LOOMER, Diane

Diane (Mary) Loomer (b Kolander). Choral conductor, arranger, teacher, born St Paul, Minn, 23 Apr 1940, died Vancouver, 10 Dec 2012; BA (Gustavus Adolphus College) 1962, B MUS (British Columbia) 1982.

Diane Loomer was raised in a musical Minnesota family, playing piano and accompanying singers at age five. After teaching high school math and English in the US and Germany, Loomer relocated to Vancouver and in 1979 began studies in music theory, piano and voice at Douglas College. In 1981 Loomer transferred to the University of British Columbia, where she took courses with conductor James Fankhauser and earned a degree in music theory (minor in voice) in 1982. Although lacking experience in choral conducting, on the suggestion of Professor Richard Kitson she formed and conducted the Douglas College Community Choir from 1982 to 1996 (renamed the Amabilis Singers in 1989).

Career Highlights

In 1983–84 Diane Loomer was an apprentice to Jon Washburn, working with the Madrigal Singers, the Healey Willan Singers, and the Vancouver Chamber Choir. She subsequently established the Douglas College Children's Choir and became assistant director of the Vancouver Bach Choir. In 1987, after undertaking further studies in theory at the University of British Columbia, Loomer formed the Elektra Women's Choir with Morna Edmundson. She founded the Chor Leoni Men's Choir in 1992 and served as its artistic director. Under Loomer, both choirs earned strong international reputations for choral innovation and technical ability.

Diane Loomer conducted the University of British Columbia Choral Union from 1993 to 1999 and guest conducted in Minnesota, Montana (2006), and Iceland (2000). She conducted provincial youth choirs throughout Canada and in 1994 was the first woman to conduct the National Youth Choir.

In addition to conducting, she arranged and composed several works for choir, the majority of which were published by Cypress Choral Music, founded by Loomer and her husband, Richard Loomer.

Recognition

Diane Loomer received a number of awards. In 1990 she was given the Willan Award by the British Columbia Choral Federation, and in 1994 was named Vancouver's Woman of Distinction in Arts and Culture by the YWCA. Loomer was named a distinguished alumna of Gustavus Adolphus College in 1997 and of Douglas College in 2004. In 2005 she was named conductor emeritus at Dalhousie University. Diane Loomer was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1999 and received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.

Diane Loomer became internationally recognized as one of Canada's leading choral musicians and frequently appeared on CBC national radio as a spokesperson for the classical arts. In 2011 she received an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of British Columbia. In 2012 she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from Gustavus Adolphus College.