Dr. Diane Loomer, C.M. Doctor of Letters honoris causa
(B.Mus 1982, UBC)

Diane Loomer, C.M. is founder and conductor of the prize-winner men's choir, Chor Leoni,  was co-founder and co-directed the outstanding Elektra Women's choir, and most recently founder and conductor of EnChor Chamber Choir. She taught at the University of British Columbia for six years.  Both her mens and womens choirs have repeatedly won first prizes in national and international competitions and her choral compositions have been published and recorded internationally. She frequently appears on CBC national radio and CBC TV as a spokesperson for the classical arts. With the help of her husband, Dick, she established Cypress Choral Music as a thriving source of new Canadian choral music and an encouragement to Canadian choral composers.

The first woman to conduct the National Youth Choir of Canada, Diane received the Healey Willan award in 1990 for her service to choral music in British Columbia; in 1994, she was named YWCA's Vancouver's Woman of Distinction of Arts and Culture; and in 1997 and 2004 received Distinguished Alumni Awards honouring her achievements in choral music. Loomer was appointed the Order of Canada in 1999. She receives an honorary degree from UBC May 25, 2011.

Chor Leoni

Elektra Women's choir