Directors

Paula Allen

Paula Allen is delighted to be appointed as Co-Director of Greater Kingston Chorus. Once she joined the chorus in 1970 when she was just finished her education and just married, she jumped in with both feet. Two years later she became Assistant Director and hasn't looked back since. Sweet Adelines has offered high quality musical education at Regional and International workshops over the decades. Paula has always enjoyed soaking it up and giving it back on a chorus, Regional and International level. She was given an International appointment of Director of Musical Activities for 3 yrs and a Regional Management Team position as Events Coordinator for another 3 years. A Certified Director, Paula has achieved honours including the Jackie Kraft Assistant Director award, Regional Sweet Adeline of the Year award, and the Nancy Field Leadership Excellence award. In the spring of 2012 the Region 16 Larry Dale Coaching Achievement award was bestowed upon her. In April 2012 she and Nancy Watson were awarded the Region 16 Spirit of Syracuse Novice Director award. She is currently Region 16's Quartet Coordinator.

Since the start of this millennium, Paula has been in 3 registered quartets and competed on the International stage 5 times as the baritone in Diamond Jazz. Her current long-distance quartet Mocha Voca includes a blend of voices from Canada and the United States. Paula is a voice teacher, coaches choruses and quartets in both countries and is a member of Region 16's Faculty.

Paula retired as a physical therapist a few years ago to devote more time to her music and family. She brings experience and enthusiasm to her recent appointment as Co-Director. Her friendship with Co-Director Nancy Watson goes back more than 25 years. They make a great team and are excited to soar with GKC!

Nancy Watson

Nancy is honored to be a Co-Director of Greater Kingston Chorus. Singing is a life-long passion of Nancy's. She has been a member of Sweet Adelines International and Greater Kingston Chorus (GKC) since 1977. Nancy has served the chorus in almost every capacity - both administrative and musical. She sang baritone until 2000 then fell in love the bass line. She was assistant director of GKC from 1995 to March 2011. Nancy was the Events Co-ordinator on the Regional Management Team (RMT) 2001 - 2003. In the fall of 2004 she was the recipient of the Region 16 Jackie Kraft Assistant Director award and in the spring of 2009 the Region 16 Larry Dale Coaching Achievement award was bestowed upon her. In April 2012 she and Paula Allen were awarded the Region 16 Spirit of Syracuse Novice Director award. Nancy has been in several competitive quartets over the years. As a baritone: New Attitude and Moonlighting. As a bass: Acappella Suite, Magic! and Here & Now!

Nancy and Paula make a great team. One's yin is the other's yang. They know it's an honor and a privilege to be co-directors of such an esteemed group of women. They are looking forward to creating many new musical and emotional memories with GKC. The sky is the limit!

Sue Marriott

Performance is a passion, a career and a hobby for the Greater Kingston Chorus' Assistant Director and Choreographer, Sue Marriott. This secondary school Drama and Dance teacher not only finds great joy and inspiration in performing through drama, dance and music; she also believes in the positive impact that the arts can have in a person's life, and therefore loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for performance with people of all ages!

Sue has completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in Drama, and a Bachelor of Education degree. She has been a teacher since 2002, and has loved every minute of it! Along with her formal training in Drama, she brings with her extensive experience in theatrical productions. Over the past two decades, she has been involved in more than 50 different productions in the capacities of performer, director, producer, choreographer, stage manager, designer, and production crew member (in costuming, lighting and sets).

As if being a teacher and theatre practitioner wasn't busy enough, Sue couldn't resist picking up another performance outlet for a hobby (or rather, ˜obsession"!). Sue was ˜bitten by the barbershop bug" in the year 2000 when she first heard the Greater Kingston Chorus ring those amazing chords, she knew that she had found her niche! She had been heavily involved in music throughout her youth, so when she found a chorus that brought together music, drama and dance in performance, she just had to jump in with both feet!

Since joining the chorus, Sue's desire to learn and share more about performance have also led her into leadership roles such as Tenor Section Leader, Technical Director for chorus shows, Choreographer and Assistant Director. As Choreographer, she loves to develop creative and energetic visual plans for the chorus to perform, and always brings these plans to the chorus with passion and enthusiasm. She is also very excited to explore new realms of musical knowledge and leadership as a part of her new journey as GKC's Assistant Director!

In addition to her chorus life, Sue has also competed in a quartet (Magic! 2002-2005), which earned the Novice Quartet Award at their first competition. She also enjoys coaching choruses and quartets, and teaching classes at Region 16 music and leadership schools.

Sue feels very blessed to have found both a career and a hobby/obsession that bring so much joy and passion to her life! However, there's no question that her greatest blessings and sources of joy are found at home in her wonderful (and very supportive!) husband Rob, and their beautiful daughter Lily!