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ConductorsRuth Wiwchar Dr. Janet Brenneman Stephanie Poulin Monika Lukomska Dianne Sjoberg Andrea Wicha Debra Yacheson Artistic Director-Pembina Trails Voices
Conductor – PTV Men, Co-Conductor, PTV Boys and PTV Singers
Conductor – NOVA
Conductor - Chorale
Conductor - Boys TC
Conductor – Choraliers
Conductor - Minnesingers
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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 thirty years. Ruth is the Artistic Director of Pembina Trails Voices and conducts the award-winning PTV Cantemus, as well as co-conducts 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 University of Manitoba in the summer session where she teaches Basic Orff Level Three, and Choral Technique, Level Three, with 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. In May of 2010, Ruth was awarded the Carl Orff Canada “Special Certificate of Distinction” in appreciation of her work in the field of choral music education, and was the recipient of the Manitoba Foundation of the Arts “Above and Beyond Award for the Arts”. Professionally, Ruth is the Past President of the Manitoba Choral Association, has served on provincial and national boards of Carl Orff Canada, was a member of the national committee of the United Church of Canada that developed the hymnal “Voices United”, and has served on the United Church’s Winnipeg Presbytery Worship Committee. She is appreciative of the support given by her husband, Dan, and their two sons, Stephen (Lisa) and Michael (Mara). She is delighted to be “gramma” to Reece and Jackson!
Janet Brenneman is Assistant Professor of Music at Canadian Mennonite University where she teaches music education, music theory and conducts the CMU 
Stephanie Poulin was born and raised in Thompson, Manitoba where she was fortunate enough to learn piano, clarinet and tuba from wonderful people who later inspired her to teach. Following high school graduation and a yearlong student exchange in Germany, Stephanie attended the University Of Manitoba Faculty Of Music. During her post-secondary education, Stephanie discovered her passion for singing and conducting. She received her Bachelor of Music Education with an Elementary Music major and a Choral minor and has her Level II Orff Certification. Stephanie currently volunteers as a member of the Manitoba Orff Chapter Executive and will be filling the position as Vice-President for the 2011-2013 term. She is the music specialist at Ryerson Elementary School. Stephanie loves being a part of the energy and passion that children bring to making music.
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.
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 enjoys conducting a boys' and a girls' choir at Pacific Junction School and is enjoying her work as music specialist at Chapman School. Dianne and her very supportive husband Dave have three grown children, Kate, Eric and Josh. 
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 three wonderful childred, Benjamin, Daniel and Alexandria. 
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.
