John E. Anderson
Archdeacon
John became a priest in the Diocese of Toronto on April 25, 2010, while serving as an Associate Priest at Christ Church, Stouffville. John’s first incumbency was at the Church of the Ascension in Port Perry, where he successfully rebooted this small-town church into a thriving parish. In
September 2017, John came to St. James’, and it has been exciting for him to return to a larger church in a downtown setting where mission and outreach is a vital ministry. Throughout his own ministry, John has become fascinated by congregational development and helping parishes continue to thrive and live out the gospel.
Prior to ministry, John practised law for nearly sixteen years, mostly in the City of Barrie, where he was a partner in the law firm Stewart, Esten. John’s practice was largely in employment law and civil litigation. John obtained his B.A. from McMaster University in 1986, his law degree from Queen’s University in 1990, and he completed his Master’s in Divinity from Wycliffe College in 2008.
An important part of John’s ministry is serving the wider Diocese. He has been on a number of committees, such as the Canons & Constitution Committee, the Governance Working Group, and the Diocesan Response Team. John currently is appointed to the role of Archdeacon consisting of the deaneries of Durham-Northumberland, Oshawa and Peterborough.
John and his wife Lisa have two wonderful children, twins Gareth and Maggie, who are amazing musicians and singers. John takes no direct credit for this, except for having music on in the house a lot when they were small! John and Lisa love to garden, hike, read, and there is always a dog hanging around their house!
rector@stjamesorillia.com
Rev Carol Hardie
Honorary Associate
Jeff Campbell
Director of Music & Organist
Jeff’s musical journey began at the age of 4 when he began to study the piano with Nelles Davie of Barrie (who formed, along with his parents & siblings, the once popular “Davies of Canada” musical tour group). Jeff’s pipe organ studies commenced in 1994 at the Orillia Presbyterian Church with Marshall Martin. From 2002-2008 Jeff was the organist at the First Baptist Church in Orillia and from 2008-2017 he was a regular guest organist in over 10 churches in Barrie, Orillia and the Muskokas. Jeff’s tenure as Director of Music & Organist of St. James’ began in February 2018 following the retirement of Albert Greer.
Outside of his musical interests, Jeff owns and operates “The Water Market” in downtown Orillia, and when he can find some rare free time, he enjoys restoring and showing his collection of antique farm tractors as well as his 1926 Ford Model T convertible at events around Simcoe County. Jeff and his family live in nearby countryside of Oro-Medonte Township.
musicstjamesorillia@gmail.com
Alexandra Teske
Soprano
Alexandra has been described as “having wonderful technique, a glorious voice with
underlying warmth, and a connection to the text that is riveting.” Raised in Rosemont, Ontario,
she went on to receive her formal piano training from Gwen Beamish at the University of
Western Ontario, where she earned her BMus (Hons) as a Dean’s List Graduate and BEd. Self-taught, Alexandra obtained First Class Honours with Distinction on her ARCT music history
exam. While studying with mezzo-soprano Catherine Robbin, she achieved First Class Honours
on her ARCT vocal performer’s exam. A frequent top award winner at music festivals, she
placed first in Classical Voice at the OMFA provincial finals.
As a secondary school music teacher, Alexandra directed music theatre productions, concert
choirs, vocal jazz ensembles, and concert bands, leading them to award-winning
performances at music festivals at both the local and national levels. As the classical piano
teacher of her two talented children, accolades have included grants and highest honours
at local music festivals and top three finishes at the OMFA provincial music competition. In
addition to teaching, she continues working as a guest soloist, recitalist, vocal clinician, and
ensemble singer throughout Ontario. Alexandra enjoyed a full circle moment as an
adjudicator for the Rose Bowl competition at the Barrie Kiwanis Music Festival, where she was
once the recipient of this award as a pianist and vocal finalist.
She has been a featured soloist and chorister with The Cellar Singers, most notably under the
baton of Albert Greer, with whom she studied privately. She was a soloist in the choir’s
performance of Vivaldi’s Gloria. Alexandra has also been a guest soloist in the St. John’s
Concert Series, Alliston, the St. James’ Concert Series, Orillia, and with the Muskoka Men of
Song, Orillia Concert Band, Orillia Silver Band, and Orillia Vocal Ensemble. She was most
recently a soloist in Bach’s Magnificat with Whispering River Orchestra and Chorus, Parry
Sound. Alexandra was a founding member of the vocal consort, Quire. She is proud to be a
soloist and section lead at St. James’ Anglican Church, Orillia.
Alexandra performed her debut solo recital with internationally renowned pianist Kyung-A Lee.
Following this, she and pianist Emily Morrison captivated a sold-out audience with a recital at
Windrush Estate Winery, Hockley Valley. Alexandra returned to Château Windrush for another
sold-out performance this time as a trio with pianist Doreen Uren Simmons and mezzo-soprano
Lillian Brooks. Under the direction of choirmaster Mark Vuorinen and tenor Benjamin Butterfield,
she was an emerging artist in The Elora Singers’ 2024 Vocal Academy. Alexandra is one of six
singers to be accepted into The Art of Lied and Mélodie Master Course, led by bass baritone
Daniel Lichti and pianist Laetitia Bougnol, this summer in Kitchener. She is delighted to continue
her studies with Leslie Fagan and Catherine Robbin.
Christina Bosco
Alto Section Lead
Christina Bosco is a well-known, and sought after, classical and contemporary Vocal soloist, specializing in Sacred, Secular, Jazz and Blues music, in the Orillia and surrounding area. She graduated from the Vocal program at The University of Western Ontario with an honours degree in Music Education, specializing in both Vocal and Instrumental music.
She is the Arts Department Curriculum Leader and Music director at Twin Lakes Secondary School in Orillia since 2003 where she conducts the schools' choir and jazz band. During her years at Twin Lakes she has music directed many stage productions such as Footloose, Thunder Glee, The Wiz, Thunder Live, Legally Blonde, Thunder Rock, Mamma Mia, and Thunder Years.
Outside of her teaching career, Christina has performed in and been the Music Director for many Mariposa Arts Theatre productions in the past 25 years.
Along with her performing, teaching, and conducting career, Christina is the proud mother of two beautiful children and is a founding member of a cappella consort choir entitled “Quire”.
She is delighted to be a part of the Worship team here at St James whom she considers as family.
Shannon Walker
Office Manager
