do more socializing. Food is a way to connect. I enjoyed the ice breakers at the beginning of the session. They gave us a chance to get to know each other.

I’m glad I found this group. If something doesn’t come up, I will be a member for a long, long time.

Behnaz lives in Toronto with her husband and their Beagle Terrier, Piper.

Interview by Christine Boyanoski

Christine was born in Montreal and grew up in Brampton, Ontario.  One constant in Christine’s life has been her interest in the arts.  As a child she loved to draw and paint, and write stories. At ten she learned to play the recorder. She sang in the Peel District School Board Special Choir, assembled in 1967 to celebrate the Centennial.  Then as a teenager Christine took classical guitar lessons and sang folk songs with her friends. 

Christine’s interest in the arts influenced her career direction.  She completed degrees in art history at the University of Toronto, and the University of London. She worked for many years as a curator at the Art Gallery of Ontario.  After completing her PhD, she has continued to curate, teach and write about art independently.

She lives in Toronto with Tommy, the grey tabby.

Echo: What was the focus of your art history studies?

CB: My doctoral thesis was on the art of the former Dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa) in the context of the British Empire. 

Echo: Which show has been the most interesting one for you to curate?

CB: They were all interesting for different reasons. At this point, I am most interested in contemporary art.  I curated a show entitled Water Works at the Art Gallery of Hamilton a few years ago where I worked with the permanent collection and contemporary artists.  It is an excellent collection and the staff were a pleasure to work with.

Echo: Your life has been steeped in music, music has been a lifelong interest of yours –who had the most influence on your love and involvement in music?

CB: My parents always encouraged me to pursue my interests and gave me recorder and guitar lessons.  My aunt and uncle, who were active supporters of the arts would take me to classical concerts and introduced me to opera.

Echo: What made you choose ECHO as a choir?

CB: I had friends in the choir and attended a couple of ECHO concerts.  The repertoire appealed to me and I appreciated that I didn’t have to audition to be accepted into the choir.  I’ve been a member for six years.

Echo: What are your favorite songs to sing from ECHO’s repertoire?

CB: I like singing in other languages such as Spanish or Serbian.  Some of my favorite music was composed by guest artists like Amanda Martinez and Annabelle Chvostek. About five years ago, I acquired an acoustic guitar so that I can accompany myself singing ECHO songs!

Echo: As a member of the board what responsibilities do you enjoy the most?

CB: I’ve been a board member for a year and a half. Recently, I’ve been conducting interviews with board members for the Echo website (except this one!). This is great way to get to know each individual in greater depth.  Everyone has a story.

Echo: What do you hope for ECHO in the future?

CB: I hope that former Echo choristers will return once we have put Covid behind us. Also, I think it is important for us to attract new members of different ages and cultural backgrounds.

Echo: Anything else you would to tell us about yourself?

CB: I want to engage with some of the activities that have sustained me, or given me pleasure in the past. Singing is one of these. Making art is another. Yoga. Engaging with and contributing to a variety of communities. Writing my book. Being open to new friendships and nurturing long-term ones.

Anne was a professional illustrator for thirty years (see annestanley.com), but now applies her creativity to home renos, gardening, sewing her own clothes, resin work, and more. A former world traveler and rock climber, she is an animal and nature lover. Anne has also been Echo’s administrator since 2009.

Born in Toronto, Anne is a proud homeowner, living with her two fur babies.

Echo: You are deeply involved with Echo in a number of different ways. Tell us more about your involvement with the choir.

AS:  For over 24 years I’ve been singing with the choir, then administrator since 2009. Having an art background, I was really happy to get this job [part-time]. I get to do all sorts of things and I really like it. I did some artwork for our CDs, then the background for the new “Rainbow Race” virtual recording. It was also an opportunity for a singleton freelance artist like me to get into a community and group. I know so much about the choir now; the Board and Artistic Directors provide support. We work together. Since Covid, I’ve been doing more online, learning new technical things.

Echo: Why did you choose to sing with Echo? What do you like best about the choir?

AS: I wanted to join a choir, I love music. But I was too shy to audition. My friends in Echo told me you don’t have to. Also, it has a sliding scale, so that if your income is lower, you have the opportunity to pay a bit less and maybe volunteer, or to pay more if you’re able.

I liked that you can come on Tuesday nights, sing, and go home. Later on, [volunteering at fundraisers] became really fun. I have become a confident singer.

Echo: Have you always been interested in music?

