Our music director and conductor is Aimee Oliverio, and our accompanist is Claire Oliverio.
Aimee Oliverio believes that music is the embodiment of the mind, body, spirit, and heart.
She has a Bachelor of Music in Musical Arts, majoring in piano, from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, where she was awarded a two-year scholarship. From Simon Fraser University, she has a Bachelor of Education degree through the Professional Development Program, specializing in Secondary Education. Aimee completed her Graduate Diploma in Education specializing in Elementary Music and she is pursuing further studies with the Masters of Educational Practice Program at Simon Fraser University.
Aimee is a firm believer that music is a gift to be shared and devotes her work-week to educating young minds as a music teacher in the Coquitlam school district, where she was recently the clinician for the 2019 District Honour Choir. She also leads the St. John the Divine Anglican Church, Maple Ridge, in musical worship as their Musical/Choral Director—a position which she shares with her sister, Claire. Aimee has also had the opportunity to travel through music to the south of France, Italy, Spain, Greece, Germany, Austria, Philippines, and Portugal.
She aspires to carry on the beliefs and practices of her predecessor and mentor, Andrew Wilhelm-Boyles. Driven by his spirit, she hopes to honor his vision, as well as broaden the horizons of the ensemble with her own effervescent perspective.
Claire Oliverio is an advocate of collaborative music experiences. She has earned an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Music of Toronto (ARCT) Teachers Diploma in Piano, a Bachelor of Music degree in Musical Arts with Distinction from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and a Bachelor of Education degree in Fine and Performing Arts from Simon Fraser University.
Wherever she goes, Claire goes wholeheartedly. Leading a life with love for music, she was awarded a full-tuition scholarship of $20,000 upon acceptance to Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She graduated as the Valedictorian of the Faculty of Arts at KPU and delivered the Graduand Address at the 2016 Convocation Ceremony. Building strong relationships with her peers, professors, and pupils, she contributed her musical gifts as the Manager of the KPU Wind Symphony and as a Private Piano Instructor. Her experiences have taken her around the world, including Philippines, Cuba, France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Germany, Austria, and Portugal.
Currently, Claire is a vivacious face in the community, accompanying Maple Ridge Chorus, guiding youth as the Choral Director at Maple Ridge Secondary School, and sharing her duties as the Musical/Choral Director of St. John the Divine Anglican Church with her sister, Aimee.
Moving forward, Claire is working on her Masters of Arts degree in Education at Simon Fraser University. As an evolving and reflective musician, she is eager to continue further studies to best serve her learners, the community of Maple Ridge, and above all, the power of music.