Governance

Honorary Governors

Ed Chwyl

Ed Chwyl has over forty years of business experience, primarily in the energy industry in Calgary and currently serves on the Board of three companies. The Chwyl family have been residents of Victoria since 2001 when Ed retired after a long career in the Calgary oil patch. Their two children have benefited from music lessons, theory and history, and the Collegium program at the Conservatory. Ed previously served as a Vice-President of the Board (2005/06) and is a graduate engineer (University of Alberta, MSc 1968). Ed has served as Chairman of the Calgary YMCA, Chairman of the Petroleum Society, plus various other volunteer positions with Not for Profit organizations in western Canada.

Hon. Roy Cullen

Hon. Roy Cullen earned his B.A. in Business Administration, and a Master of Public Administration. He qualified as a Canadian Chartered Accountant in 1972. Initially elected to the House of Commons in Ottawa in a by-election in 1996, he was re-elected in the 1997, 2000, 2004, and the 2006 general elections. He retired from the Canadian House of Commons in 2008. As a member of the Prime Minister Jean Chrétien’s government, and later under Prime Minister Paul Martin, Mr. Cullen served as chair of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance, as parliamentary secretary to the minister of finance, as parliamentary secretary to the deputy prime minister and the minister for public safety and emergency preparedness; and as chair of the Ontario Liberal caucus. In 2006 he was sworn-in as a member of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada.

Gary Karr

Gary Karr is acclaimed as “the world’s leading solo bassist” (Time Magazine) and the first solo doublebassist in history to make that pursuit a full-time career. Since his debut with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic in 1962, Karr has performed as soloist on six continents with orchestras including the Chicago Symphony, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony, Jerusalem Symphony, Oslo Philharmonic, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, and with all the major orchestras of Australia. One of Karr’s proudest achievements is the Bronze Medal he received from the Rosa Ponselle Foundation which recognizes him as an outstanding lyrical musician. Gary is the proud holder of the 1997 Artist/Teacher of the Year Award from the American String Teacher’s Association (ASTA). He also holds the Distinguished Achievement Award (1995) from the International Society of Bassists (ISB).

Board of Governors

Shelley Williams, Chair

Shelley Williams is a retired lawyer and advancement professional. Prior to being elected Chair in 2024 she chaired the Artistic and Academic Committee and sat on the Executive & Governance Committee for two years. Shelley holds a law degree from UBC and an Arts degree from the University of Alberta. After practicing law for 17 years she retired to raise her family, returning to work as Associate Director of Advancement at an independent school in West Vancouver. Before moving to Victoria, Shelley sat on the boards of the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, BC Diving, North Shore Dolphins Dive Club and Collingwood School, and was a volunteer with numerous charities. She brings to the Conservatory over 30 years of experience in not for profit organizations, fundraising campaigns and events, alumni relations, and communications and marketing. A life-long music lover, she studied piano and violin for many years and played in a university orchestra.

Michael McEvoy, Vice Chair

Michael McEvoy was appointed Information and Privacy Commissioner for BC on March 5, 2018. He previously held the position of Deputy Commissioner to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. As Deputy Commissioner, Mr. McEvoy played a key senior leadership role in the enforcement of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). He was responsible for leading and managing systemic investigations of significant public interest issues, and the development of policy papers and guidance for organizations and public bodies. Mr. McEvoy led British Columbia’s efforts to coordinate actions with regulatory authorities throughout the Asia Pacific region. Mr. McEvoy obtained a Juris Doctorate from the University of Manitoba in 1985 and a Bachelor of Arts in 1980 from the University of Winnipeg. He has been a member of the Law Society of British Columbia since 1986. Mr. McEvoy was a public school trustee for 12 years, including two terms as President of the British Columbia School Trustees’ Association and one term as President of the Canadian School Boards’ Association. He has also served on numerous campaign committees of the Greater Victoria United Way, chairing its 2009 campaign. Mr. McEvoy is married with two grown daughters. He prides himself as a charter member and elite player with the Victoria Grey Leafs’ old-timer hockey team.

