Anita Power Taylor came into the world singing, which was her way to “blend” into a very musical family. Her mother was an accomplished pianist and vocalist, and in the “silent picture” days, her aunts provided the piano accompaniment in local theatres. Following the lead of these talented women, Anita began her musical training at an early age.
In her first Trinity College piano examinations she received the highest mark in Newfoundland. She continued private piano and voice studies for more than ten years under the tutelage of her mentor & friend Sister Katherine Bellamy, RSM at the College of Our Lady of Mercy and later with Sister Celine Veitch, RSM at Holy Heart of Mary. At age 16 she was called upon to substitute as piano instructor at a local primary school.
Throughout her teen and early adult years, Anita continued to broaden her musical horizons in community choral groups, jazz and church choirs. She also took to the stage to sing and dance in musical productions. As a Girl Guide leader she was chosen in 1988 as a provincial representative for the International Camp in Echo Valley. While there she put her talent to work by teaching the Guides to play the “handbells”. In the midst of her many “recreational” musical activities, Anita pursued her academic studies and graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland. For six years she also found time to teach voice and piano to private students.
Anita set out on a new and exciting musical journey when she joined Newfound Sound and Harmony Inc. in the fall of 1990. Years of harmony singing made her a perfect candidate for the baritone section, and before long she became section leader.
From 1994-1997 she served as Assistant Director of Newfound Sound and has been Mainline Director of the chorus since 1998. To expand her “barbershop” knowledge she attended many sessions of HITS and Harmony Homecoming. Over the years her baritone voice has blessed several quartets, including AVALON BLEND, FORTE, AFTERTHOUGHT, and she is currently the Bari of ACCENT, the Area I Champions in 2004 and 2006. She has twice been the recipient (2004 & 2007) of the Don Regan Memorial Award. In Area I this honour goes to the director of the qualifying chorus (i.e. for International Competition) showing the most improvement in score from the previous year’s competition. As director and singer Anita continues to find great joy in ringing those barbershop chords!
Anita has two children. Her daughter Nikki sings tenor with Newfound Sound, and her son Loran shares her enthusiasm of barbershop music – his favorite quartet, GAS HOUSE GANG, is his mother’s first choice as well! Anita, aka Nona to Nikki’s four children, spends her spare time with her “Nonachildren” Meghan, Ethan, Jack and Nicholas.