Director - Marilyn Hickman
Marilyn Hickman, our new Director, is originally from Springhill , Nova Scotia . She grew up singing and acting with her family and moved to Saint John in 1982. She was looking for a group to sing with and has been Barbershopping for 38 years, acting as Assistant Director for over 30 years.
She has taken on various jobs in the chorus including most recently was our Vice President and Membership chair. She also served as Lead Section Leader, Treasurer, Social, and Ways and Means. In March 2014, Marilyn’s contributions to the chorus were recognised by her Sea Belle sisters when she was presented the Barbershopper of Year Award.
Marilyn has sung in Quartets: A Notable Sound, won the area in 1989, Coastal Reflection, won novice award in 1995 and is now singing and has competed with Nova Quattro.
This gal is fun and upbeat, and is a pleasure to sing for..
Sea. Belles could not be happier that Marilyn has accepted the role of our new Musical Director.
Former Director - Janet Kidd
Janet Kidd is a singer, composer, choral director and published author.
She first started directing Sea Belles women’s Barbershop Chorus in 1993. What began as a six month fill in has expanded to twenty eight years of exciting music making, and intensive learning about the Barbershop style of musicianship and presentation.
She has taken on various jobs in the chorus including most recently was our Vice President and Membership chair. She also served as Lead Section Leader, Treasurer, Social, and Ways and Means. In March 2014, Marilyn’s contributions to the chorus were recognised by her Sea Belle sisters when she was presented the Barbershopper of Year Award.
Marilyn has sung in Quartets: A Notable Sound, won the area in 1989, Coastal Reflection, won novice award in 1995 and is now singing and has competed with Nova Quattro.
This gal is fun and upbeat, and is a pleasure to sing for..
Sea. Belles could not be happier that Marilyn has accepted the role of our new Musical Director.
Former Director - Janet Kidd
Janet Kidd is a singer, composer, choral director and published author.
She first started directing Sea Belles women’s Barbershop Chorus in 1993. What began as a six month fill in has expanded to twenty eight years of exciting music making, and intensive learning about the Barbershop style of musicianship and presentation.
After she graduated from Queen’s University with her BMus, Janet worked for a summer with Canadian composer R Murray Schafer, then sang for seven years with the Vancouver Chamber Choir
She has been directing singing ensembles for more than forty years, and now shares all her favourite Magic Choral Tricks on her blog:
Since working with Sea Belles, Janet has developed a ‘Big Clean Sound’ choral workshop which she presents in different cities for the NB Choral Federation, and for individual choirs.
“It is wonderful to work with such an eager group of singers who are so willing to try whatever I suggest in our quest to make a song more thrilling. And they have followed right along with even the seemingly craziest things I’ve asked them to do. It’s been an honour to be allowed to lead this enthusiastic and very kind group of women.”
She also directs Men of Fundy men’s Barbershop chorus, Heartbeat! – the Dalhousie Medicine and UNBSJ choir, and is the music director at Hampton United Church. She also coaches an a cappella singing group – Northern Voice, who do all Canadian folk and pop music and for 6 weeks each year she rehearses and directs the 100 voice choir for the Tracy Friars ‘Celebrate’ benefit show at the Imperial.
Janet is married to composer, retired teacher, church organist and jazz musician Richard Kidd.
Contact Janet at janet_e_kidd@yahoo.ca
Janet retired from the Sea Belles in November 2022. Her contributions to the Sea Belles are numerous. She will be greatly missed.
Janet retired from the Sea Belles in November 2022. Her contributions to the Sea Belles are numerous. She will be greatly missed.
