Our Leaders

Conductor – Dee Lawrence

Dee was the conductor of the former YRDSB Staff Singers from 1989- 1994 and took on that role again in 2007-2008. She earned Hons. B. Music and B.Ed. degrees from the University of Western Ont. where she studied choral conducting with the esteemed Deral Johnson. Dee completed a graduate diploma in Fine Arts specializing in the Kodaly Method of Music Education from The University of Calgary, and a Master of Sacred Music Degree at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto.

After 29 years of teaching with the YRDSB, Dee retired in June 2015, and began her tenure as conductor with the newly formed Encore! Choir in September of that year. Dee’s friends often comment that she doesn’t know the meaning of the word “retirement”, since the end of her teaching career ushered in new challenges working as the Administrator for the Newmarket Lions’ Music Festival for two years, and serving for six years as an executive member of the Southern Ontario Chapter of the Hymn Society in the U.S. and Canada, in addition to being the editor of their publication Sine Nomine for three of those years. Dee is very active in her community and served as a Director on the Board of the Georgina Historical Society for 7 years, and as a Director on the Board of the Georgina Centre for Arts and Culture for a four year term. For the past three years, Dee has been the Chair of the Leadership Team at Knox United Church in Sutton, where she also sings in the choir and is a member of the Shining Waters Regional Council of the United Church of Canada. A church musician at heart, Dee is called upon to provide music and worship leadership at other churches in the region, when time allows.

Accompanist – George Vandikas

George is an active teacher, performer and collaborative pianist in a wide variety of musical genres. He is an alumnus of the University of Toronto Music program where he earned undergrad and graduate degrees in piano performance and education. After a long and fulfilling career as a music teacher with the YRDSB, he has returned to his roots as a pianist/conductor. George is actively involved with many professional and community arts groups in York Region and the GTA. Currently, he and his wife Sheila are the coordinators for the Visual and Performing Arts Newmarket’s Young Artist Showcase Series. Together with their family, they are the owners of MuSix Studio and Services in Newmarket, and maintain a busy teaching and performing schedule. We welcome George back as our accompanist joining us once again for our 11th season after enjoying his sabbatical year, a time when we were fortunate to have his talented son Greg at the keyboard to collaborate with us throughout our 10th anniversary season.