Alison McCluskey, Treasurer

Alison McCluskey is a Chartered Professional Accountant with considerable experience in the not-for-profit sector, both as an employee and as a board/committee member. Most recently, Alison was the Director of Finance at the Victoria Foundation and previously was the Director of Finance at Habitat for Humanity Victoria. Earlier in her career, Alison was a Senior Manager in a National CPA firm both in Vancouver and Victoria. Alison has been drawn to the not-for-profit sector from early in her career and through her employment and volunteer work, has experience with a wide variety or organizations, from small local grassroot not-for-profits to large, mature charities and foundations. Alison has served on the Boards of several organizations which include Story Studio Writing Society, South Island Division of Family Practice, Coastline Music Society and Victoria Youth Empowerment Society. Alison was born and raised in Saskatoon, but has lived in Victoria for almost 20 years, and now calls Victoria home. She is passionate about the importance of the Arts in our community and music plays a significant role in Alison’s family life. Both of Alison’s daughters are accomplished musicians and have worked with Daniel Lapp for many years as part of the BC Fiddle Orchestra through the Victoria Conservatory of Music. /p>

Brock Campbell, Secretary

Brock Campbell, CPA, CA is a Partner at The Graphite Group, Chartered Professional Accountants. With over 15 years of experience in public accounting, he focuses on tax preparation and planning for individuals, estates and corporations in addition to assurance services and financial statement preparation. A native of Edmonton, Alberta, he was a professional classical musician holding Principal Tuba positions with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra, New Mexico Symphony (USA) and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. An advocate of life-long education, he has degrees in music from the University of British Columbia (BMus) and the University of Alberta (MMus) as well as business certificates from Camosun College and the University of Victoria. He was an instructor of accounting at Camosun College and taxation technical reviewer for pre-certification programs at the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada. In his spare time he enjoys golf, poker, home improvement projects and holds a Private Pilot License – Areoplane with a Night Rating.

Shannon von Kaldenberg, Past-Chair

Shannon von Kaldenberg, Past-Chair, is a highly respected and regarded advancement professional with extensive experience in fundraising, strategic planning and people management. She has twenty five years of senior management experience, successfully leading small and large staff and volunteer teams. Her diverse career incorporates the education, social service, health care, consulting and the corporate sectors. Shannon has been Chief Philanthropy Officer at the Heart and Stroke Foundation since 2010, and previous roles include Associate Vice-President Alumni and Development and Chief Development Officer, UVic, Assistant Dean External Relations, UBC Sauder School of Business, University Director of Development, UBC, President of the Vancouver Hospital Foundation and Vice President of Development and Communications, United Way of the Lower Mainland. She is a frequent speaker and lecturer with the Association of Fundraising Professionals where she also served on the Board and as Chair, and was a VCM Board member and Chair of the Development Committee from 2008-2010.

Neil Barman

Neil Barman is an architect in Victoria, BC Canada who originally moved to the city from Montreal approximately 35 years ago. He has worked with a number of architecture firms in Victoria and is now an industry product specialist with Vectorworks, Inc. a company that creates design software for architects, landscape architects, interior designers, and entertainment designers. In his role at Vectorworks he thoughtfully creates a variety of marketing resources to foster brand awareness, produces thought leadership material, guides customers towards the most effective use of Vectorworks software, as well as assists with the development of the software. His professional areas of interest are energy analysis, future-conscious building practices, project collaboration, and presentation methods. He is also a co-designer of Victoria’s first LEED Platinum home, located at Harling Point. En route to practicing architecture he completed degrees in Environmental Studies and Architecture (Waterloo) and Visual Arts (UVic). He has always been interested in the arts and their connections to communities and has previously served on the Board of Intrepid Theatre.

Geraldine Hinton

Geraldine Hinton‘s focus, following graduation in 1961 as a nurse clinician, was geriatric practice, and the teaching and mentoring of nursing students in the care of older persons. As a volunteer with St John Ambulance, in 1976, she developed a revolutionary health care program for seniors living in the downtown core of Vancouver who were facing loneliness and poverty. It spread throughout communities in BC and became a National Program for St John Ambulance with funding from the McConnell Foundation.With her leadership skills and experience she was chosen in 1992 as the Co-Chair of the “Acute to Community Shift” in the BC Government Response Office for the Seaton Royal Commission on Health Care and Costs, and in 1994 as the Executive Director of the BC Government’s Office for Seniors; there, she led the initiative for the 1999 United Nations International Year of the Older Person in BC. While in her role with the Office for Seniors, Geri represented the provinces as the Co-Chair for the F/P/T National Committee for the Ministers’ Responsible for Seniors that developed a National Framework for Aging Policy and a Strategic Plan for Later Life that recognized the demographics of a growing and diverse population. She was instrumental in a partnership in 2000 with the Ministry of Housing to develop the first policy framework on Supportive Housing for Seniors in BC which has been adopted by several provinces. Geri has been recognized for her contributions: in 2002 she was awarded the YM/YWCA Women of Distinction Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2008 she received the University of Victoria, School of Nursing Alumnae Award of Excellence. She received the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002 and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. In 2003 Geri was promoted to Dame of Grace in the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem recognizing her lifetime commitment to St John Ambulance Association.

