Chorus Director
Kenton Willem (They/Them)
Kenton Willem (aka Kenni) joined AVIVA Chorus as Chorus Director in September 2024.
Kenton Willem (aka Kenni) is a queer, non-binary instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter from Vancouver Island, Canada. Through music that reflects their own vulnerability and radical acceptance, they create art intended for healing.
With a lifelong practice of listening, Kenton instinctively absorbs music around them, allowing sounds they love to shape their personal voice. Performing in settings ranging from drum-saxophone duo to full big bands, they earned early recognition through a DownBeat Student Music Award and a full-tuition Jimmy Lyons Scholarship to Berklee College of Music where they completed a dual-degree in performance and jazz composition and a minor in conducting.
Since graduating in 2020, Kenton has devoted much of their time to teaching piano, saxophone, voice, and flute through their private studio, Kenton’s Lesson Studio, both in person and online. They are also the director of AVIVA Chorus and perform solo piano regularly at the 1948 Bar and Bistro in Ladysmith.
Currently, they are crafting their debut album, Notes On Blue, a collection of original songs exploring themes of healing, self-discovery, love, and the pursuit of authenticity. Rooted in queer experience, the album is for anyone learning to take up space. At its core, it is a love letter to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
