Deb became involved in the music at First Pres in September of 2000, and is thrilled to be an official member of the team!  She has found providing the music at the contemporary service to be an intensely rewarding experience, and working with such a talented band has been exhilarating.  Aside from being on-staff at First Pres, Deb is employed at Career Essentials in Collingwood where she teaches computers, math, and English (grades 4 - 12) to adults who require re-training due to workplace injuries.  As well, she performs professionally throughout the area.

Deb’s passion for music began at age 3 when she first sat at her grandmother’s piano (they’ve been the best of friends ever since).  Not too long after, she learned that she’d rather sing than do practically anything else in the world (still true today).  Deb graduated from York University in 1999 with a Specialized Honours B.A. in Music, with a focus on history and ethnomusicology.  She then attended Queen’s University where she graduated in 2000 with a B.Ed.  Deb has an appreciation for most styles of music; her favourites include: folk, jazz, southern gospel, Celtic, and practically anything released between 1962 and 1974. 

In her spare time, Deb enjoys playing her collection of instruments (piano, guitar, saxophone, mandolin, tin whistle, recorder, flute, clarinet, and autoharp).  Non-musical hobbies include, films, reading, and cross-stitch.