ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR

John Wiens

A dynamic conductor hailed for "awe-inspiring" (Winnipeg Free Press) performances, John has cemented his reputation as one of Canada's finest chamber choir conductors. He is the artistic director and co-founder of Polycoro Chamber Choir, and is on the conducting staff with Dead of Winter. After a seven year hiatus, John and his family have returned to Quebec, where he is now based. 

John has appeared on stages across the world, pursuing an innovative path as a conductor, enlightened music programmer, and immersive experience collaborator. Well known for his wide repertoire and risk-taking programming, John's inquisitiveness often results in the programming of new works, often with a high level of difficulty, creating threads of meaning to provoke thought and discussion. His conducting career has ranged from Belgium (University Chorus for L’Université Catholique de Louvain) to Morocco (Ensemble Voca Me) Winnipeg (Polycoro, Dead of Winter) and Elora (St. John’s, Elora).

John aspired to be a musician from an early age.  He studied violin at the age of four, and sang in choirs throughout his childhood. He has degrees in Conducting, Voice, and Violin, having studied privately with Paul van Nevel, (director of theHuelgas Ensemble), Christopher Jackson (SMAM), Andrew Megill (University of Illinois), Konstantin Krechler, and Donna Grescoe.

John is constantly expanding his knowledge of all music ancient and modern. He has conducted the premiers by Andrew Balfour, Norbert Palej, T. Pat Carrabré, Neil Weisenthel, and Isaiah Ceccarelli, and regularly programs repertoire by many of Canada's leading composers including Anna Sokolovic, Mychael Danna, Vivian Fung, Nicolas Gilbert, Jocelyn Morlock, and Oleksa Lozowchuk. 

As an educator John has taught at the Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Sherbrooke, and Montréal Theological College. He loves supporting new talent and enjoys inspiring and offering insight to young musicians as a clinician, adjudicator, and juror.

When not on the podium or in the kitchen, John loves spending time downhill skiing, renaissance fencing, and cheering on the Habs.

EXECUTIVE & CREATIVE DIRECTOR

VOCALISTS

Sara Clefstad, mezzo-soprano

Sara Clefstad holds a Bachelor of Music (Voice) from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Education (Music) from Lakehead University. Her vocal versatility and communicative sensibilities make her a highly sought-after collaborator, having been invited to sing in concerts and music festivals across Canada, Russia, Argentina, Latvia, Estonia, and The United States. Sara has performed under the baton of such greats as Martin Neary (Westminster Abbey), Oscar Escalada (Conservatory of La Plata), Andrey Boreyko (Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra), Tadeusz Biernacki (Royal Winnipeg Ballet), Alexander Mickelthwate (Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra), and Sanna Valvanne (Finland's Tapiola).

Sarah Hall, mezzo-soprano

As a professional choral singer and soloist, Sarah has appeared in venues across the United States and in Canada, England and Italy. She has sung under the batons of such distinguished conductors as Tamara Brooks, Paolo Carignani, Henry Engbrecht, Janet Galvàn, John Harbison, David Hoose, Stephen Mercurio, Donald Nally, Alice Parker, Daniel Pinkham, Donald Teeters, and Constantina Tsolainou, to name a few. She has appeared in opera and concert settings with Canzona and MusikBarock (Winnipeg), Brandon Chamber Players,Festival dei Due Mondi (Spoleto, Italy), Boston Cecelia, The Cantata Singers and Ensemble (Boston), The Bridge Ensemble (Philadelphia), and The Delaware Singers and Orchestra. Recent solo appearances include the world premiere of Ken Nichols’ The River Merchant’s Wife at the Clear Lake Chamber Music Festival and in Bach’s Magnificat with Canzona and MusikBarock.

Sarah received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and obtained her Masters in Music Vocal Pedagogy from New England Conservatory, as well as her Masters in Musicology from New England Conservatory.

Karla Ferguson, mezzo-soprano

Karla Ferguson learned to sing harmony with her family in Saskatchewan and hasn’t stopped since. She studied voice at Brandon University, and received further training and inspiration from various provincial, national, and international youth choirs. Karla is proud to have been a founding member of two choirs, the Canadian Chamber Choir and the unconducted female chamber choir das Femmes in Brandon. After spending three years singing with the Elmer Iseler Singers, Karla is now back in Manitoba where she works for the Winnipeg Folk Festival, sings regularly with the Winnipeg Singers and Canzona, and sometimes moonlights as an accordionist in the roots band, the Dust Poets. She counts among her choral mentors CCC Conductor Emeritus Iwan Edwards, Diane Loomer, Helmut Rilling, and her cousin Duff Warkentin.

Jodie Borle, alto

Jodie Borle is a graduate of the University of Manitoba School of Music where she holds a Bachelor of Music degree. She is a versatile vocalist, easily moving between musical genres, including pop and Jazz. Jodie is a long standing member of the Winnipeg Singers and has worked with Camerata Nova and Renaissance Voices. As an award winning Jazz singer, Jodie has released two albums - and then I did and Snow and she is also part of a Mamas and Papas tribute band known as The Very Groovy Things.

Scott Reimer, tenor

Scott Reimer grew up in a family in which singing together was second nature. Since moving to Winnipeg from the Gretna area, he has enjoyed a wealth of choral experience, having sung with many of Winnipeg's premier choirs, most notably Canzona, The Winnipeg Singers, and Camerata Nova. He has sung as a soloist with the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and has represented Manitoba in the National Youth Choir, as well as Canada in the World Youth Choir. He has also been active as a choral director for many years and currently works as a choral teacher, arranger, composer, and clinician.

