Joyce Beauchamp
Special to the Tribune
The Tribune has followed young soprano Nicole Glover through several concerts and accomplishments over the past several years, and it is time for an update.
The first big news is that Nicole got married this past June, as she exchanged vows with her now-husband Justin Vandenbogaard, proving that sometimes love stories start in the most unexpected places – their kindergarten classroom, to be exact.
Now performing as Nicole Vandenbogaard, she has come a long way from her early days singing in community choirs. It was in North Bay where she first caught the performance bug, throwing herself into the vibrant arts scene through local choral groups, Dreamcoat Fantasy Theatre, TOROS (Theatre Out Reach On Stage), and performing as a soloist in the North Bay Symphony Orchestra’s Young Performers’ Competition. Eventually, this led her to study Music at the University of Toronto.
In 2019, Nicole’s voice carried her to Nigeria, Africa, where she shared her love of music through workshops with both primary and university students, an experience that broadened her musical horizons while embracing local traditions.
These days, you’ll find Nicole wearing multiple hats as Project Coordinator with the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra, where she’s made quite an impact. She leads an innovative French “ÉVEIL” program that has become a hit. For the last 3 years, this program has reached more than 800+ kindergarten students across the Sudbury and surrounding regions. The program does something special – it uses music to help kids develop their French language skills through rhythm, movement, and sound.
But that’s not all. Nicole’s been busy planting musical seeds throughout Sudbury. She started the “Mini-Music Makers” program at the YMCA under the Sudbury Symphony Music Conservatory’s wing, and she’s currently crafting a new early childhood music program at Place des Arts, working hand in hand with the Carrefour Francophone to bring music to daycares and parents alike. After giving private music and singing lessons in West Nipissing and mentoring theatre groups in North Bay, it’s not surprising that her circle of inspiration is widening.
“Every group I work with – whether it’s special needs students, my vocal studio students, or little ones just starting their musical journey – teaches me something new about how music brings people together,” Nicole reflects. “While I’m pouring my heart into these education programs at the moment, performing will always be my first love.”
This December, Nicole is returning to a stage that feels like home – The Capitol Centre. She’ll be the featured soloist in “It’s Christmastime,” a concert with the North Bay Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Josh Wood. Along with the orchestra’s exceptional musicians, she’ll be singing favourite holiday classics from Handel, Tchaikovsky, and Mozart on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
“Singing with the North Bay Symphony Orchestra feels like coming home,” Nicole shares, her eyes lighting up. “To give back to the community that first showed me the magic of orchestral music – it’s truly an honour.”