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  • About Ariose


    Ariose Women's Choir is comprised of approximately 30 singers from every walk of life - all of whom enjoy the challenge of performing beautifully written choral music of many styles and periods. Ariose strives to expose its audiences to a wide variety of women's choral music - much of it unaccompanied - which allows the choir to fill a unique role in Canada's rich choral landscape.

    Formed in 1995 by Dr. Marilyn Kerley in Edmonton, Alberta, Ariose celebrated its 10th Anniversary season in 2004-2005. To help commemorate this milestone season, the choir released its fourth CD, There, in that Other World, named for the composition that Ariose commissioned Allan Bevan to write for the same occasion. This CD was recorded live at Ariose's 10th Anniversary season concerts in December 2004 and April 2005 at McDougall United Church. More about Ariose's CDs

    Marilyn Kerley, Ariose director
    Marilyn Kerley

    Dr. Marilyn Kerley is a choral director, music educator, clinician, and adjudicator. Dr. Kerley has taught at all levels of the school system and directed numerous children's, youth, and adult choirs. Dr. Kerley has also maintained a private voice studio and for 20 years taught music education classes in the Faculties of Elementary and Secondary Education as well as in the Department of Music at the University of Alberta. Dr. Kerley recently received the Alberta Choral Federation's highest honour, the Richard S. Eaton Award of Distinction.


    Helen Stuart, Ariose pianist
    Helen Stuart

    Helen Stuart holds a B.Mus. with Distinction from the University of Alberta, and maintains a busy teaching and accompanying schedule in the Edmonton area. Ms. Stuart accompanies numerous choirs, including Edmonton's Greenwood Singers as well as several youth choirs.


    Ariose's Successes

    New! - April 2008
    Ariose Women’s Choir has again been recognized as one of Canada’s top choirs. Ariose was awarded
    first place in the Equal Voicees Choirs (Female) in Choral 2008, CBC's 2008 National Radio Competition
    for Amateur Choirs on April 29, 2008.

    The choir will travel to Montreal to perform in a Gala Concert on May 18, 2008 in Laval. The concert will
    be broadcast live on May 18 at 1 pm EST on CBC Radio Two and Espace Musique.

    Ariose has six times been a finalist in the CBC's biennial National Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs, and was awarded 2nd prize in 1996, 2000, 2002 and 2006. In addition to the choir's own concert series, Ariose performs at community functions throughout the greater Edmonton area. Ariose has appeared as an invited guest at the biennial conference of the International Society for Music Educators, the annual conference of the Alberta Choral Federation, and at Podium, the biennial conference of the Association of Canadian Choral Conductors.


    Ariose's Members

    Most Ariose members are music students, teachers of music, or accomplished musicians in their own right. What brings them together is a love for beautiful choral music.

    2007-08 Ariose Members
    * denotes executive member

    Soprano I
    Suzanne Abele
    Lindsay Batke
    Ashley Emberley
    Alicia Fenton
    Jolaine Kerley
    Kyra Noster
    Ruth Wong-Miller*

    Soprano II
    Megan Chartrand
    Nicole Dunn
    Clare Michniewski
    Lyndsey Olsen*
    Heidi Reader*
    Lindsey Tinant
    Amanda Wong*


    Alto I
    Joelle Banasch Campbell
    Ev Brown*
    Krisandra Bujold
    Megann Karasin Derry
    Shelley Layton
    Carolyn Pack
    Theresa Reichert*
    Jessica Robertson
    Helen Stuart
    Alto II
    Sheriann Clelland
    Johanna Dietrich
    Denise Hemmings
    Natasha Jefferies
    Kim Mallon
    Sandra Marcus

    If you are interested in auditioning to sing with Ariose, please e-mail us for audition information.



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