Our Board of Directors
Matthew China President
Born and raised in London, Ontario, music has always been a part of Matthew’s life since he was young. Along with his siblings, he attended St. Mary’s Choir and Orchestra School for elementary where he learned to play the viola and sing in a formal choir. Matthew was a member of the Amabile Choirs for 2 years in the early 2000s. He is a graduate from Western University, and now is an accountant.
Linda Miller Vice President
Linda has a PhD in Psychology and has been a faculty member in the School of Occupational Therapy at Western for more than 25 years. She has served as Associate Dean of Research & Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Health Sciences for 5 years and has been the Vice-Provost of the School of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies since 2008. She currently serves on the governing board for the MacIntosh Gallery at Western and co-chairs the governing board for Western’s Bone and Joint Research Institute. Linda is the proud parent of Aaron Lee, a long-standing member of Primus. She is an avid enthusiast of the arts and is delighted by the opportunity to serve Amabile!
Mary Margaret Farrow Secretary
Mary Margaret’s involvement with Amabile started in 1985 when she began recording the Amabile Youth Singers. When the Junior Amabile Singers (JAS) were formed in 1989, she became their librarian, and later, became the manager for 15 years. Over the years, she has continued to record and store the audio archives of all the choir groups, and does the online sales of CDs with thousands more stored in her basement. Mary Margaret became a board member in 1994 as the JAS representative, and became Secretary in 1996; she has also written and submitted countless local and provincial grants on behalf of Amabile. It is her privilege to be a part of Amabile and to have received a Community Volunteer Award, and in 2020, she was made one of Amabile’s honorary patrons after her many years of dedication and service.
Tristin Hill Treasurer
Tristin holds a degree in business from Western University, and is a Chartered Professional Accountant. As a member of the Amabile Choirs for 14 years and accompanist of the Treble Training Choir for the past nine, he recognizes the importance of a chorister’s first few years within the organization and is grateful for the opportunity to work with Amabile’s youngest and most energetic musicians.
Amanda Palmer, Choir Executive President
Corinne Santa
Corinne is a principal of an elementary school within the Thames Valley District School Board. She has undergraduate degrees in English and Education from Lakehead University and a Masters Degree in Administration and Policy Studies in Education from McGill. She became involved with Amabile when her daughters were members of the Junior Amabile Singers. She was formally the President of the Da Capo & JAS Choirs and has been a member of the Board of Directors since September 2015; she has enjoyed working with and meeting the other members of the Board.
Donna Kotsopoulos
Donna is a professor at Huron University College and joined the board in 2017. She first learned about the Amabile Choirs while completing graduate degrees at Western University. She was delighted to join the Board following a long history of attending and loving Amabile concerts. While her background is not in music, she enjoys bringing her talents in grant writing and community engagement to the Board.
Genevieve Samuels
Genevieve was raised in London. She graduated in 2005 from Mount Allison University with her BA (Hons.) in English Literature before attending the University of Windsor to study law. Genevieve was called to the bar in 2012 and began articling and practicing at a prestigious firm in the city. She opened her own office in 2017, growing her practice in family law since that time. Genevieve enjoys listening to many genres of music and, while she can’t carry a tune, that doesn’t stop her from singing at home over the protests of her family.
George Jolink Choir Executive, President
George has been involved in choral singing from a very young age. He joined the Amabile Choirs in 2014 after retiring from a career in education as a classroom teacher (Geography) and as a Vice-Principal. His other interests include theatre, both performing and artistic direction. He has performed locally for over 30 years at multiple venues including the McManus Studio Theatre and on the Spriet Stage at the Grand Theatre. He is also actively involved at First-St. Andrew’s United Church in the choir and on the church Council. George is excited to be a part of the Amabile Boys & Men’s Choirs, helping to continue the tradition of musical excellence for boys and men of all ages in the city of London.
Amanda Palmer Choir Executive, President
Amanda is a freelance musician and a private teacher of clarinet and piano. She received her Bachelor of Music from Western University in 1994, and her Masters of Music from the University of Toronto in 1996. She joined the Amabile family when her daughter joined the Da Capo Choir and her oldest son joined the Treble Training Choir two years later. In the fall of 2017, Amanda joined the Board as the President of the Amabile Young Women’s Ensemble. Her favourite composer is Carl Marie von Weber for he has some wonderful pieces for the clarinet that she has performed over the years.
Florida Chakabveyo Choir Executive, Vice President
Originally from Zimbabwe, Florida has been involved with Amabile since her son became a chorister in 2017. She currently works as a Marketing Manager for Medical Priorities Senior Home Health Care and brings her education and experience in General Management and Marketing to the board. Florida is deeply driven by Amabile’s vision to promote health and well-being through various musical programs while embracing ethnic inclusivity to all human cultures around the globe. “To me, the beauty of music stems from its ability to evoke emotions even in those who do not understand the language being sung, uniting people from all over the world.” – Florida.
Cheri Anthony Choir Executive, Vice-President
Originally from Toronto, Cheri is a retired Principal with the London District Catholic School Board. She began her career as a Vocal Music teacher after spending many years playing the clarinet, piano, and guitar. She has had the privilege and pleasure of performing nationally and internationally and is most proud of entertaining our Canadian Force overseas. Cheri is a member of Prima, and has enjoyed every moment of her involvement; most particularly, singing at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. It was a bucket list item she dared not even dream of! Amabile is everything she never knew she always needed and she is grateful for the opportunity to serve the AGWC Executive and the Amabile Board of Directors.
Miranda Denver Chorister Representative
Miranda Denver, a married mother of three is a bilingual 19 year public servant currently working with the Program Oversight Management Branch for the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. She joined The Amabile Youth Singers in the early 90’s and returned to the sisterhood as a member of Prima in 2020. Miranda’s community leadership includes the Black Ontario Public Service Network (BOPSers) Outreach Committee, the Springbank Family of Parishes music program and social committee and proprietor of Mirandus Reiki and Intuitive Healing.
Cristian Bayona Chorister Representative
Cristian Bayona is a recent, Honours graduate of AB Lucas Secondary School and a TVDSB Science Leadership Award recipient. Currently, Cristian is a 1st year student at Western University studying in the Faculty of Science with a competitive Scholar’s Elective Module. Cristian joined Amabile when he was 10 years old and serves as section leader of the 1st tenors in the Amabile Tenor Bass Youth Choir.
Our Administrative Staff
Wade Baillie Bookkeeper
Wade has been singing with Amabile since he was 15 years old. He has tried his hand at many roles in the organization, from Choir Manager to Board Chair. At present, he is the bookkeeper for the choirs. He would like to thank the Choir Treasurers for their time and efforts and all the volunteers that keep Amabile moving forward. He also spends way too much time sorting and cataloging the boys and men’s music.
Laura Curiale
Administrative Assistant
Born and raised in London, Ontario, Laura first began her time with Amabile as a chorister, singing with the choir for 12 seasons. It was her time with Amabile that lead her to complete an Undergraduate Degree in Vocal Performance and a Not-for-Profit Management Diploma to one day serve organizations like Amabile.