Rebecca Rock, Music Director
Rebecca Rock received her Bachelor of Music (Honours) and Bachelor of Education from Western University in London, Ontario. She has taught Elementary Music and Core French since 1979 in Halifax and Lunenburg Counties. She is now retired but enjoys substituting. She is a member of the Thursday night Hand Bell group, accompanist for the Mother Daughter Choir and is a private piano teacher. Rebecca is the mother of four adult children:Jonathan, Joshua, Ruth and Rachael. Her favourite pastimes are swimming, walking and playing the piano.
Gale Lohnes, Handbell Director
Gale Lohnes received her Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Education degrees from Acadia University in 1988 and 2016 respectively. She retired in 2022 with over 34 years of experience teaching at the Elementary School, Middle School and High School levels in Halifax and Lunenburg Counties, teaching instrumental and classroom music as well as Math, Health and Social Studies. Her last 22 years of teaching were spent at Bayiew Community School in Mahone Bay where she directed concert bands, jazz bands, jazz combos, drama productions as well as vocal and hand chime choirs. Gale has directed many award winning groups and in 2004 was a recipient of the Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence. She was honored to have been given the opportunity to direct the Nova Scotia Junior Wind Ensemble for their 2019-2020 season. In October of 2022, she received a Master Teacher Award from the Nova Scotia Band Association. Throughout her career, she has directed community ensembles such as the Bridgewater Fire Department Band, South Shore Concert Orchestra and St. John’s Lutheran Church Junior Choir. She currently directs the St. John’s Lutheran Handbell Choir and is a member of The Chester Brass Band, the choir at St. John’s Lutheran Church as well as their Mother Daughter Choir. Although retired from teaching, she keeps busy adjudicating, substitute teaching and helping out with local Music Festivals.
Gale is the proud Mom of Emma and Holly, Grammy to Rhea and Kian, and lives just outside of Mahone Bay with her husband,Derek.
