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Our Singers

Get to Know Us!

Sonus Voices is made up of a core group – our Founding Members – and, throughout our first season, welcomed guest artists to our rehearsals and performances.

We’re excited to welcome additional singers to this, our first full season, and will be adding new names and photos regularly.

Scroll down and meet the….well….Sonus Voices!

Get to know our founding members

Steven Barabash

Baritone

Steven is a lifelong musician with a Bachelor of Music in Orchestral Performance from Wilfrid Laurier University and a 10-year career as a worship director/pastor. Completing a Master of Theological Studies from McMaster Divinity College led him to a significant shift professionally and personally through researching the confluence of faith and sexuality—leading to a Bachelor of Social Work from McMaster University and currently completing a Master of Social Work from the University of Toronto.

Hoping to never return to school again, Steven will continue working with individuals and couples as a registered social worker, advocate for increasing LGBTQ+ affirming faith communities, and try to not be the tipping point for Greg Rainville by learning the music at least a day or two before performance.

Located in Hamilton, Steven enjoys the many cafés and bakeries as well as spending time on the trails, parks, and Hamilton Beach.

John Baxter

Bass

John is an electrical engineer with 37 years in the Canadian nuclear industry and project experience on four continents. After 34 years working to support production of low-carbon electricity from CANDU reactors, he began his post-retirement career in the development of next-generation Small Modular Reactors. 
Even while travelling for work, home was still Hamilton, and John has been part of our city’s choral music scene since 2009. He sings regularly with Sonus Voices and with the Bach Elgar choir, and has appeared in Brott Music Festival chorus and other local amateur groups.  
When not working or singing, John collaborates with his son on the construct of word puzzles — many of them set to popular tunes — for The Enigma. To date the magazine of the National Puzzlers’ League has published 84 of their submissions, and more are expected in the months to come. 

Matt Bean

Tenor 1

Matt has been singing for much of his life: in school and community choirs, and as a band vocalist and soloist and the occasional school or community theatre production.
He is currently a registered psychotherapist working with clients in Burlington and area. When not at work Matt is spending time with his young family or serving in the local church community. Matt loves his local neighbourhood in Burlington where he serves as a neighbourhood connector.

Chris Bee

Bass

With over 25 years of choral and musical theatre experience across both Canada and the United States, Chris brings a well-rounded background choral and musical theatre performance. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Instrumental and Vocal Music from Grand Valley State University and has directed a wide range of productions—including RENT, Into the Woods, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Shrek.

Previous experience with ensembles such as Chorus Niagara, Opera Hamilton, and the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir has deepened my understanding of ensemble dynamics and choral excellence.

When not singing, Chris enjoys playing woodwinds, guitar, keyboard or percussion. When it’s time for work, Chris is a seasoned salesperson and sales trainer, having worked in both the telecommunications and insurance industries. When it’s time to relax, you will find him on a Lake Erie beach, at the movie theater, or in costume at Fan conventions or any Harry Potter themed events!.

Jordan Fang

Baritone

Jordan is an interior designer, professor, and creative educator based in Hamilton, Ontario. By day, he teaches design at the post-secondary level, helping the next generation of interior decorators and designers build strong foundations in creativity, communication, and craft. He also runs his own interior design studio, working on residential and small commercial projects across the region.
After a long pause from playing music, joining Sonus brought that part of Jordan’s life back in a meaningful way. Singing with the group, and being part of a creative, supportive community has rekindled the joy of music and the connection that comes with making it together.
When he’s not designing, teaching, or rehearsing, you’ll find him walking or running through Gage Park, or catching up with friends over coffee at one of Hamilton’s many great local cafés.

David Fletcher

Baritone

David, from Oakville, studied at the University of Western Ontario and now spends his days at a desk and his evenings enjoying a good glass of wine (or any glass, really), nurturing a suspiciously consistent interest in Miami and Spain, and maintaining that The Golden Girls is peak television. Choir is his main form of cardio, unless you count airport walking.

