Staff

Suzie LeBlanc | Artistic & Executive Director

Suzie LeBlanc took on the position of Artistic and Executive director of Early Music Vancouver in January 2021. Born in Acadia, the charismatic soprano is well-known for her passionate performances of Early Music, art song, contemporary music and Acadian traditional repertoire. She began her international singing career in the Consort of Musicke (London) and continued to specialize in early repertoires, researching and recording a substantial amount of unpublished material.

She appears on over 75 recordings including the Grammy award-winning album Lully’s Thésée with the Boston Early Music Festival. She won an ECMA for Best Classical Album for “I am in need of music”, an album she produced on poems by Elizabeth Bishop. She has also recorded for ATMA, Hyperion, Chandos, Harmonia Mundi, Teldec, Analekta, Pasacaille and Das Alte Werk. Prior to coming to EMV, Suzie founded and directed Montreal’s Le Nouvel Opéra, a company that produces early and contemporary chamber opera performances. She was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2015 for her contribution to Early Music and Acadian culture.

Nathan Lorch | Business Manager

604-732-1610 ext 105 | nathan@earlymusic.bc.ca

As Business Manager, Nathan provides oversight of EMV’s financial matters including preparation of the annual budget in partnership with Executive & Artistic Director, monitoring of budget to actual results, recording and processing all financial transactions, and preparation of financial statements to Treasurer. He also provides office and administrative support to ensure staff is properly supported by the appropriate systems and technology and generally does what is required to support the Society, the office, and concert performances. Having handled the accounting for other charitable societies, he started working with EMV five years ago as a part-time bookkeeper when the Society was interested in having its accounting handled in house by a staff member and was promoted to the position of Business Manager in late 2015.

Michelle Herrewynen | Resource Development Manager

604-732-1610 ext 103 | michelle@earlymusic.bc.ca

Michelle has worked as the Resource Development Manager for EMV since July 2019. Prior to that, she had recently worked for three different choral organizations in Vancouver: Vancouver Cantata Singers, Vancouver Bach Choir, and Phoenix Chamber Choir. She is a graduate from UBC (Bachelor of Arts in Music) and holds an ARCT from the Royal Conservatory in voice. She currently sings with Vancouver Cantata Singers and is the soprano section leader at St. James Anglican Church. Michelle was born and raised in Kelowna, BC. She enjoys being outdoors in BC as much as possible, particularly to hike, camp, and forage mushrooms.

Jonathan Evans | Production Manager

604-732-1610 ext 104 | jonathan@earlymusic.bc.ca

Jonathan is a Vancouver native, and has worked in the cultural sector for most of his adult life with an emphasis on music. He is a graduate of Capilano University’s Arts & Entertainment Management program.

Nancy Wong | Marketing and Communications Manager

604-732-1610 | nancy@earlymusic.bc.ca

Nancy Wong is an accomplished marketing and communications professional whose career spans work in agency, corporate and non-profit settings, in addition to representing a private client portfolio of several top restaurants in Vancouver.

A nimble and inventive strategist inspired by challenge, Nancy has arranged a royal tour, help organize the first Vancouver visit of HH The Dalai Lama, created and run several major events, and successfully re-branded three organizations. With a critical eye for detail, stakeholder engagement and ROI, she has also won several awards for her campaigns as an Account Director representing Cathay Pacific Airways, Birks, the APEC Conference and Royal Columbian Hospital, as well as Director of Communications at local icon Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and Director of Marketing and Communications at world-renowned VanDusen Botanical Garden and Vancouver TheatreSports.

Nancy actively participates in giving back to the community through volunteering with various organizations including Les Dames d’Escoffier, Dr. Peter Foundation, PAL Vancouver, AIDS Vancouver, Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Growing Chefs. She is a past president of the BC Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier – the prestigious, international organization of women of accomplishment in the hospitality/food/beverage sectors, and currently sits on the BC Chapter Board as Communications Chair.

Julia Halbert | Executive Assistant

604-732-1610 ext 101 | julia@earlymusic.bc.ca

Julia has studied voice, acting, and dance for over 15 years and has performed classical, theatrical, and contemporary music all over Canada and the United States. Before starting at EMV in June of 2021, she worked as an Assistant Sales Manager for Brown's Shoes and as the Digital Marketing Assistant for Business Reach Marketing in Rossland, BC. She spends her free time helping the community as the Vancouver Young Professionals Rotaract Club President.