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COVERSTORY
Diane Loomer: Dynamo of Music
It’s never too late for a great idea … choral community icon Diane Loomer didn’t even
begin her musical career until her early forties. (Mark Galloway Photo)
by Monika Forberger
Her slender frame definitely belies the
energy and joie de vivre that bursts from
this incredible lady of music. Diane
Loomer is the founder and music director of Chor Leoni, one of Canada’s top a
cappella male choirs; co-founder and conductor emerita of Elektra Women’s Choir,
and founder and director of EnChor, for
singers 55 and better!
Sitting on the patio of her comfortable
home and sipping lemonade I was able to
spend a delightful hour with this worldrenowned musician. She spoke with great
pride about her latest addition to the
string of awards — an honorary doctorate
from the University of British Columbia,
which she received last May, surrounded
by family, friends and the fabulous men of
Chor Leoni.
The newly minted Dr. of Letters
explained. “It really was one of the biggest surprises in my career, which makes
it even better for the people who put the
application together. The ceremony was
probably the most meaningful one for me
because this was at my alma mater. My
husband and my son had both graduated
from or done work at UBC, so they were
able to be on stage with me as I accepted
this doctorate. Chor Leoni gave a ‘flash
mob’ sing as President Stephen J. Toope
put the hood over my head. The members of Chor Leoni stood in various spots
around the hall and sang “Gaudeamus
Igitur.” It was absolutely wonderful!”
“Again, the singing was a total surprise
to everyone who was there. I knew that
was going to happen because I had to run
it by Nancy Hermiston, as she was the one
who had suggested it – she said, ‘I think
“Diane Loomer” continued on page 4
September 2011 | The Independent Times 3
COVERSTORY
“Diane Loomer” continued from page 3
we should have Chor Leoni sing something while you are being honored.’”
“Afterwards Toope came up and asked,
‘Do you think we could have this happen
at every Commencement Ceremony?
Could we get the Choir to come and sing?
This was so remarkable -- it was just great
to hear this grand singing from all over
the hall.’ Loomer laughed and said, ‘Well,
as long as there’s an honorary doctorate
associated with someone in the Choir
every year, we could probably make it
happen.’
She continued, “But after the honour is
conferred you start thinking -- what have
I actually done to deserve this? What do
I have to do now? How do I give back?”
“I think the answer is there. In my commencement address I talked about the
value of arts and culture in our country
and how valuable they are to us as people.
Since then I have already had three requests
to speak about the arts and culture. I feel
that Canada – and especially Vancouver –
is so young, that we can actually make a
different. We have time and opportunity
to do that. Perhaps I have to become the
Margaret Atwood of choral music and
speak up whenever I have a chance, on the
value of arts and culture because I know
the medium so well.
rience of participation through choral
singing. It was just a release in so many
ways, but also an opportunity.”
Diane does not stint in recognizing the
people who have supported her.
“EnChor came about because my hus-
“I feel as though I am living a second life. I didn’t start my musical
career until the early 1980s. I don’t want to retire. I can’t think of
some concert or event as being my swan song, and then I’m gone. I
can’t imagine not being involved in the arts in some way or another,
until I don’t wake up in the morning.”
I’ve been blessed with the opportunities I have had – and the freedom I had.
I didn’t have to worry about how I was
going to feed my family. I had a very supportive husband, who knew what would
make me happy and that was working in
music. Music was part of my life from
birth, and to realize that I could actually
play in music, and bring this joy and expe-
band thought I needed another project
after I finished my work with Elektra.
Dick has these fabulous ideas and said, ‘I
think you are going to need something else
to fill this space that Elektra had taken in
your time and in your heart. I think you
need to start a choir with people who can
rehearse during the day; who are retired,
but who haven’t lost their desire to sing,
Labour Day
Greetings 2011
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4 The Independent Times | September
2011
A message from the BC Teachers’ Federation
or their singing skills; people who don’t
want to drive late at night and go to a
rehearsal. I think we should start a choir
for retired people, and make it a rule be
that you have to be 55 to get into this
choir.’
“I said, “Dick, I don’t think I really
need another choir. I’ve already founded
five of them. And he replied, ‘I think you
are going to need this.’ I think he probably felt he would somehow need it too,
because he was also retiring at that time.
“He explained: ‘I’ll make you a deal. If
we form this choir I will do everything in
the administrative aspect. All you have to
do is choose the music and show up.’ Can
you believe I fell for that line? I knew darn
well that would not happen; as an organizer and as an administrator and conductor I do like to have control over what is
going on, and there just some things he
knew nothing about as far as formation
of choirs and how to take care of them.
“I realized it was going to be another
job but I never dreamed it would be as
rewarding as it has been. Working with
these people – they come in knowing who
they are and what they want to do. It’s a
complete joy.“
Surprisingly, Loomer didn’t come to
her career in music until her early forties,
after teaching high school English and
math. Again at her husband and son’s
encouragement, Loomer returned to UBC
as an adult student.
What came out of that was a surprise to
her. “I certainly didn’t know I was going
into conducting at that time. I just knew I
had the privilege of going back to school
and studying music. But one of my very
astute mentors asked me, “Have you ever
thought about conducting? I just think
you’re a natural. Look at your singing and
piano skills -- and you like people! You
like to work with people. I think choral
conducting would be a perfect spot for
you. And that’s how it all started.”
She started teaching theory in 1982 in
the music program at Douglas College,
where she also established her first choir
(now the Amabilis Singers. She also continued her studies with conductors like
Jon Washburn, James Fankhauser, and
Bruce Pullan. Thus, over the last 30 years
she has brought the joy of music to thousands of listeners and performers.
Now in her early 70s, she explains, “I
feel as though I am living a second life.
I didn’t start my musical career until the
early 1980s. I don’t want to retire. I can’t
think of some concert or event as being
my swan song, and then I’m gone. I can’t
imagine not being involved in the arts in
some way or another, until I don’t wake
up in the morning.”
And to that we can only add, “Diane,
long may you conduct and spread the joy
of music!”
EnChor will perform at a benefit concert for Ryerson United Church on September 18 at 3:00 p.m. with Christopher
Gaze, MC. They’ll sing again on October
16 at Ryerson in their annual celebration
of Thanksgiving where they’ll be joined
by Gerald van Wyck’s Pacific Spirit Children’s Choirs.
September 2011 | The Independent Times 5