Artistic Team

Denise Marquette
Celebration Singers

Denise Marquette joined the Comox Valley musical family in 2011 after retiring from a very successful teaching career in Vancouver. During her 38 years of teaching, she taught all levels of Concert band, Jazz band, Concert choir as well as Chamber Ensemble and Vocal Jazz. She has been a member of the Comox Valley Concert band since 2011, playing clarinet for four years and was the director from the fall of 2015 until spring 2025. She was a music TOC for the Courtenay School District, has co-directed the Cantiamo Chamber Ensemble and the Celebration Singers mixed voice choir with Jenn Forsland. Currently she directs the auditioned lower voice vocal ensemble the “Quarantones”. Denise also finds time to sing alto in Island Voices Chamber choir. Denise has expanded her portfolio to include musical direction as she has become immersed in the musical theatre scene in the valley working with all the local theatre companies.“ I am so grateful for the many musical opportunities afforded me in this valley to grow as a musician, performer, conductor and director.”

Carol  Anne Parkinson
Grace Notes & Men of Notes

Carol Anne Parkinson is a joyful singer, voice teacher and conductor.  She earned her Bachelor of Music from UBC in 1995 and continued to study with master teacher Arlene McIntyre from 2000-2005.  As a chorister, she has cherished memories of singing with the Cap Singers at Kathaumixw, with UBC Choral Union under the direction of Diane Loomer, earning first place in the Markdoberdorf choral festival in Germany with the University Singers, recording two CD's with the Vancouver Cantata Singers, and more recently, singing with Island Voices.  She has directed the Hellenic Chorus of Vancouver, several church choirs, CYMC Festival choir, was the founding director of the Nova Voce Choral Society, and currently directs the raucous Men of Notes lower voice choir and will become the director of Grace Notes  treble choir in fall 2025. Carol Anne has been a soloist with the Capilano University Choirs, CYMC, Timbre!, NICS, and with many churches.  Not able to sit still for long, she can be found either on her cross country skis or with a crochet hook in hand curled up with a cup of tea with her Wheaten Terrier by her side.
 Andrew Sims
​Collaborative Accompanist
All Choirs





​Andrew Sims completed the Master of Music in Piano from the University of Alberta in Edmonton and the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano from Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He maintains a busy teaching studio with remote lessons in Edmonton and teaches local students in the Comox Valley. Andrew is also an examiner for the Canadian National Conservatory of Music and the accompanist for St. George’s United Church in Courtenay. In 2014, Andrew performed at the Classical Music Festival in Eisenstadt, Austria. Aside from music, Andrew is a skilled knitter and spinner and loves to spend his time creating socks and sweaters. He recently moved to the Valley from Edmonton in 2020 and is thrilled to be making music with the Celebration choirs!