Judy Comeau

Music Director - Seaside A Cappella 

-

There are many chapters in my 77 years of living, but the one that has always been foremost in my success and passions is my music. Sharing that music truly is not only my passion, but my purpose. Throughout my musical career, not only have I been blessed with extraordinary success, but I have been able to give of my time and talents to help other women grow within themselves - most especially developing a sense of confidence they never imagined they could have. 

Why? Because this is the way that I personally grew - through this music. This is my way of paying it forward - for 55 years now. I am blessed to have been given the gift of musical talent, but most especially to have found something that I can excel at, that not a whole lot of people can. Most of all - in the end, I will be able to say "I made a difference". Not everyone, by far, can say that as an absolute truth. I am blessed.

What are you most proud of professionally? And who or why?

My goal with the women who sing for me is to take "ordinary voices and make extraordinary music". I am training them to be champions. How many 'ordinary' women have the opportunity to train to be gold medal champions? I have directed women's choruses in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. I have founded 5 women's choruses including the one that I am currently directing - Seaside A Cappella of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. 

"Most proud of"? With my last chorus, A Cappella Showcase, of Milton, ON we were invited by the Russian Ministry of Culture to do a 7-day concert tour in St. Petersburg, Russia. There were a few groups of Russians doing that same tour who absolutely revered us - as though we were rock stars. During my years I have won countless 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place medals in contests with my singers. A few of which I am most proud - a 2nd place with the CBC National Music Festival, and a 2nd place silver medal with World Choir Games in 2012. All of these with my former chorus in Ontario. In 2014, a health issue caused me to make the decision to retire, but after my recovery and some time off, thinking I would not ever do this again, I started Seaside A Cappella in 2017. I realize now, without a doubt that as long as I am enjoying excellent physical and mental health, I will continue to do what I do. I realize that I have a God given talent, and it is not something that I have a right to ignore, but rather it is something that I must continue to share just as long as I am able to.

What’s your vision for Atlantic Canada in 10 years? What’s our biggest opportunity now?

Of course I would like to see more opportunities developed here in the field of performing arts. Most especially in the development of performing arts centers for these groups to use to grow and flourish, and to give back to large audiences. Music does fill the soul.

What was your greatest stage of growth? What made it a shift for you?

The day I discovered this genre of music - at the age of 22. I knew the moment I heard it that it was going to change my life. The self conscious woman, with no sense of self worth, and absolutely no confidence had found an arena in which she could spend a lifetime growing in so many ways. It is an arena, a very safe arena, in which I became more than I ever could have imagined. And it enriched every part of my life.

What’s your favourite or most read book or podcast?

The material I read and studied through the years has nearly all been related to the music that I produce.

What’s your deepest learning from this past year? How did/will you apply it?

This past year, coming out of COVID, as the Director of a chorus who had not been able to even sing together through those bad times, I realized that I was able to truly "make lemonade out of lemons". Whether we were meeting on Zoom, or singing with a dozen women spaced in a parking lot I never stopped teaching. I never stopped encouraging. I never stopped inspiring these women to become motivated to be the best they could be. And the result? We competed twice this past year - in April and in June, and attained outstanding results, far surpassing what we had achieved in 2019. I did it! I not only survived the pandemic, I made it, in many ways, a couple of my most successful years.

Who’s inspired you, directly or indirectly? How have they inspired you?

I have had a few wonderful music coaches, who have worked with me both as coach and mentor. The first being Dr. Greg Lyne, and currently two coaches/mentors - Joe Cerutti, and Cindy Hansen.

What would you have done differently?

Not a darned thing! I am a great believer in fate and if any one thing had been "done differently", it would have changed the path that has led me to being the happiest, and most fulfilled I have ever been in my life.

What are the principles you live by?

Obstacles are what you see when you lose sight of the goal. In teaching - people don't care how much you know, but how much you care.