MC and Musicians – The Peninsula Singers

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) and with the Sidney Concert Band. As the dapper M.C. for the Peninsula Singers, he’s done more than simply introduce 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.”

Christie Norman – Piano – Accompanist

The Peninsula Singers are delighted to welcome Christie Norman as our new Accompanist. Christie is a classically trained pianist, a visual artist, and a mother to twin daughters. She has been a piano accompanist and ballet teacher in Victoria for many years. Christie’s eclectic mix of artistic endeavors has taken her from make-up artist for BBC movies to acting with the VOS Musicical Theatre and the Langham Court Theatre. Most recently, during the pandemic when her usual work was put on hold, Christie turned her hobby of creating glass bottle art into a thriving small business.

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.

Jennifer Bennett – Bass Guitar – Musician Jennifer was introduced to the bass at a community band in Kingston, Ontario, where she was impressed by the instrument’s beautiful low notes and versatility. She thanks her mother for forcing her to take violin lessons, which instilled a lifelong love of the strings. Jennifer’s involvement in choral music inspired her to create the non-auditioned Frontenac Women’s Chorus, who still rehearse and perform in the small towns north of Kingston. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree with distinction from Queen’s University. Since moving from Kingston in 2014, Jennifer has played bass with the Bayside Band. “When I moved here I didn’t have room in my car for my double bass, which I called Basie,” says Jennifer. “For some reason the bass I found here is female, so she’s Bella.” She was born in B.C. so, she adds, “It’s great to be back home, surrounded by beauty and music, with so many opportunities to listen and to perform. I live in Sidney so the Peninsula Singers concerts have been favorites of mine. The choir’s love of singing and the care for one another shine through.”

Hollas Longton – Violin

Born and raised in Victoria, Hollas Longton began studying the violin at age 3 with Yasuko Eastman. His public debut came at age 12 playing Saint-Saëns’ ‘Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso’ with the Civic Orchestra of Victoria. He holds a BMus from Uvic, winning the school’s Bach competition and the concerto competition, an MMus from the Royal Conservatoire at The Hague (Holland) and a PhD in music composition from the University College Cork (Ireland). In addition to teaching and working as a violinist, Hollas is currently the concertmaster of the Victoria Chamber Orchestra.