Performer

Darlene loves to connect with, and feed off of the chemistry of the audience…her passion is to impact others through her music. To her, singing is a very vulnerable expression and she believes that it is a 2-way relationship between the singer and listeners.

Darlene performs a variety of music in different genres including select cover tunes, Soul, Jazz standards, Gospel, R&B/funk and her soul-infused original songs. She and Bill Sample have co-written a number of songs in the past few years and they are performing those as “Wild Blue Herons”.  She was influenced by Earth, Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Andrae Crouch, Michael Jackson, Danniebelle Hall, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, CeCe Winans, Whitney Houston; much of the funk/soul and jazz music of the 70s and more recently by the likes of Snarky Puppy, Lalah Hathaway,  Jacob Collier, and Lisa Fischer.

Choral Workshops

Darlene teaches Gospel-singing style choral and soloist workshops. She often does these with Marcus Mosely and Bill Sample. They work with community groups as well as established choirs to teach them the traditions/history, the heart and soul and the vocal techniques in singing this inspiring music. You can check out their website at: www.mmc2011.ca or contact Darlene directly to inquire about these.

Enjoy some images below.

Teacher

Darlene loves to see musical potential released and realized from younger to older people and encourages people express their heart through music.

She is an experienced music educator, music curriculum designer and developer.  She designed, developed and directed the music programs at Institute of Music Ministry at Pacific Life Bible College (PLBC) until April 2014. Currently, she teaches college level theory, song writing, arranging, and music charting on contract.

She teaches theory (classical, contemporary, jazz), arranging and charting (using Sibelius music software), song writing, private piano  (35+ years of experience), vocal coach (35+ years of experience), Gospel-style singing workshops – soloists and choral (with Marcus Mosely and Bill Sample), church music, music teaching methods, and usic curriculum development

Choral Director

Darlene has 40 years of experience as a choral director … leading choirs of all ages (children, youth, college, adults).

Currently, Darlene is the choral director for the Marcus Mosely Chorale along with Marcus Mosely (artistic director) and Bill Sample (music director).

Solo & Session Work

Darlene is available as a freelance soloist (for weddings, special events, festivals, conferences etc) and she loves to collaborate.

She is also a recording session vocalist and has put together groups of vocalists for BGs/choir backup as well as written arrangements. Her theory background and love of chords give her the ability to hear and harmonize ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ the expected as well as to fit into any style. She has done session work for: Boulevard, The Wild!, Shari Ulrich, Michelle Creber, Carolyn Arends, Marcus Mosely, Jules Schroeder, Brian Doerksen, and Cayla Brooke. Darlene has sung background vocals in concert for Shari Ulrich, Jane Mortifee, Dee Daniels, Marcus Mosely, Cayla Brooke and other Vancouver artists.

Wild Blue Herons

Darlene is the singer, co-writer/arranger and co-leader of the Wild Blue Herons (WBH) which consists of her and Bill Sample (co-leader and writer/arranger on keys and vocals) along with a stellar group of Vancouver musicians. Their music, a combination of jazz, funk, soul, blues with ‘smoky’ ballads, blends groove with complex chords, rhythms, and soulful melodies. The songs are broadly accessible and are filled with themes of life, love and social consciousness. Wild Blue Herons released their first CD, “On the Outside” in 2018. “In music and life the outside is where you are when you are different. Good things can happen there”.

www.wildblueherons.com