Board of Directors

The Okanagan Symphony Society is a not-for-profit organization governed by the BC Societies Act. Our Board of Directors is made up of a group of community volunteers recruited for their special knowledge and expertise in many areas. It is with our Board’s skill and commitment that we are able to support the continued success of our orchestra.

Judy Burns

President

Holly Wiesinger

Vice President

John Bailey

Treasurer

Ana-Maria Covaser

Secretary

Jennifer McKenzie

Director at Large

Bryce Traister

Director at Large

Eamonn Deegan

Community Member

Judy Burns
President

Judy Burns with her husband Graham, owned/operated a construction company, and self-owned/ operated a culinary school. She has also held several senior management positions in the cable television industry, including Shaw Communications and Moffat Communications. Following a move to Kelowna in 1993, Judy attained her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Okanagan University College (UBC). She also holds a degree in sports and leisure management from UBC. For over a decade she has volunteered with the OSO, organizing various fundraising events. She sings with the OSO chorus and joined the OSS Board in 2018.

Holly Wiesinger
Director at Large

Dr. Holly Wiesinger has been a Gastroenterologist in Penticton since 2012. She has also been an OSO subscriber since then, as well as an OSYO parent and volunteer. The OSO has played a significant role in shaping her daughter into a young violinist, currently studying at the University of Toronto. Holly served on the Board for the Penticton Academy of Music (now Penticton Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts) for 6 years, initially as Secretary, followed by 5 years as President and Chair.

John Bailey
Treasurer

John Bailey started his professional career with Price Waterhouse in Amsterdam and Barcelona and then moved to Royal Dutch Shell in the UK where he held increasingly senior roles completing his 28-career as Chief Financial Officer of retail business in the UK and Ireland. In 2004, John joined Quadra Mining Ltd in Vancouver and became Executive Vice President Commercial. John enjoys opera and classical music and has volunteered as Treasurer for the Kelowna Aquajets and the OSO previously.

Ana-Maria Covaser
Secretary

Ana-Maria Covaser, a family doctor and physiotherapist by training, immigrated to Canada from Romania in 2008. She moved with her family to West Kelowna in 2010 and she was happy to see her children bloom happily into everything music and school-related in this beautiful place. She is currently working as an Adjunct Professor at the Southern Medical Program UBCO. Ana-Maria is passionate about music education in young children and believes in the power of community engagement.

Jennifer McKenzie
Director at Large

Jennifer McKenzie works as a Human Resources Consultant providing support to local businesses and shares her passion for championing effective people practices where all can thrive. She holds a B.B.A. with a Human Resources Management major and a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation. Jennifer was born and grew up in Kelowna and is a proud OSYO parent and volunteer who has enjoyed watching her son grow in both skills and confidence since joining this wonderful group.

Bryce Traister
Director at Large

Bryce studies and teaches courses in early American literature and culture. He holds a BA and PhD in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and taught for 20 years at Western University in London, Ontario, before joining the UBCO Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies in 2017 as Dean.

Since moving to the Okanagan, he has been consistently impressed with the artistry of the place - he came for the skiing, but stayed for the art.

Eamonn Deegan
Community Member

Eamonn Deegan is a registered professional engineer (retired) in British Columbia. He graduated in 1980 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from University College Dublin, Ireland and followed up with a master's program in Structural Steel Design at the University of Calgary. Eamonn has worked as a design engineer, project manager, site supervisor, program manager and business development manager in various locations around the world. Eamonn sang with school and church choirs as a boy in Ireland. He rediscovered singing a few years ago upon moving to the Okanagan and joined the OSO Chorus in 2018. Since October 2020, he has been singing on-line with the Qatar Concert Choir.

Board of Directors

Judy Burns

Holly Wiesinger

John Bailey

Ana-Maria Covaser

Jennifer McKenzie

Bryce Traister

Eamonn Deegan

Judy Burns President

Holly Wiesinger Director at Large

John BaileyTreasurer

Ana-Maria CovaserSecretary

Jennifer McKenzieDirector at Large

Bryce Traister Director at Large