Erica Mattson

Erica Mattson (she/her) has 20+ years of experience helping governments, cultural institutions, non-profits, funders, philanthropists and purpose-driven organizations create transformative change for the people and communities they serve.

She brings 20 years of experience in strategic marketing and communications, fundraising, major events and campaigns and non-profit leadership and governance to the Conservatory, along with a deep appreciation for the power of music and the arts to transform the lives of individuals and communities.

Erica is a practicing visual artist, a lifelong music enthusiast and a parent of two school-aged kids. She runs an independent creative consultancy, serving as a strategic advisor and coach to leaders in the social impact and cultural sectors locally and nationally, as well as co-producing innovative research, systems change and sector development projects in collaboration with a network of artistic, academic and institutional partners.

Kirk McNally

Kirk McNally is a recording engineer, music producer and sound artist living in Victoria, British Columbia on the unceded territories of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples, now known as the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations. He received his Master’s of Music in Sound Recording from McGill University. As a recording engineer he has held positions at the Tanglewood Music Centre (Lenox, MA), Reaction Studios (Toronto, ON), and the Warehouse Studio (Vancouver, BC), working with artists including, The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Bryan Adams and REM. Kirk is the assistant professor of Music Technology for the School of Music at the University of Victoria, where he is the program administrator for the school’s undergraduate combined major program in music and computer science and the graduate program in music technology. His research and creative work has been supported by the Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD), the Canada Council for the Arts, the University of Victoria’s Learning and Teaching Centre, the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

Amanda Wilson

Amanda’s varied career has encompassed public relations, communications and marketing for arts organizations on Vancouver Island and Toronto as well as businesses of all shapes and sizes. Through her work in local media and as the co-owner of Spark Strategic Group, she has become well known and connected within both the non-profit and business community in Victoria. Amanda is well versed in crafting engaging campaigns that drive revenue and awareness for brands and a big believer in authentic, honest strategies fueled by the selective and appropriate use of marketing tools.

Jeremie Grandbois, Staff Representative (non-voting)

Jeremie has 20+ years of experience in the music industry as a performing artist and has been an arts administrator at the VCM since 2018. His work helped guide the VCM through the pandemic to receive the 2021 Lieutenant Governor of BC Award for exceptional leadership, community engagement and commitment to mentoring others. He has been the VCM’s Facilities Booking Coordinator, Administrative Assistant and Volunteer Coordinator for over 5 years but will be transitioning to a new role as Development Coordinator, Special Events and Sponsorship, in February 2024.

Jeremie holds a Bachelor of Arts, Combined Honours in Law and Philosophy, from Carleton University. He explored the relationship between law and technology, focusing on issues such as technological neutrality and digital liberty, and is currently completing Carleton University’s Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership (MPNL) program, the only one of its kind in Canada.

Born in South Korea but raised in Ottawa, Jeremie relocated to Victoria to further pursue a sustainable career in the arts and music. He has been playing guitar for over 20 years and has also lived in France and New Zealand. When he isn’t playing guitar or studying at the library, he is usually discussing paleontology and dinosaurs with his Albertan wife.

Ex-Officio (non-voting)

Nathan Medd, CEO
Nathan Medd began in community arts in the mid-Island as a child before attending UVic for theatre and English literature, earning a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019, and later attending Harvard University for a Master’s degree focused on nonprofit management. A producer and community builder in the non-profit arts, he served six years in a senior programming role at the National Arts Centre and has worked with several organizations familiar to the local community, including the Belfry Theatre, the BC Arts Council, and Intrepid Theatre where he helped establish the Metro Studio Theatre in 2006 through a novel, collaborative arrangement with the VCM. He recently concluded a four-year appointment as managing director of performing arts at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, the globally recognized artist training centre where he oversaw pedagogy, residencies, and new works across genres of music, theatre, dance, and opera.
Stephen Green, Dean & Chief Academic Officer

Previous to joining the VCM, Stephen held the position of Executive Director and Chief Academic Officer for the Children’s Music Foundation International in Canada whose mission is to support the development and implementation of music education systems and programming for school children around the world. Stephen previously served as Associate Dean, Executive Director and Dean of the Royal Conservatory School at the RCM in Toronto for 11 years, leading the school of over 5,000 students, 240 faculty, and an annual operating budget of over $5MM through years of growth in areas including outreach to at-risk youth, and program expansion to satellite locations. Stephen holds a Mus. Bac in Conducting (UofT) and an M.A. and Performance Diploma in Music Direction (U. Mozarteum, Salzburg), has served as Opera Chorus Director and Conductor for 5 years in Salzburg, Austria, and is an accomplished pianist and Music Educator.