Our Conductor & Accompanists

Rob Kinnear was born in St. Catherines. High school provided his first conducting opportunity, leading the school Jazz Band for 5 years.  As a teenager, Rob performed trombone with the St Catherines Symphony and Brass Ensemble. At the University of Western Ontario, Rob performed in the University Jazz Band and the Mustang Marching Band while earning a B.Sc. and a B.Ed. degree.  He also  holds a B.M.A. from Windsor University, and an Honours Specialist in vocal and instrumental music from U. of Toronto.  He studied Choral conducting with James Tambourini. Rob sang 12 operas professionally with the Michigan Opera Theatre for 4 years, and sang professionally  with the Windsor Classic Chorale.  He formed and conducted “The Kingsville Singers”, a 50-voice  SATB community choir for 6 years.  Rob has adjudicated several music festivals and competitions including the CNE's “Rising Star” for the past 7 years.  He has conducted several community vocal  jazz ensembles, and conducts the award winning Caledon Concert Band, The Choraliers, The Liberation Choir, and is presently the Director of Bands and Choirs at Brampton Centennial S.S.  Rob has 25 years of experience directing Christian choral camps in southern Ontario, under the auspices of the Hamilton and London Conferences, for the United Church of Canada.

Piano Accompanist

Sharon Sandink joined The Liberation Choir as the accompanist in September 2008.  Throughout the years, she has been involved in music in a number of different facets; from teaching and coaching, to conducting and accompanying.  Sharon received her Bachelor of Music (Hon.) and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Western Ontario, where she studied piano under Sonya Behrens and James Anagnason.  Currently Sharon teaches music at Mississauga Christian Academy.  She resides in Mississauga with her husband Shawn and her three sons.

Guest Organist

Christopher Dawes, numbered among Canada’s leading church musicians, concert organists and choral accompanists, is also an active freelance theatre musician, writer, and consultant. He has given concerts in all of Canada’s major cities, and has toured, and been recorded and broadcast in the U.S.A. and Europe. Mr. Dawes currently divides his time between his family, freelance performing and workshop-leading; performing, directing and composing in adjunct capacity to music and drama programs of the University of Toronto, and the Directorship of three institutions well-known in Canada’s organ world: the production company Organ Alternatives, the Organ Concerts and Academy at Stratford Summer Music, and Canada’s Summer Institute of Church Music in Whitby. Having served Toronto’s St. James’ Cathedral first as organist and later as Director of Music for twelve years ending in 2003, his most recent church musical ministry is as consultant and Lead Musician at Toronto’s Church of St. George the Martyr. 

He is known for a musicianship that freely crosses classical and popular styles and eras; for his imaginative, informed and approachable presentation of both the familiar and the obscure, and for his love of history, people, and all that is unusual and inspirational in music. Born in the United States and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Chris lives with his wife Marcia, and their sons Nathaniel and Simon, in Georgetown, 50km northwest of Toronto.