Jim Kingham – Master of Ceremonies
Jim has been involved in the performing arts since his youth, as a singer, a public speaker, an actor, and an instrumentalist. He sang with the Lysenko Chorale of Toronto and the Victoria Village Squires and has played with groups ranging from small ensemble to full orchestra. Jim now plays and sings with the saxophone quintet, Saxophoria, (a.k.a. Santa Saxes, at Christmastime). He is lead Saxophone with the Sidney Concert Band and was their President for three years through the COVID crisis.
As the dapper M.C. for the Peninsula Singers, he’s done more than simply introducing the songs, he has become an integral part of each performance. Jim has been called upon to play his sax and clarinet, he’s done a little singing and has even played the role of pub owner, radio disc jockey and cruise director, all with a nice touch of humour. Jim concludes: “This is the most enthusiastic group of performers I have ever had the pleasure to work with.”
Janet Young – Accompanist
Our For more than 30 years, Janet has shared her musical skill and teaching excellence with choral groups and individual students in Victoria. Working around her own teaching studio commitments, Janet accompanies soloists and choral groups such as the Victoria Broadway Chorus and the Greater Victoria Police Chorus. Janet also enjoys playing and teaching flute and organ. For recreation, Janet enjoys dancing and walking. The Peninsula Singer are delighted to work with this talented and patient accompanist!
Terry Erksine – Percussion – Musician
Our “Prince of Percussion” has been playing with the Singers since Christmas of 2007. In that time he has created an amazing array of sounds that have added a rich background to every performance, such as thunder, the sound of a water fall, a variety of bells and the mighty chime from bell towers. “I love playing with the Peninsula Singers because it gives me an opportunity to branch out from the usual and create rhythm and sound that compliment the chorus,” he says. Terry lends his expertise to several other local bands including the Sidney Concert Band, The Organics Jazz Trio, and the 16 piece Bayside Big Ban. In addition he is part of the music team at St. John’s United Church in North Saanich. In the spring of 2017 he and the Sidney Concert Band traveled to Cuba, performing in five concerts in the eastern part of the country. While there, Terry studied Latin Percussion and played jointly with some very fine Cuban musicians.
Gerry Klaassen ~ Bassist
Lt. Col. (retired) G.W. (Gerry) Klaassen is a musician, clinician, adjudicator, and conductor. Musical interest in piano and violin started with the encouragement of his parents at an early age. That encouragement was strengthened by his schoolteachers and by playing the string bass.
He enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces band branch and postings happened across Canada for the next 33 years with many highlights in Canada and abroad. Most of his instrumental playing was on the flute and piccolo along with writing concert band arrangements and performing senior administrative duties in Ottawa.
Retirement in the Nanaimo area followed and so did more music with 20 years conducting the Nanaimo Concert band plus playing in dance bands big and small. His move to Victoria is his re-retirement. The Peninsula Singers are pleased to welcome Gerry to our Show Band.
Ryan Lainchbury – Guitarist
Ryan Lainchbury is a talented guitarist from Victoria, BC. He has been playing guitar from childhood and over the years, has played in multiple bands and groups. He has collaborated with a variety of artists from different genres and remains connected with Victoria’s local music community. Ryan’s love for music shines through in everything he does, and he’s always looking for new ways to push himself creatively.
Jessica Natale Woollard – Violinist
Jessica started playing violin at the age of 3. She studied privately for more than 20 years and has performed in orchestras and symphonies in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Indiana.
Jessica has played in dozens of pit orchestras for musical theatre and is also a singer and performer who appears in community theatre productions in Victoria. She currently plays with the Hampton Court Orchestra in Victoria and the Sooke Philharmonic Orchestra.