Paul Hawkins

Tenor 2

Paul is a seasoned community leader and connector, with a professional career spanning thirty years in the nonprofit sector.
Before his first retirement in 2008, he was the owner of the US-based company Bright Prospects International. His experience includes serving as Membership Manager at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, where he empowered local businesses through strategic networking, and as both Corporate Relations Director and Chorus Manager at the Brott Music Festival, where he built partnerships across the arts. 
Paul is the current President, Director, and CEO of MomentumNetwork.ca. He is active with the Hamilton and Burlington Chambers, the Development Committee of Theatre Aquarius, and the organizing committee of the Eat and Argue Club at the Hamilton Club. He also maintains strong ties with organizations like the Canadian Opera Company and The National Ballet.
After the passing of his partner of 32 years, Paul resumed singing with Sonus Voices. Being part of this creative, supportive group has brought new meaning and connection to his life. For anyone seeking community, inspiration, and the simple pleasure of making music together, Paul believes Sonus Voices is the perfect place.
When not singing, he enjoys exploring Hamilton’s outstanding culinary scene and engaging in the city’s vibrant arts and business communities.

Andrew Inman

Tenor 2

Andrew has been grateful for his lifelong journey in music, starting way back in London, Ontario with St. Mary’s Choir and Orchestra program, Catholic Central High, and over 15 years with Amabile Choirs of London. Andrew also continues to play violin and piano.

Outside of Sonus, Andrew channels his inner engineer as a senior asset management, maintenance and reliability consultant. His world is filled with fun and family: He’s a devoted husband and father to three energetic kids, loves to build intricate Lego creations (especially Star Wars), or planning their next adventure. Around town you might find him curling in the winter, hiking with the family on the Chedoke Radial Rail Trail, or finding a waterfall with the kids.

Walter Mahabir

Tenor 1

Walter is a graduate of McGill University with a Master’s degree in choral conducting, as well as a Bachelor’s degree from York University in classical voice. He was the former Conductor at the Community Music Schools of Toronto, led several choirs with the Oakville Choir for Children and Youth, assistant conductor of the Resound Choir of Oshawa and as well as the Orpheus Choir of Toronto.

He is currently working at his alma mater as Junior Choir Conductor of St. Michael’s Choir School, and leads the summer choir programmes for the National Music Camp in Orillia.

Outside of music, Walter enjoys dancing hip-hop, reading, doing crosswords, and playing video games.  

Shawn Oakes

Tenor 2

Shawn Oakes is a bari-tenor.  He is currently involved with several ensembles as a choral coordinator and singer throughout southern Ontario. Some of these groups include Arcady, Edison Singers, Grand River Chorus, the Brott Music Festival and Brott Opera, Jeans n Classics, Kammerchor, and is excited to add Sonus Voices to the list. 
Singing with low voices and the sound it creates really brings joy to his ears.  Shawn has also sung barbershop with different groups in the Barbershop Harmony Society.  
One of his favourite performance memories would be the five summers spent in Germany under the direction of Helmuth Rilling with the International Bach-Akadamie touring Europe. 
Shawn loves all styles of music but has real passion for early music.  He also enjoys playing recorder and trombone. 
A favourite spot in the Hamilton area where you could find him would be at one of the great local breweries — a great place to share a beverage and chat with friends.

Lutzen Riedstra

Bass

Lutzen Riedstra is a Postulant for Ordination in the Diocese of Toronto (Anglican). As a choral singer, Lutzen has over 20 years of experience, from singing with the St Mary’s Children’s Choir, to being the soloist and section lead in several churches and community choirs, including at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church, and the Orpheus Choir, Toronto. Currently, he can be heard singing at St. Cuthbert’s (Leaside), and with the Annex Singers, and the Oakville Choral Society.

Tyler Smith

Tenor 1

Tyler has sung in community and church choirs all of his life in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, and Toronto. He studied musical theatre at Grant MacEwan in Edmonton, where he deepened his love for performance and vocal music. Most recently, he was a member of the Canadian Men’s Chorus, where he had the opportunity to explore a wide range of repertoire and sing with a dedicated and talented group. He enjoys the challenges that singing presents, especially the discipline and focus required to blend with others in tight harmony. Singing in a group setting brings a unique joy that keeps him coming back.

When he’s not singing, Tyler works for a RBC and spends his free time pursuing adventure. He enjoys activities like skydiving, surfing, and bungee jumping—anything that gets the heart racing and pushes him out of his comfort zone. Whether it’s the thrill of a leap or the beauty of a well-tuned chord, he’s always drawn to experiences that make life a little more vibrant.