DIANE LOOMER

Diane Loomer (b. 1940) C.M. recipient of the Order of Canada, director and founder of Chor Leoni Men’s Choir, co-founder and conductor emerita of Elektra Women’s Choir, and most recently founder and conductor of EnChor, was internationally recognized as one of Canada’s leading musicians. Her choral compositions were published and recorded internationally, and she frequently appeared on CBC national radio as a spokesperson for the classical arts. She taught on the Music Faculty of the University of British Columbia. The first woman to conduct the National Youth Choir of Canada, Ms. Loomer received the Healey Willan Award in 1990 for her service to choral music in British Columbia; in 1994, she was named YWCA Vancouver’s Woman of Distinction for Arts and Culture; and in 1997 and 2004 received Distinguished Alumni Awards honoring her achievements. In 2002, she was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for her significant contribution to Canada’s culture. The following year, Ms. Loomer was appointed by the University of Victoria to the University Women’s Scholar Lecture Series and in 2005 was appointed conductor emerita at Dalhousie University. In 2008 she was named a Paul Harris Fellow to the International Rotary Foundation for her tangible and significant assistance for furthering better understanding among peoples of the world, and in 2010 the Association of Canadian Choral Communities presented Diane with their Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her work promoting choral music in Canada. In 2011 Diane was the recipient of an honorary Doctorate of Letters degree from the University of British Columbia. She was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College in May 2012. Diane passed away December 10, 2012. Her husband, Dr. Dick Loomer, selected 15 of Diane’s favourite folksong arrangements.  To see the list, click here.