Who We Are
About the Choir
For more than 35 years, Campbell River Children's Choir has provided children and young adults with the gift of connection through the art of musical expression and choral excellence. Under the Artistic Direction of Jennifer Abbott with Assistant Director Beth Kingston, this non-profit organization has brought the joy of singing to countless families over the years by giving young people the opportunity to make life-long friends, develop their sense of commitment and self-confidence, and pursue the craft of choral excellence.
CRCC is a registered charitable organization based in Campbell River, BC and is composed of 4 separate choirs. It is quite common for singers to spend all of their childhood and teen years growing up in the choir. Our singers start out as young children between the ages of 6-10 and then move up through the different age groups as they grow and develop their musical skills. Breeze Choir consists of singers in grades 1-2, Echo Choir grades 3-5, River Choir grades 6-12, and Zephyr Choir is a newly created choir consisting of alumni and has evolved into an auditioned women’s choir. CRCC meets each week to rehearse a diverse range of music, singing everything from classical and baroque to pop and folk.
The sense of community and connection felt in these choirs can be witnessed through their performances and heard in thier sound. CRCC provides wonderful and enriching opportunities for young people in Campbell River. Singers of all ages and backgrounds come together for the love of singing and the pursuit of choral excellence.
Our Staff
Jennifer Abbott
Artistic Director
Jennifer is the Artistic Director of the CRCC. She discoveredher love of singing at the age of eight when she auditioned and was accepted to CRCC.
Jennifer grew up in the choir where she learned all of the vocal skills required to become a soloist who performed all over Vancouver Island and the Mainland. After graduation, Jennifer attended Vancouver Island Universitywhere she earned a Diploma in Jazz Studies specializing in Voice. Jennifer also went on to complete an Elementary Bachelor of Education. She returned to CRCC to work as the Assistant Conductor for eleven years, studying under the choir’s Director EmeritusBarbara Prowse.
Jennifer became the Artistic director in 2016. When she isn’t conducting the choir, Jennifer works as an Elementary School teacher and a Music teacher in Campbell River.
Beth Kingston
Assistant Conductor
Beth is the Assistant Conductor of CRCC. She has been involved with the choir since 2008; first as a parent and then as the President of the Board. Beth has been singing in choirs for most of her life and studies Voice with the Royal Conservatory of Music.
She sang with Island Voices Chamber Choir for seventeen years before deciding to share her passion for choral music with young people. Beth works at Carihi as the Musical Director for Carihi Choir as well as the Chorus Director for the Carihi Musical Theater program.
She has her Bachelor of Elementary Education and has worked in Campbell River as a Music Teacher as well as a Classroom Teacher.
Cindy Taylor
Accompanist
Cindy began her work with the Campbell River Children’s Choir as their travelling accompanist in 2007 when the choir was invited to a choral festival at Fort Worden, Washington. Over the next years she travelled with the choir to choral festivals in Hawaii, Ottawa, Tacoma, and again at Fort Worden.
In September 2015 Cindy became the weekly accompanist for the Echo and Zephyr Choirs, first with Music Director Barbara Prowse, and now with Choir Director Jennifer Abbott, and Beth Kingston.
In her community of Campbell River, Cindy worked with opera singer Barbara Livingston for over ten years and has accompanied numerous instrumentalists and vocalists. She also held the position of Music Director and Choir Director of the Campbell River United Church for over thirty years.
Judy Melny (Retired)
Accompanist
Judy retired in December of 2025. She was a vital part of the Campbell River Children’s Choir as their founding accompanist in 1988. The choir, at that time, was called the Pinecrest Singers and eventually became the Campbell River Children’s Choir under the leadership of Barbara Prowse who passed her baton to Jennifer Abbott. Judy has been a family member the choir for 35 years making it her home.
Throughout the many years of Judy’s work with the choir, she travelled as their accompanist to various festivals: Cuba, New York City, Ottawa, and various other cities in the United States.
While working with the Children’s Choir Judy was also the accompanist for the Campbell River Singers for 18 years.
Judy also actively shared her talents as musician with the Campbell River Baptist Church offering music as an accompanist and pianist.
Our Journey
CRCC began as an elementary school choir. In 1990, Barbara Prowse took on the role as Artistic Director of The Campbell River Children’s Choir. This was the beginning of a legacy of singing and community that continues to inspire and shape the lives of children for over 3 decades. In the early years, the choir consisted of one main choir. That group quickly grew into 2 choirs; a Junior and a Senior choir. Over the years, this renowned group performed in festivals across the globe.
These festivals and workshops included performances across Great Britain, Cuba, Hawaii, Carnegie Hall in New York, and countless other festivals dedicated to growing the choral arts. It was important to Ms. Prowse that the singers participate in these festivals and workshops to cultivate a sense of connection and belonging through choral music, while also nurturing the love of choral art. Traveling across the globe enabled the singers to connect with other cultures and world views and required the singers to learn songs in multiple languages or dialects.
CRCC was soon performing with renowned composers and musicians, including Henry Leck, Malcolm Dalglish, Moira Smiley, Rollo Dilworth and Susan Brumfield. Ms. Prowse retired in 2016, passing the baton to then Assistant Conductor, Jennifer Abbott. Beth Kingston joined the team as Assistant Conductor in 2016. The organization has grown to 4 choirs with over 100 singers. The philosophy and mission of the choir has not changed in over 30 years. To pursue choral excellence while fostering a sense of community through singing. CRCC provides a wonderful opportunity for young people to learn and grow.