Brendalee Wilson started singing in a choir when she was nine years old and has never stopped. Her director was an enlightened organist who had the choir singing Bach chorales in three-part harmony, music now permanently etched in Brendalee’s heart. She was a natural with harmony, and always sang the alto line. She has also played clarinet, flute, recorder, folk guitar, percussion, and even a little bassoon in high school.
For more than 40 years she has been with the Ottawa Choral Society. She switched from alto to soprano a few years ago, thanks mostly to the voice coaching she had at CAMMAC during the summer programs.
Back in 1982, early in her career with the federal government in international development, a colleague introduced her to the CAMMAC summer program. She has come to Lake MacDonald every year since primarily as a chorister, dancer, drummer and recorder player. Thanks to the wisdom of the artistic directors, a Yoga for Musicians program was begun about 12 years ago, in which she participates as an instructor.
Brendalee has been practicing yoga for more than 25 years and is a certified SomaYog teacher, teaching
in Chelsea and Gatineau, Quebec as well as at CAMMAC.
Brendalee is an avid traveller and linguist, whose passion for music, yoga, and adventure has culminated in annual trips to India since 2012 during Canadian winters. Brendalee is also an artist and photographer who has exhibited her work to public acclaim in Ottawa, Ontario, and Chelsea, Quebec.
When not travelling or spending time at the CAMMAC Music Centre, she lives with her partner Jean Lambert in the wild area of Chelsea, Quebec, right on the Gatineau River.