Brenda Uchimaru has finished a successful career in music education as an instrumental and vocal teacher. During her time with the Hamilton, Waterloo and York Region Boards of Education, she experienced roles as a department head, consultant and curriculum author. Her choirs have consistently been awarded Gold standards in MusicFest Canada Festivals and Kiwanis Festivals. Brenda has enjoyed her directorship journey with the Rotary Youth Choir of Hamilton Mountain, Harlequin Singers, Vox Nouveau Singers, and Toronto’s Bell’Arte Singers. In addition to Kokoro, she currently directs the Cambridge Male Chorus. Retirement has now given Brenda time for adjudicating festivals, giving workshops and retreats for choirs, guest conducting and returning to music theatre direction. As founding director of Kokoro, Brenda enjoys creating, communicating and sharing music with friends and ultimately, with our audiences.