The Frontenac Women's Chorus

In 1996, Jennifer Bennet, a local conductor, singer and composer, realized her dream to bring choral music to the communities north of the 401 by founding the Frontenac Women's Chorus. When she returned to Queen’s University to study Composition, Betty Wagner, a Kingston voice coach and singer, took the reins as director. Betty completed her studies in Voice at Queen’s Music School in 1993.

The FWC celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2016 with a concert at the Grace Centre in Sydenham. At that time, we also celebrated Betty's final concert as Patty Smith, a Kingston voice coach, performer, and voice instructor at St. Lawrence College, made a commitment to lead the FWC for five years. Sadly, Patty's final concert  with the choir was cancelled due to the pandemic.

The FWC has had many talented accompanists including Betty’s son, Bob Hall, and an FWC singing member, Ann McDougall. Our current, highly skilled accompanist, Kate Van Allen, is a graduate of Queen’s University, and has years of experience in education and piano instruction and was the former director of the Parr Christie Singers.

Our present director is composer, accompanist, educator and adjudicator, Stella ter Hart. Fortunately for us, she landed in our little piece of Canada in 2014. Stella is from Estevan, Saskatchewan. She is, presently, the only individual in Canada awarded all four diplomas from the Toronto Conservatory of Music: performance, pedagogy, composition, and theory. Her award-winning choral and instrumental works have been performed world-wide.