Conductors

Ruth Wiwchar
Artistic Director, Pembina Trails Voices
PTV Boys, Cantemus and Co-Conductor, PTV Singers

Dr. Janet Brenneman
PTV Boys, PTV Men, Co-Conductor, PTV Singers

Patti-Lynne Pauls
Minnesingers East

Monika Lukomska
Chorale

Dianne Sjoberg
NOVA

Andrea Wicha
Choraliers

Debra Yacheson
Minnesingers West

Ruth Wiwchar

Artistic Director-Pembina Trails Voices
Conductor - PTV Boys, Cantemus, and Co-Conductor, PTV Singers

Ruth has enjoyed a varied career as a music educator in the fields of Elementary Music education and Choral Music. A graduate of Brandon University, Hamelin University (St. Paul, MN) and Memphis State University, Ruth has worked with students in kindergarten through grade twelve, and has been privileged to teach a variety of courses at the University of Manitoba for over twenty-five years. Currently, Ruth is the Consultant for Elementary Music Education in the Pembina Trails School Division as well as the Artistic Director of Pembina Trails Voices. She continues to conduct the award-winning PTV Cantemus, as well as to co-conduct the PTV Boys and the PTV Singers. Ruth enjoys working with the children, youth and adults at Westworth United Church where she is the Director of Music. She also works with the U of M in the summer session where she teaches Basic Orff, Level Three and Choral Techniques, Levels Two and Three in the School of Music’s Orff Certification Program. Ruth was the first recipient of the Morna June Morrow Award for Excellence in Music Education in Manitoba, was awarded the Winnipeg Branch of the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Professional Award and was honoured to be named “Most Outstanding Director” at the Young Prague Festival in 2007. Professionally, Ruth is the Past President of the Manitoba Choral Association, and is active on the United Church’s Winnipeg Presbytery Worship Committee. Her husband, Dan, and their two sons, Stephen and Michael have been most supportive of her activities through the years!

Dr. Janet Brenneman

Co-Conductor - PTV Boys, PTV Men, Co-Conductor, PTV Singers

Janet Brenneman is Assistant Professor of Music at Canadian Mennonite University where she teaches music education, music theory and conducts the CMU Chamber Choir and the CMU Women’s Choir. A native of Ontario, Janet holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from the University of Toronto, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from Michigan State University. Inspired by her mentors and conducting teachers, Doreen Rao, Elmer Iseler, and Charles Smith, Janet has conducted choirs at all levels in Ontario, Michigan, and in Manitoba. Janet received the distinguished Sir Ernest MacMillan Award in Music Education for her graduate work and scholarship in music education, and was awarded the Artist-Teacher Diploma from the Choral Music Experience Institute. Frequently in demand as a choral clinician and guest conductor, Janet is also a conductor at Bethel Mennonite Church in Winnipeg. She has taught at the CME Institute with Doreen Rao and serves as Coordinator for the Conducting Master Class at the Toronto Bach Festival with Helmuth Rilling. Janet enjoys a busy family life with her husband John Balsillie and their two children, Lydia and Naomi.

Monika Lukomska

Conductor - Chorale

Born and raised in Poland, Monika attended the Academy of Music in Katowice, Poland. After she immigrated to Canada she completed both a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Manitoba. Ms. Lukomska also holds an Orff Certificate from the University of Manitoba, and has completed a 5 year certification program in choral conducting from the Institute of Culture in Koszalin, Poland. She has held the position of music specialist at Ecole Garden Grove School since 1993. Her school choirs had been awarded many trophies at the Winnipeg Music Festival including the prestigious Beth Douglas Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding public school choir. Ms Monika Lukomska is the second recipient of the Michael J. Proudffot Trophy for Choral Excellence given yearly to a conductor who most demonstrates passion for choral music, a drive to produce excellence in the choirs with which they work, and a history of performance in the Winnipeg Music Festival. Ms Lukomska is an active member of the Sokol Polish Folk Ensemble.

Patti-Lynne Pauls

Conductor - Minnesingers East

Along with formal training in violin and piano, Patti-Lynne discovered and nurtured her passion for singing while growing up in Saskatchewan. In addition to numerous junior accolades, in her graduating year she claimed the coveted Rose Bowl and Senior Festival Trophy. Upon graduating from Briercrest Bible College, she moved eastward to further her studies at the Brandon University School of Music (B.Ed. & B.Mus. - Silver Medallist). For the past ten years, she has been a music specialist in Winnipeg, during which time she has earned her Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Education at the University of Manitoba. More recently, Patti-Lynne founded a junior high choral program at George Waters Middle School, earning an invitation to sing at the WMF’s Choral Concert of Excellence in the program’s second year. In addition to teaching music, she has performed in the Manitoba Opera Chorus, and has served as soprano section leader and as a regular soloist at Grace Bible Church. When not pursuing her passion for music, Patti-Lynne loves to spend time with her husband Bruce and their daughter Valerie.

Dianne Sjoberg

Conductor - NOVA

Dianne was raised in Minnedosa, Manitoba where she was very fortunate to be able to take piano and cello lessons, play trumpet in the town band and to sing in her Mom's choir. After teaching physical education for a number of years, she had the opportunity to spend a Saturday at an Orff workshop directed by Morna-June Morrow, Marcelline Moody and Ruth Wiwchar. She was hooked and has been teaching in some sort of musical capacity ever since. Her first experience in conducting a choir was the Cherub choir, four to seven year olds, at her church. She still enjoys conducting a boys' and a girls choir at Pacific Junction School, where she continues to teach music. Dianne and her very supportive husband Dave have three grown children, Kate, Eric and Josh … who are gradually moving out of the house!

Andrea Wicha

Conductor – Choraliers

Educated in Winnipeg schools, Andrea graduated from Brandon University with the Gold Medal and since graduation has not only taught in the public system, but has instructed violin, piano, voice and theory privately. She also has her Orff Specialist certificate from the University of Manitoba. Andrea has been the music specialist at Ecole Dieppe School, a K-6 French Immersion School in Pembina Trails for many years, where her choirs have won numerous awards, including the Sir Hugh Roberton Trophy at the Winnipeg Music Festival. The successful PTV - NOVA program was introduced by Andrea in 2005 and prior to that, in the fall of 2000, she began the Minnesinger program for the former Assiniboine South Youth Choir. Andrea and her husband Werner have two wonderful boys, Benjamin and Daniel.

Debra Yacheson

Conductor - Minnesingers West

Debra has been teaching music and conducting children's choirs for the past 15 years in Winnipeg. She started her career in the St. James Assiniboine School Division and for the past 6 years has been teaching music and choral in the Pembina Trails School Division. Debra is currently the music and choral specialist at Henry G. Izatt middle school in Pembina Trails. Debra's choirs have enjoyed many successes, some of which include various trophies in the Winnipeg Music Festival, a Provincial Scholarship award, and a recommendation to the Choral Competition of the Provincial Music Finals. Debra is in demand as a choral clinician and guest conductor throughout Manitoba. Debra is passionate about teaching music to children, and is also very passionate about spending time with her husband Bart, and daughters Grace and Ellen.