Biographies

Maxine Moore, director

Maxine (Oucharek) is originally from Yorkton, SK and a graduate of Dickinson State University. The highlight of her college years was performing at her music fraternity's national convention in Indianapolis.

She has taught concert band, stage band, classroom music and choirs, university music classes, as well as private voice and violin.

No stranger to the stage, Maxine has performed in many operas and musicals, with leading roles in The Marriage of Figaro, Amahl and the Night Visitors, Fiddler on the Roof, The Sound of Music, Oliver, Anne of Green Gables, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and The King and I. 

Her recital credits include 3 concerts at the Marysburg Festival of the Arts and a duo recital with Henri Loiselle at St. Mary's Cathedral in Winnipeg. She has also sung with the St. Peter’s Chamber Choir and the Saskatoon Chamber Singers.

Maxine's community involvements include the Marysburg Regional Chorus and Handbell choir, Westminster United Church music ministry. She is the ecumenical music director for the Humboldt Legion Remembrance Day service. She has also lent her talents to many benefit concerts such as Rainbow of Hope, Child find, Westminster United Church fundraiser concerts, as well as benefit concerts for Multiple Sclerosis. She also performs the Golden Memories show with Joan Jackson. 

She was a recipient of the Rural Women's Achievement Award and nominee for the Humboldt Citizen of the Year. In 2019 she received the Golden Note Long Service Award from the Saskatchewan Choral Federation.

On December 19, 2022 she received the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for her contributions in arts and music. It was awarded through the office of the Honourable Donna Harpauer, MLA Humboldt-Watrous Constituency, Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier of Saskatchewan and presented by His Honour the Honourable Russ Mirasty, Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan.

        Maxine first joined St. Peter’s Chorus in 1980 singing soprano under the direction of Dennis Schaefer. She stepped in to direct the Chorus for the first time in 1984 and over the next years she alternated with other directors. In 1992 she took over as sole director of of St. Peter’s Chorus and has enjoyed that role up to the present day.

Denise Germain, accompanist

Denise began playing piano at the age of four by watching and copying her older brothers. She knew two piano pieces when she went with them to the studio, and at the insistence of Sr. Kathleen Konlup, began taking lessons with the Ursuline Sisters at the age of five. When Denise was six, she accompanied her Grade 1 class at the annual Christmas Carol Festival in Humboldt.  At the age of 12, she began playing organ in church. That year, she also began playing piano for ballet classes with the Humboldt School of Dance. Her musical training continued with the Ursulines throughout her school years, and she studied for one year with Lyell Gustin in Saskatoon before other commitments took priority. Denise joined St. Peter’s Chorus shortly after graduating high school, and has been their accompanist since 1989. She continues as organist at St. Augustine Church in Humboldt and is a pianist for Royal Academy of Dance ballet exams throughout the province. In 2019 the Saskatchewan Choral Federation presented her the Community Service Award.