AS: I’ve always been intensely interested in music, always more obscure, not mainstream (Nine Inch Nails, Nick Cave). I played piano when I was younger, and alto sax and clarinet in high school – not very well. I’ve taken up ukulele in the past couple of years and really love it because it re-introduced me to all the beautiful songs I love.

Echo: Are you still active as a visual artist?

AS: Everything I do is art. I look at things through a creative lens. I’m not a professional illustrator any more. It was too stressful to earn a living, but I had a good career. I got some really good jobs over the years. What I liked best [about my career] was connecting with the client and seeing my work in print.

Echo: What does the choir mean to you on a personal level?

AS: I’ve gotten to know a lot of people as administrator – the artistic directors, board, choir members, and workshop artists. I have so many close friends from the choir. They are so good to me. When I got sick [in 2020], they visited me at the hospital, dropped off food, gave me rides to the hospital and picked up the slack when I was not at rehearsal.

Echo: You identify as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Tell us a bit about this personality trait and how it effects your daily life.

AS: It’s a huge part of my life. When I discovered I was, my whole life made sense. Fifteen to twenty per cent of the population are HSP. I am aware of every little thing (noises, moods of people, everything going on in my environment. I’m like a sponge collecting information and sometimes it’s just too much and I have to go home. Then there is the deep processing of all that I’ve taken in and the vast inner world. I am conscientious and empathetic. I try to put people at ease in social situations and I’m very curious about human nature. Collecting information as an administrator is the perfect job for me.

Echo: How have you coped with virtual singing offered by Echo online during Covid?

AS: I am Zoom host [for the online rehearsals], so there’s lots for me to do as I sing along. I think it would be difficult for some to sing in isolation. We’re all just doing what we can until we can get back together again.

Cathy moved to Toronto from Montreal in the late 1970s when there were rumblings that Quebec might split from the rest of Canada. She worked for many years as a counselor and educator in health care. Now happily retired, Cathy lives with her husband and two rescue cats, When not singing, she spends time gardening, making jewelry, weaving, cycling, reading and travelling.

Echo: Before joining Echo in 1997, you had discovered that you really enjoyed choral singing when you joined a church choir in the 1980s. Did you have any musical training?

CG: I really love church music so in spite of my lack of musical training I decided to try singing in a church choir.  I can’t sight read music but have a good ear.  Based on my singing range I was placed in the second soprano section.  This turned out to be good thing because this section tends to have the melody which I love to sing.

Singing is also a legacy thing for me. My grandmother, whom I never met, was a professional musician. She played the violin and sang on the CBC.  My mother also had a beautiful voice, and sang as a soloist in choirs in Montreal.  When she spoke of choral singing her eyes would light up with joy.  Unfortunately she was a heavy smoker and stopped singing prematurely. When I quit smoking, I looked for things I could do that would keep me from smoking again. Joining ECHO choir became a way to keep healthy, reduce stress and maintain my voice. It feels great to be able to still sing.

Echo: When you first saw Echo perform, what did you like most about the choir that led you to join? What made you stay?

CG: The choir was just one row of a dozen women. Many were members from Holy Trinity church; the church where choir practice takes place.  I knew Becca Whitla, one of the original artistic directors.  She led the choir in a relaxed performance of folk pieces. There was a range of ages, and it seemed like a friendly, inviting group. Not overly pressured. People who have formal musical training or none at all can find a place in the choir and perform pieces that are fairly sophisticated.

Being in the choir for twenty-five years has been wonderful. It’s a great way to connect with people who share a love of singing.  Under the direction our Artistic Directors, my knowledge and taste in music has been broadened. The repertoire is best described as unusual, challenging, and delightful. We sing in different languages such as Hungarian and Mandarin and many our songs focus on social justice. We collaborate with guest musicians and sing really interesting pieces. We have also had the pleasure performing unique works composed specifically for Echo. The concert at the end of each term is a real motivator. It is exciting, energizing, the culmination of everything we’ve worked towards. It is an opportunity to create something lovely.

Echo: How long have you been on the Board? Why did you join?

CG: I’ve been on the Board for four years. It is another way of supporting the choir and gives you a different perspective on how the choir is run. There is quite a bit of work to do. I’ve helped to organize some of our fundraisers and create surveys to collect feedback from choir members about their experience with the choir.

Echo: What would you say to a prospective choir member?

CG: If you enjoy singing a broad range of music in a relaxed, egalitarian atmosphere with other people, this is the right place for you.

Jennie is a retired teacher and primary school principal with the Toronto District School Board. Over her career, she conducted both primary and junior choirs, and taught music for several years. She is the mother of three and grandmother of four children. Jennie is currently Chair of Echo’s Board, and also sits on the board of the Rescue Lake Simcoe Coalition, an environmental advocacy group.

