09/12/2026
Kenton Willem, founder of Kenton’s Lesson Studio, is launching Love is Love (LiL) Choir, a new 2SLGBTQIA+ choir in Nanaimo!
Read on for more information, and register using the link below:
https://www.kentonwillem.ca/lilchoir/registrationform
Hello folks,
I’m glad that you’re interested in joining Love is Love (LiL) Choir for our very first season! Here is everything you need to know about the LiL Choir and how to join.
Please contact Kenni at [email protected] with any questions.
About LiL Choir
LiL Choir is a new 2SLGBTQIA+ choir based in Nanaimo, directed by Kenton Willem (aka Kenni), for anyone 16+. We welcome members from across the central Vancouver Island region.
Our goal is to create an educational and supportive choral environment while promoting positive mental health through the practice of singing together. We are first and foremost focused on creating a safer space for q***r and trans folks, including people who are exploring or questioning their identities.
At this time, we are not accepting allies as singing members, but we are deeply appreciative of outside support and allyship.
No Audition Required!
LiL Choir is a non-auditioned choir, and new members are asked to complete a brief vocal and ear-training assessment with Kenni upon signing up.
This is an opportunity for Kenni to get a sense of each singer’s current musical skills, including their ability to match pitch and rhythm. It will also help Kenni determine which section will be the best fit for their vocal range if the singer is not sure of their range.
Singers who have worked with Kenni before, or who have significant formal singing experience, will skip this step.
First Fall Term
Our first rehearsal will be this Saturday, September 12, from 3–5pm at Bowen Park Complex.
We do not expect full attendance this Saturday. This first meeting will be a very casual singing and meeting day where we get to know our new space, hang out, and sing 3–4 songs together!
Our fall term runs from September 12–December 12 (yes, this starts tomorrow!).
This first term will focus on establishing and growing the choir, developing our sound and culture, getting to know one another, and beginning to learn our repertoire.
Rather than hosting and singing a full fall concert, the choir will participate in a concert of Kenni’s at the end of the fall term as guests or as a featured part of a larger show.
Our inaugural full-program concert will take place during the spring term. Our spring term runs from January 16–May 22. Once we have established the choir and developed a strong foundation together, our focus will shift toward learning, refining, and solidifying our repertoire in preparation for our first full spring concert.
Rehearsals This Fall:
Saturdays, 3–5pm, starting September 12
– No rehearsal October 31
– Bowen Park Complex
– This is an accessible space
– On-site parking and washrooms are available (we will be making temporary signage for the bathrooms if needed)
– Please bring your own water bottle or chosen beverage
– Please arrive 5–15 minutes before 3pm whenever possible. Being 5 minutes early is just as dope as 15 minutes early.
– Please let Kenni know if you are available to help with setting up and taking down
– If you have any accessibility needs or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Kenni at [email protected]. For example, please let Kenni know if you would like a music stand provided for you at rehearsals.
Fall Membership Fees:
Monthly membership
$50/month
Full fall term (13 weeks)
$150
Full term + $50 Pay It Forward
$200
Full term + $150 Pay It Forward
$300
Drop-in
$15/rehearsal
A limited number of sliding-scale options are also available. Please reach out to Kenni at [email protected] if you would like to access this option.
The Pay It Forward option allows members who are able to contribute a little extra to help make choir participation more accessible to others in our community.
Ready to Join?
We’d be so happy to have you!
Please fill out the registration form here:
https://www.kentonwillem.ca/lilchoir/registrationform
Once you’ve registered, Kenni will follow up with you about the next steps, including your vocal and ear-training assessment, if applicable, and payment.
Know someone who might be interested? Please feel free to share this post with them!
Stay tuned. ❤️
Kenni (they/them)
Community Standards
LiL Choir is committed to creating a space where everyone can participate without experiencing discrimination, harassment, or bigotry. Any form of hate or bigotry will not be tolerated, including but not limited to racism, sexism, colourism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, fatphobia, ableism, NIMBYism, classism, and ageism.
For more information about the choir’s policies, core beliefs, and purposes, please visit www.kentonwillem.ca
*We are currently developing a dedicated webpage for LiL Choir policies and will update this link to a specific page once it is available. There will be a “living policy document” represented publicly on the site that will evolve over time and with community feedback.
Thank you!
Note from Kenni about tomorrow’s first meeting:
Hello folks,
If you’re coming tomorrow, please bring your own binder, pencil, and water bottle. There will also be snacks available ^_^
I’ve already heard from some folks who will be joining us next week, and others who will be starting with us in October.
I’m glad to have everyone join us when the timing works for them.
Please bear with me as we get settled into our new room for the first time and figure out if there are any other things we need for the choir.
This is our growth and learning term, so we’ll be figuring some of this out together as we go.
When/if you’re ready to sign up, please do so using the registration form link, and send payment, whether a full term ($150 for Fall), monthly (4-week $50), or drop-in to check us out ($15), via e-transfer to [email protected]. The separate account is ready now. Thank you!
*For transparency, I’ll be keeping a physical ledger at rehearsals that records the choir’s financial ins and outs, including Pay It Forward contributions. Anyone is welcome to look through it at rehearsals. Individual contributors to Pay It Forward will remain anonymous in the ledger.
