Musical Directors
Our Director – Adele Merritt
Adele Merritt is the Musical Director of the Valley Voices. Adele joined the Valley Voices in November 2021, and she brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our chorus. She holds an Honours BA in Music from the University of York, England where she studied voice, piano, clarinet, and composition. She’s also a passionate music educator with years of experience teaching both youth and adult musicians. After joining Harmony, Inc. in 2010, Adele learned a great deal from her time as a Section Leader, Music Chair and Assistant Director with the ScotianAires chorus. She became a certified Music Judge with Harmony, Inc. in 2023 and loves nothing more than to share her knowledge and skills with other quartets and choruses. Adele also enjoys performing as the Bass of award-winning quartet Tonic!
Assistant Director - Trinda Ernst
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Trinda Ernst is an Assistant Musical Director of Valley Voices. Trinda has sung bass in Valley Voices since 1986. She studied piano with the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) and sang in school choirs and Girl Guides, where she led many campfires for youth and adults. She continues to develop her musical skills through educational programs offered by Harmony, Incorporated and Barbershop Harmony Society, such as Harmony University. She was Bass Section Leader for several years and is now Quartet Promotion Coordinator for Valley Voices. She enjoys helping others learn and grow as performers. Trinda is a past International President of Harmony, Incorporated, a volunteer Board member with Sing Canada Harmony Scholarship Fund, a lifetime member of the International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians, and an occasional performer at CentreStage Theatre in Kentville.
Assistant Director - Paula Henley
Paula has been a member of Harmony, Incorporated for a about 17 years. She first discovered the harmonies of barbershop singing and Area 1 competitions when she joined the Cobequid Fun Tones in Oxford. After a few years, a career move brought the family to the Annapolis Valley where she joined Valley Voices in 2012. She is delighted to be an Assistant Director with the chorus and gladly assists with other musical and administrative activities.
She enjoys the challenge of preparing for and singing in performances and competitions with Valley Voices. She has also competed in quartet competitions, first with Masquerade and currently with QWiNN.
With the support of Valley Voices and Sing Canada, Paula was excited to attend Directors College at Harmony University in July 2019. Considering herself a life-long learner, she is looking forward to broadening her singing and music education and skills.