Echo: Where did your love of  music come from?

JU: All the way from my early childhood. I started piano lessons at seven, I was always in the choir at school and joined the church choir as soon as I could. Our family has a tradition of singing together. And we still have that tradition now. All three of my children are musical in different ways. Music gives you such joy. You feel better.

Echo: What first attracted you to Echo Women’s Choir? What appeals to you most about the choir? How does it compare with the other choirs you have belonged to?

JU: I was a music teacher; [about twenty years ago] Alan [Gasser] was working with the TDSB as part of their international music program and came to teach Georgian music to my students and the junior choir. At that time, I was looking for a choir and he told me about Echo Women’s Choir. I had to wait a year and a half to get in. One of the things that appeals to me about Echo is the international music aspect of it. It is interesting and challenging. It’s not only learning another language, but learning different kinds of musical tones and scales. I also love the visiting artists; we learn from all sorts of other musicians, not just the directors. I had belonged to other choirs, but their repertoire didn’t inspire me. I love folk music from around the world.

Echo: During your twenty years with Echo, you have served twice as chair of the Board of Directors. How have you seen the choir evolve during this time? In what direction do you see it going?

JU: I joined the board during my second year with the choir, for a four-year term, then again, a few years ago. During my involvement with the board, we rewrote the by-laws to be specific to Echo.  We shifted fundraising events to be more participatory, fun, and social, and to a different venue from Holy Trinity. When I first joined, there were no other choirs like Echo; now there are many to choose from.

Since Covid, we’ve had to pivot to online meetings and rehearsals. This has regrettably left out members who find it difficult to follow the scores without the benefit of hearing other voices. We have not been learning international music as much during this period.

There was a big change when the co-founder and co-director Becca Whitla left a couple of years ago. She had contributed an energy and personal perspective that have been missed. The onset of Covid put a hold on hiring a new assistant conductor, since many of our sources of revenue dried up. I am optimistic that once we can hold concerts and in-person fundraisers again, we will fill this position.

 Hopefully, we can get back together in January, or perhaps adopt a hybrid solution where some members attend online while others attend in person.

Ximena has lived in Toronto for four decades. She came to Canada with her family from Ecuador after a military coup in the late 1970s. Her father, Carlos, who had a strong influence on Ximena, impressed the importance of education upon his six children. She holds five degrees from University of Toronto, York University and Universidad Complutence in Madrid. Ximena has worked in the non-profit sector for most of her career and is a strong advocate for social justice.

In addition to singing in the choir, Ximena also finds joy in her weekly family gatherings, which include all sixteen members, including her mother, siblings and nieces and nephews. They spend time together discussing politics, watching soccer and eating. Ximena is a self-proclaimed foodie who loves to eat out and travel.

Echo: What inspired you to join the choir?

XE: I joined the choir in the fall of 2014, the same year that my father was diagnosed with lymphoma. We were very close; he was a very strong influence in my life. I was having a very hard time dealing with his diagnosis, and sought help.  I was advised to get in touch with my feminine side (I socialized and worked mostly with men at that time) and engage in an activity that was about being in the moment, like music, singing. Following her suggestion, I joined Echo Women’s Choir. They practiced in a church. And that is how I began singing with women in a spiritual space. My father attended Echo’s winter concert, and passed away soon after.

Echo: What do you like most about the choir?

XE: I like the diversity of the choristers who come from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds and have different levels of music knowledge. The singers represent a diverse cross-section of society, with a common love of music. You all have other lives and interests. Another reason I have stayed with the choir is their commitment to social justice. It is a good fit for me. I do a lot of volunteer work with Social Justice organizations.

Echo: Where does your interest in music come from?

XE: From my father. He made sure that we all had some basic knowledge of how to read music. He listened to all sorts of music, and he whistled every morning. He had a keen aesthetic sense, even making flower arrangements. He believed that life was to live.

Echo:  You have just begun a second term on Echo’s Board of Directors, and recently offered to help manage the choir’s finances. What would you like to contribute to the Board?

XE:  A number of years ago, I participated in a program called “Diversity on Boards” that provided training for board members, and included such things as public speaking and interviewing. I have fourteen years of experience on two other boards where I was involved in finance (what I do in my day job) and fundraising. These are areas in which I can contribute to Echo’s Board.

Echo: Is there anything else you would like to add?

XE: I have no issue with having a man as Artistic Director of a women’s choir. It provides a good balance!