Kevin White – Tenor

Season Joined: 2009-2010

Hometown: Born in Bathurst, NB; currently living in London Ontario, where I have lived since moving here with my wife in 1989.

Education/Training: 
BA in Chemistry, minor in English Literature
MD, with specialty training in Internal Medicine
PhD in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
No formal music training

Do you also have a non-singing “day job”? If so, what do you do?
I am a semi-retired physician who now does research consulting and writes both fiction and non-fiction. For the former, I have clients worldwide. For the latter, I have two published books of non-fiction and four published novels. To date, my books have won seven international book awards. They span a wide range of genres, from youth to adult fiction to a psychological thriller, called Satan & Silk, for which I am also currently writing a screenplay.

Where else do you teach/gig/conduct/sing/perform?
I am currently a member of three singing groups: KSS, the Wesley-Knox Choir, and a barbershop quartet called Four Shades. I have been part of three bands, singing, and playing guitar, piano and harmonica. I also am a prolific songwriter, with over 400 copyrighted songs across a wide range of genres that include: folk, folk-pop, folk rock, folky-blues, and choral. Some of my songs have been recorded or performed by other artists, including KSS, Denise Pelley, Bernie Gilmore, Roxanne Andrighetti, Four Penny Piece, and others. One of my songs – Bread, Not Stones – has been adopted as the theme song for the national Bread, Not Stones Initiative to end child poverty in Canada. One of my choral pieces – Song of the Children – which I dedicated to Karen Schuessler for all her wonderful work with children, is currently being sent to major youth choirs worldwide.

Guest appearances: 
As a singer-songwriter, I have performed my own music — both as a soloist and with a band — at numerous major medical venues in and around London, including the Home County Folk Festival (2000, 2003, 2009), Centennial Hall with the Gerald Fagan Singers, Aeolian Hall, the Celtic Festival, and others. My band has opened for several major artists, including Juno-Award-winning Steven Fearing and Bill Bourne, Tamarack, and others.

Recording/TV/Film: 
I have one fully-produced CD of original music, where I am accompanied by four Juno Award Winners: Jeff Bird (Cowboy Junkies), Randell Coryell (Prairie Oyster), Jude Vadalla (The Bird Sisters), and Dan Quarrington. My music has been played on CBC radio and other radio stations across Canada. A second CD is in progress.

Highlights of your musical career: 
See above. In addition, I once had the extreme honor of performing a song that I had written for the late, great blues singer (and wonderful person) Jackie Washington at the Home County Festival, accompanied by Jackie Washington himself. What a thrill that was! Otherwise, I consider any time I get to perform music in front of others a highlight.

Favorite choral work(s): 
Wow! This would be a long list. My absolute favorites are: Brahms’ Requiem, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, Prayer of the Children, Baba Yetu, Send in the Clowns, Danny Boy, several works by John Rutter including Magnificat, The Armed Man, Road to Freedom… where do I stop???

A defining moment of favorite KSS onstage experience:
Again, I would have to choose from a long list. One moment I dearly hope for is for KSS to perform the choral piece that I wrote, aided by London composer Brian Ratcliffe, called Song of the Children. That would be Kevin’s Heaven moment.

What are you listening to these days?
Christopher Tin’s Calling All Dawns, The Armed Man, John Rutter’s Requiem, and lots and lots and LOTS of KSS music.

Anything you’d like to add about yourself?
Despite all my accomplishments, I also have battled mental illness, including Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depression) and past addiction. One reason I will forever feel indebted to Karen Schuessler is that she greeted me with open arms when I was at my worst, and has never wavered in her support of me, despite my numerous ups and downs, over the years. I have said before that I literally could dedicate every one of my songs to Karen, and it would still only touch what her support has meant to me. I still say that, and always will.

What London experience do you consider essential for visitors/newcomers? 
That one is easy: a KSS concert. Truly, you will NOT be disappointed!