Other Lives - Phil Porter

Other Lives is a continuing series of profiles celebrating the diverse members of our choir. In this edition, we are pleased to feature long-time member Phil Porter.

Section One: In the Choir

While Phil won’t commit to the exact number of years he has been with Nova Voce, he estimates it is somewhere around 16. That impressive milestone places him among our longest-serving singers. Like many in the choir, Phil is highly versatile, seamlessly pivoting between baritone and bass whenever needed.

When asked about his overall involvement, Phil stresses that he is a singer first and an occasional soloist—especially when the choir performs Stan Rogers’ tunes. In fact, he affectionately refers to himself as the choir's “Stand-in Rogers.” Beyond his musical contributions, Phil demonstrates his deep commitment to Nova Voce by serving on the Board of Directors as our all-important Secretary.

Phil shares a classic story about how he originally joined the ensemble:

“I’ve been singing since I was in junior high school. The choir I sang in and directed, the Dartmouth Men’s Choir, was forced to disband due to declining numbers. Prior to that, I had sung in various church and community choirs and musicals for Bill Perrot, who was my high school music teacher. When I heard through friends that Bill was directing Nova Voce, I steeled myself and auditioned. I figured Bill would be deeply embarrassed if a kid from his past, a student he’d given voice lessons to, couldn’t pass the audition!”

When asked why he keeps coming back week after week, Phil echoes a beautiful sentiment shared by many of his peers: “I stay in Nova Voce because I love to sing, and I deeply enjoy the unique sound that can only come from a male, lower-voices choir. Nova Voce truly becomes a second family. It’s like getting together with old friends every time we practice or perform.”

Known for his humorous and often poignant take on life, Phil offers a memorable reflection on his audition day:

“One of my best memories with Nova Voce actually traces back to our trip to Italy, which was planned for the year after I auditioned. I was incredibly nervous because I hadn’t auditioned for anything in at least a decade. As I left the house, my wife, Judy, was highly supportive—mostly because she really wanted to go to Italy. As I walked out the door, she said, ‘Don’t come back if you don’t get in.’ If that isn’t true love, I don’t know what is.”

"A memory that many in the choir likely hold occurred when, on a hot summers day, mid-concert, I passed out and took out the Baritones and Basses with me. We all went down like a stack of dominoes. No one was hurt, just my ego."

Section Two: Outside the Choir

That trademark humor shines through clearly when asking Phil about his life outside the music.

Though he is chronologically 65, Phil notes that he is "about sixteen in his head." When asked about his family, he jokes, “Most of my family won’t admit I’m a relative." However, he proudly speaks of his daughter, three grandchildren, and his lovely and talented wife, Judy—who serves as Nova Voce’s dedicated photographer and graphic designer.

Phil’s life has long been steeped in music. His grandmother on one side of the family was a church organist, and his Nanny from the other side of the family played Trumpet in Yarmouth’s Salvation Army Band. In addition to Nova Voce, his choral resume includes the Jubilate Singers, the Dartmouth Men’s Choir (where he served as both director and accompanist), and various church and school ensembles. Today, he continues to share his talents by leading and accompanying the Kinross Singers at a senior citizens’ complex in Dartmouth.

When asked about his personal talents, Phil modestly deflects, labeling them as “general tomfoolery.” The rest of the choir knows better; Phil possesses a rich bass-baritone voice and is a highly accomplished pianist.

His choice of career beautifully reflects his philosophy of service and problem-solving. Phil has worked within the Nova Scotia health care system since 1977, serving as a paramedic for 29 years before stepping into his current role as the Emergency Preparedness Consultant for IWK Health.

His commitment to helping others also extends to creative problem-solving. Phil shares an excellent illustration from his musical past:

“I recorded two gospel music albums in my forties, playing the piano and writing all the songs for both. When it came to recording, I could hear all the instrumental parts perfectly in my head, but I lacked the ability to write them all down for the session players. To solve the dilemma, I walked into the studio one morning and literally played air guitar to a professional guitarist to demonstrate the exact sound and riffs I wanted. It worked perfectly. He interpreted exactly what I meant, translated it onto his instrument, and greatly improved the album.”

Looking ahead, Phil has two closely related milestones on his horizon.

“I’m on the countdown to retirement, which is coming a little later than some because I chose an early career path that didn't offer a pension for many years. Once I retire, I’m hoping to sleep in a little more, and I am already compiling a list of creative excuses to avoid completing Judy’s ‘honey-do’ list. After all, emergency preparedness is what I do.”

Finally, when asked how those who know him best would describe him in a sentence or two, Phil couldn't resist a bit of self-deprecation: “If only he would use his talents for good instead of evil.”

Rest assured, Phil—to all of us at Nova Voce, you use your talents incredibly well.

Phil leaves us with two mottos that perfectly summarize what matters most to him. Professionally, his workplace guiding principle is simple: “People before paper.” In his personal life, he points to the Porter family motto: “Et fide et virtute”—Both fidelity and virtue. Though he cracks that he doesn't always measure up to the virtue part, his decades of service, song, and community leadership suggest otherwise.

Thank you, Phil, for your enduring voice, dedication, and humor!