About Us
For over 50 years, The Calgary Boys’ Choir has been delivering dynamic, engaging, high quality choral instruction, performance opportunities and formative experiences designed for boys. Our vision is to empower boys to be remarkable, expressive and creative citizens. We operate with the core values of stewardship, integrity, creative leadership, excellence, growth, friendship, fun and humour.
Our Staff
Kathryn Berko, B.Mus., B. Ed.
Artistic Director
​Kathryn Berko completed both her Bachelor of Music in Education and her Bachelor of Education at the University of Calgary. As well as being the Artistic Director of the Calgary Boys’ Choir, she is also Artistic Director of the Calgary Children’s Choir. She is a classroom teacher as well as Director of the Junior Choir at St. John Choir Schola. A born and raised Calgarian, she continues to be active in the city’s choral scene. While growing up she was involved with the Calgary Children’s Choir, the Mount Royal Youth Choir, Ad Libitum Vocal Arts Ensemble, and the University of Calgary Chamber Singers. Mrs. Berko has completed her Kodály Level 2 certification from the University of Alberta and her Grade Ten Piano from The Royal Conservatory of Music. When she is not conducting a choir (which is seldom), she is either knitting, watching hockey, or walking her dog, Luna.
Elizabeth Garrett
General Manager
Elizabeth Garrett was in love with choral music after her first junior high rehearsal. High school brought her to Cawthra Park School for the Arts in Mississauga, Ontario, where she continued singing in vocal ensembles while taking courses in Theatre, Dance, Musical Theatre, and Photography.
Elizabeth received an academic scholarship to attend the Fine Arts Studies degree program at York University, where her major focused on the interplay between arts disciplines and culture, politics and history. During her studies she was accepted into the Classical Voice Performance courses and sang with the York U. Chamber choir. She was also president of the York U. Fine Arts Studies Student Association.
In Calgary, she has sung with a number of groups including Spiritus and Fresh Blend Acapella.
Outside of working with Calgary Boys' Choir and other arts organizations, Elizabeth enjoys time with her family, gardening, and dreams of starting a jazzy lounge ensemble with tight harmonies and smooth instrumentals.
Maximiliano Lozano-Sarmiento
Director, Young Singers
Maximiliano Lozano was first introduced to choral music in his junior-high school choir directed by Malcolm Edwards. Since then, he fell in love with choral music and, later on, with directing. During the last few years, he has had an increased amount of experience with choral directing - both with younger children and older adults. During March of 2024, he flew to Rome to direct a mature choir for the Triduum Masses held by the conference UNIV. In addition, for the past couple of years, he has been co-directing the Sacred Heart church choir under the direction and guidance of Alane Boudreau. He also spent the last year at Calgary Classical Academy wherein he served as an educational assistant and taught the kindergarten classes music.
​
Maximiliano has come to realize the importance of, not only singing, but of singing beautiful repertoire and the formative role it plays in our lives. He views music, not as a means to an end, but rather as an end in itself, something to appreciate and enjoy for its own sake. His favourite things include climbing, spending time with his family, reading, playing piano, and listening to anything by Rachmaninoff. He is very excited to spend this coming year making sure the children appreciate and enjoy the art that is singing.