ABOUT US

Maria Correia initially came to the KCMS as a piano student and parent, drawn by its high-quality faculty and dedication to musical excellence. A longtime international development professional, Maria spent 22 years at the World Bank in Washington D.C. where she managed complex global programs across diverse regions. In 2016, she relocated to Kelowna with her family and subsequently completed her PhD at UBC Okanagan. She is now a postdoctoral fellow at UBC’s Centre for Culture and Technology, where she focuses on cross-cultural collaboration in water stewardship. Maria brings to the KCMS board her love of music, creative energy, and a commitment to problem solving and building meaningful community connections. Contact Maria at president@mykcms.ca.

Joanne holds a PhD in cultural and environmental anthropology from UBC Okanagan’s Department of Community, Culture, and Global Studies. Her academic background and global travels reflect a deep curiosity about the world and a lasting appreciation for the performing arts in all its forms. Currently serving as Cultural Advisor to the City of Kelowna, Joanne works closely with equity-deserving groups, First Nations, and local cultural organizations. She is a tireless advocate for community resilience and uses deep listening to foster inclusive, collaborative environments that empower people from all walks of life. In her free time, Joanne enjoys attending local performances and exploring the intersection of music and storytelling. She also volunteers with organizations that support the performing arts. Her dedication to building bridges between communities continues to inspire those around her and highlights the vital role of the arts in promoting understanding and well-being. Joanne lives in Kelowna with her two sons, who share her love of music. Contact Joanne at jtaylor@mykcms.ca

Juanita is a CPA and Partner at EBL Accounting Solutions Inc, where she serves as a fractional CFO and Director of Finance. With over 20 years of experience working with a diverse range of clients, she brings strong financial leadership and strategic insight to the KCMS board. Juanita’s love of music began at the age of nine with piano and deepened through her lifelong passion for the oboe. For the past 19 years, she has been an active musician with the OSO, enriching the region’s cultural life through performance and collaboration. A strong believer in the transformative power of music, Juanita joined the KCMS board to keep music education accessible and meaningful for children of all backgrounds. She is passionate about music’s role in childhood development, self-confidence, and personal growth, and sees KCMS as a cornerstone of community life, offering not only high-quality instruction and performance opportunities but also fostering connection and engagement through the arts. Contact Juanita at jgomes@mykcms.ca.

Darielle has always believed in the power of the arts, and especially music, to bring people together and spark meaningful change. An alumna of the music and arts program at OKM in Kelowna, she has continued to champion the arts throughout her career, both professionally and as a committed volunteer on numerous boards and community initiatives. With a strong background in nonprofit strategy and facilitation, Darielle brings decades of experience working with governments, Indigenous communities, and civil society organizations to strengthen governance and build inclusive decision-making processes. Her early career as a wildlife biologist in the Yukon sparked a lifelong interest in how people work through difficult issues and arrive at shared solutions. This interest led her to pursue a Ph.D. in political science, completed in 2022, where she explored how digital tools and gamification can support self-reflection and civic dialogue. Today, she leads Tipping Point Strategies, a consulting and research firm focused on engagement, communications, and strategic planning. She is particularly interested in how artificial intelligence can be used to enhance public dialogue, foster mutual understanding, and inspire civic action. Contact Darielle at dtalarico@mykcms.ca.

Jeanette is excited to join the board of the Kelowna Community Music School as Director of Community Engagement and Volunteer Opportunities. Since moving to Kelowna in 2009, she has witnessed the unfolding passion of countless students and the consistent high-quality musicianship of the KCMS faculty. Jeanette has an interdisciplinary background in dance, theatre and fine arts, training and performing in Winnipeg at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Contemporary Dancers, as well as completing a BFA at Concordia University in Montreal. In addition to being a practicing artist, she completed a Master’s in Art History in performance art at University of Washington and also developed early childhood curriculum on movement and language acquisition. Eventually her focus turned to socially engaged and sustainable artistic and creative practices. She was project coordinator and experience designer on collaborative arts-science projects featured in her interdisciplinary PhD research on creative experiential learning. She has served on a number of arts boards in Winnipeg, Montreal, and Seattle and more recently held a position with the Royal BC Museum as a regional partnership manager in the Okanagan. Contact Jeanette at jangelfox@mykcms.ca