Liisa Nessim
Director, Artistic Director Joy Vox Family of Choirs
Liisa Nessim has been teaching music privately for 30 years and started her own music studio in 2001 call Stepping Stone Music Co. She received her BMUS from UBC in 1989. She directed four choirs in Vancouver before moving to Abbotsford in 2001 where she founded Joy Vox Community Choir. In 2006 she won the Arty Award for Outstanding Artist in Music, in 2014 she won the Mission Muse Award for Arts Advocate and in 2018 she won the Celebration of the Arts Advocate-Educator/Mentor. Her own personal philosophy is everyone should sing for their mental and physical health. Music makes you smarter!
Laura Wheeler
Collaborative Accompanist
Laura Wheeler has been teaching privately in the fraser valley for over 6 years now in voice, piano, ukulele, trumpet, french horn and guitar. She completed the 2 year diploma program at Capilano University in the Jazz Studies program, majoring in voice. She has studied piano privately for over 20 years, and has been singing in choirs steadily since 2000. Her varied musical background allows her students to explore all genres of music, including songwriting and the performing arts.
Laura performs/plays locally in many different groups including Kitchen Sync and Thistle Dew, which features original music and vocal harmonies largely in the folk music setting. She also sings in Voce Destino, an auditioned female choral ensemble here in Abbotsford, as well as accompanies Joy Vox Community Choir on piano.
Her love of music is apparent in every lesson, with her primary goal to always be making music and inspiring her students to learn voraciously. Creativity and fun are the first tenets of lessons with Laura. You are never too old or too young to start learning an instrument. Music is good for the soul and should be shared with everyone.
Nicholas Renaud
Assistant Conductor
Nic Renaud is passionate about teaching and working with others toward musical growth and fun performances. Nic has taught and conducted many choral and instrumental ensembles, from beginner bands to university-level choirs. He has also sung professionally in many ensembles and as a soloist. Nic teaches currently in the public school system where he has taught band, jazz band, choir and vocal jazz.
Nic’s past conducting engagements include: Assistant Conductor of JoyVox Community Choir (Abbotsford, BC), Assistant Director of the University of Victoria Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Director of the UVic Vocal Jazz Women’s Chorus, Guest Conductor of UVic Massed Men’s Chorus, and Guest Conductor of the UVic Chamber Singers. In 2018, Nic was honoured to serve as Intern Conductor of the BC Youth Choir under the tutelage of esteemed Canadian youth choir conductor, Allison Girvan. Nic earned his Bachelor of Education specializing in Secondary Music and French at the University of British Columbia where he received the prestigious Outstanding Practicum Award. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Victoria where he double-majored in Secondary Instrumental Music Education and Voice Studies.