About Hilary
I believe that congregational music-making is the life-blood of the church. In song, we enter into mutuality with one another, the mysterious unity of the one body made up of diverse parts.
I am a musician, worship leader and teacher. I help faith communities to find their voice and express their faith, and I empower musicians of all ages and abilities to participate in worship leadership. I have led choirs, assembled diverse musical ensembles, and consulted in a number of denominational contexts. I have presented, taught, and led worship at national and international conferences. My approach is cross-cultural, intergenerational, and collaborative.
“Hilary's leadership style is precisely what I try to communicate to our cantors and song leaders. She serves as 'animateur' as Fr. Joseph Gelineau would have stated it: one who breathes spirit into the singing community, much more than simply conducting them or giving them cues on when to sing.”
— Fr. Jan Michael Joncas
Communities
Hilary has worked with groups across North America to empower song leaders and build a tradition of community music-making:
East End United Regional Ministry
Hilary served for eight years as Director, Worship Music and Arts and co-leader of the music programme at East End United Regional Ministry, an Affirming Congregation in the United Church of Canada. Through innovative and infectiously joyful music-making, the music ministry enlivened worship and served as an ambassador to the neighbourhood.
Music That Makes Community
As a presenter with the Music That Makes Community collective, Hilary has joined other practitioners to empower and expand communities’ spiritual life through singing. At workshop retreats across North America, she teaches worship leadership skills and explores song leading and writing in a supportive, relaxing environment, and in a style that is fresh and engaging to people of all ages and levels of musical experience.
The Hymn Society
Hilary is President of The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada. With its sister organization The Center for Congregational Song, the Hymn Society’s mission is to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational singing.
Uniting Voices Collective
Hilary is a founding member of Uniting Voices Collective, formed in spring 2020 to sustain choral music communities during periods of physical distancing. The group shared innovative online programming, created virtual worship materials, and offered their services as consultants to the wider choral community across Canada.
Notable events included:
Church Music Post-Pandemic: A Roundtable Discussion (for Podium National Choral Conference and Festival)
Virtual Choir Practice with Faith D. Amour (A composer-led virtual choir practice culminating in a virtual choir video)
How to Feel Better when you Miss Choir (With guest psychotherapist and former performing artist Allison Villa)
Other communities
Hilary has planned and led workshops, courses, worship services, plays, workshops, and hymn festivals in churches and at conferences across North America, including:
Worship and Music Symposium, Concordia University, Edmonton, AB
Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON
Summer Institute of Church Music, Whitby, ON
General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Church, Richmond, VA
Allegheny Association of Seventh-Day Baptists, Little Genesee, NY
“Hilary was able to experientially lead us to deepen our appreciation of congregational song … gently stretching our understanding of the Christian faith, to glimpse a bit of eternity amidst our gathered community.”
— Tim Bancroft, Moderator, Allegheny Association of Seventh Day Baptist Churches
Curriculum vitae
Selected Experience
Pastoral Musician, East End United Regional Ministry, Toronto, ON (2013—2022)
Presenter, Music That Makes Community
Workshop Leader and Hymn Festival Presenter at conferences and events across North America
Sessional Lecturer, University of Toronto
Course Instructor and curriculum designer, Wilfred Laurier University, Waterloo, ON
Assistant Conductor, Seminary Singers, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
Youth Choir Leader, First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX
Music Minister for Children and Youth, Royal York Road United Church, Etobicoke, ON
Education
PhD Musicology, University of Toronto Faculty of Music (2021)
Master of Sacred Music summa cum laude, Choral Conducting, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX (2010)
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Theatre and Music, Concordia University, Montreal, QC (2003)
See the Academic page for Hilary’s academic research and publications.