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:
St. Andrew’s United, Toronto
As Music Director, Hilary leads a creative program at this vibrant downtown church. In 2024, she produced an innovative semi-dramatized Christmas concert based on a wartime radio feature, and in 2023 a hymn festival examining post-colonial tensions amid the British Coronation. Other highlights include outreach events to celebrate Pride, and an outdoor jazz concert series.
East End United Regional Ministry /
Eastminster Unuted, Toronto
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 a Board Member and Past 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
Church Music Ministry Experience
Music Director, St. Andrew’s United Church, Toronto
Music Director for Worship, United Church of Canada General Council 45, Calgary
Worship Music & Arts Program Director, East End United Regional Ministry, Toronto
Music Director, Eastminster United Church, Toronto
Music Program Consultant, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Humber Heights, Toronto
Youth Choir Director, First Presbyterian Church, Dallas, TX
Music Minister for Children and Youth, Royal York Road United Church, Toronto
Related Experience
Board Member and Past President, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada
Workshop Presenter, Song Teacher, and Hymn Festival Leader at national symposia, conferences, and leadership training events across North America
Curriculum Developer and Course Instructor, University of Toronto and Wilfrid Laurier University
‘Paperless’ Song Teacher, Music that Makes Community
Video Producer, Break into Song music leadership training series
Working Group and Global Song Advisor, ‘Singing Welcome: Hymns and Songs of Hospitality to Refugees and Immigrants’ digital teaching resource, The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada
Assistant Conductor, Seminary Singers, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas TX
Education
Ph.D. Musicology, University of Toronto
M.A. Musicology, University of Toronto
M.S.M. Master of Sacred Music Choral Conducting, Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
B.F.A. Theatre and Music, Concordia University, Montreal
Royal Conservatory of Music (Piano, Music Theory)
See the Academic page for Hilary’s academic research and publications.