BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Tyrese Walters
Co-Chair
Tyrese Walters (he/him) is a Filipino-Guyanese conductor and tenor from Brampton, Ontario. Tyrese has recently graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Music with Honours in Voice Performance under the tutelage of Torin Chiles. In his final year, he leads the Student Choral Initiative – a student-led choir – within the Faculty of Music at Western University. Tyrese will be continuing his studies at the University of Toronto where he will be completing a Masters of Music in Choral Conducting under the direction of Dr. Jamie Hillman. Tyrese has sung with Chorale and the Western University Singers throughout his undergraduate degree, as well as being an Ontario Youth Choir alumnus from 2018 and in 2019 where he held the position of Tenor Section Lead.
Tyrese is in his 8th season with Modern Sound Collective, singing in Frisson, as well as being an active board member where he is currently serving as one of two co-chairs. Tyrese is super excited to be conducting Rocambolesco as well as working with Frisson as an associate conductor.
Outside of choir, you can find Tyrese immersed in musical theatre or thrifting.
Vyllana Nguyen
Co-Chair
Vyllana (she/her) is a graduate of the Creative Industries program at TMU and serves as the Social Media Director on the MSC Board of Directors. Vyllana currently works in the children’s television industry and is delighted to convey MSC’s artistic vision through promotional and advertising initiatives. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Vyllana has continued to be involved in music, having sung in MSC’s Frisson for two years, TMU’s Resonate a cappella group, as well as being a proud alumna of the Ontario Youth Choir. Vyllana is extremely passionate about supporting the choral community, and is looking forward to another exciting season with MSC.
Russell Sweeney
Treasurer
Russell is a graduate of the Accounting and Finance program at the University of Waterloo and serves as treasurer on the MSC Board of Directors. Russell currently works at Deloitte as a manager in the Accounting Advisory practice and relishes the opportunity to utilise his experience in the accounting and business realms to assist MSC from a financial point of view. Russell has been an enthusiastic member of MSC for 5+ years, including MSC’s inaugural season, and has also sung in numerous other choirs including the University of Waterloo Chamber Choir, the Cawthra Park Secondary School Chamber Choir, and the Ontario Youth Choir.
Paige Fitzpatrick
Secretary
Paige Fitzpatrick (she/her) is a former student of the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University, and serves as the Secretary on MSC’s Board of Directors. While studying at Western, she was an active member of the Faculty of Music Students’ Council and was elected to serve on the council’s executive team as the Vice-President of Events for the 2018/2019 school year. She is now an undergraduate student at Toronto Metropolitan University studying Creative Industries with focuses in Visual Culture and Professional Communication, and continues to be involved in a number of leadership roles within the university including Senate and the Creative Industries Course Union. She has participated in The Woodlands Secondary School’s Concert, Chamber, and Europe Choirs throughout high school, as well as Resonance Youth Choir in 2016 and 2022. Paige began her first season with MSC in the summer of 2020, and is excited to be returning to sing for another season and continue working more closely with the organization.
Hilary Menezes
Community Outreach Officer
Hilary is completing a degree in English and Cultural Studies, with a minor in Political Science and a Concurrent Certificate in Leadership, Equity & Social Change, at McMaster University. She will be continuing her studies in the fall at OISE, beginning her Master of Arts/Ontario College of Teachers Certificate in the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development. As an active member in her community, Hilary has sung in school and community choirs for nearly 16 years. This includes singing and volunteering with MSC for the past five seasons. She has enjoyed watching the choir grow and flourish, and is proud to be joining the Board of Directors. She looks forward to bringing her passion for community, connection and care to the team and organization as a whole.
Sami Anguaya
Advancement Director
Sami Anguaya is a 25-year old Toronto-based singer and composer interested in creating music that blurs genre lines. A two-time graduate of the University of Toronto’s Composition program (MusBAc 2020 & MMus 2022), Sami’s work has been commissioned and performed by the Exultate Chamber Singers, the Modern Sound Collective, The University of Toronto Wind Ensemble, and by indie film-makers and game developers. As an MSC Board Member, Sami brings over three-years of professional fundraising experience to support the organization’s artists and mission.