Josiah Brubacher, tenor

Josiah has a Bachelor of Music from Canadian Mennonite University, with a concentration in senior years choral education. While at CMU, Josiah was busy with the mixed choirs, the men's chorus, and opera workshops. He also studied voice under the direction of David
Klassen and performed two solo recitals. Since graduating, Josiah has also sung with Winnipeg's professional choirs, the Winnipeg Singers, Camerata Nova, and Canzona. He has also worked with other choirs in Winnipeg, namely the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir and Mennonite Festival Chorus. Josiah has also been involved as a soloist, performing works by Schütz, Handel, and Bach. Over the years, early music has become a real favourite for Josiah. When he is not in rehearsal, Josiah works as a carpenter for a home renovation company.

James Magnus-Johnston, tenor

A versatile ensemble artist and soloist, James has worked for over a decade with the Winnipeg Singers, Camerata Nova, and Antiphony; stage highlights include shows with Rainbow Stage, Shakespeare in the Ruins, and the Little Opera Company. He was a cantor and music scholar with Holy Trinity Anglican Church and has worked as a soloist for First Mennonite Church, All Saints Anglican, and the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir. James is a graduate of the University of Winnipeg’s Theatre program and he studied and taught voice through the Royal Conservatory of Music. During business hours, James is an Instructor at Canadian Mennonite University, where he is the Co-director of the CMU Centre for Resilience, and he’s a Board Director for the Assiniboine Credit Union.

Paul Wiens, baritone

Paul Wiens is a mainstay on the stage in Manitoba, whether singing with Manitoba Opera, Canzona or other local choral organizations. Paul’s past roles with Manitoba Opera include Sargent in La Boheme as well as The Old Gypsy in Il Trovatore. He also appeared as a soloist in the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Opera on the Rooftop concert in 2013.

Other opera roles performed include the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Guglielmo in Così Fan Tutte, and Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief. Paul has been involved with Canzona since 2003, both as a soloist and chorister. Most recently, he portrayed the roles of Peter and Pilate in Canzona’s St. Matthew Passion. Other highlights as a chorister include recording multiple Robert Turner selections for the album entitled “Amoroso Canto”, and performing the Bach Motet’s in 2012 with B’achtet, a Manitoba based octet founded by Paul and John Wiens. Paul works as a Commercial Banker. When he is not performing or working, he enjoys spending time with his family.

Ben Kroeker, baritone

Raised amongst a family and community of musicians, baritone Ben Kroeker has been actively involved as a chorister and soloist across the province. Highlights include performances with Canzona, The University of Manitoba Singers, Exaudi Chamber Choir, and many solo opportunities including a 2019 performance of Handel’s Messiah. He is passionate about choral music, drawn to its luscious harmonies and the collaboration between friends. Currently in his first year of teaching high school choir and vocal jazz, Ben loves to share his joy of choral singing with anyone around him!

Matt Knight, bass-baritone

Matt Knight is an ethnomusicologist and music educator. Over the past two decades, he has sung with Camerata Nova, the Winnipeg Singers, Canzona, Prairie Voices, the University of Manitoba Singers, Antiphony, and the Riel Gentlemen's Choir. In 2019, he completed a Ph.D. at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, writing his dissertation on the vocal polyphony of the Republic of Georgia (Caucasus), where he and his family lived for most of 2015 and 2016. He also completed undergraduate degrees in music education at the University of Manitoba, and has taught at high schools and universities in Winnipeg and Illinois. He serves as one of the facilitators of Peg City FaSoLa, Winnipeg's Sacred Harp shape note singing group, and enjoys playing Balkan & Middle Eastern music and singing folk polyphony of all kinds. Matt deeply values amateur communal music-making as an important ingredient in a fulfilling life, and he loves jamming and recording with his wife and young daughters. After his time in Georgia, he believes that the best singing happens sitting around a table for hours with dear friends, good food, and a few bottles of wine.

Scott Braun, bass-baritone

Scott Braun is a graduate of the University of Manitoba School of Music where he was the winner of the Lawrence Genser Scholarship for top student performance. Since then he has been actively involved in the Winnipeg music scene, appearing with the Winnipeg Singers, CBC’s Hymn Sing, and as a founding member of Canzona, Winnipeg’s premier Baroque vocal ensemble. Known for his love of the Oratorio repertoire, Scott has appeared as soloist with Canzona, Musikbarok, and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra. Scott is also a regular with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, having appeared in their recent productions of The Mikado (Pooh Bah), and HMS Pinafore (Captain Corcoran). He also appeared in their 2014 production of The Gondoliers as Don Alhambra. When not singing, Scott is an active triathlete, and is training for another Ironman Triathlon.

Jereme Wall, bass

Jereme Wall holds a Bachelor of Music (Voice Performance) from Brandon University and a Bachelor of Science (Microbiology and Zoology) from the University of Manitoba. He has recently sung in various professional choirs based out of Winnipeg, including The Winnipeg Singers and Canzona, and currently sings with Polycoro. Jereme has been a proud member of the Canadian Chamber Choir since 2008. Jereme is a professional server and self-proclaimed foodie. He loves to travel and has hiked & biked in countless glorious locales around the globe. Jereme is currently working at pursuing a career in healthcare.

Merina Dobson, soprano

Merina Dobson-Perry is a seasoned singer, and has been part of the Winnipeg choral scene for nearly two decades - performing with most of the city’s top choirs, including Camerata Nova, Canzona, Winnipeg Singers, University of Manitoba Singers and Prairie Voices, to name a few. She has had the opportunity to tour internationally with some of these, performing in venues across Europe and South America. Merina is a versatile singer, and her light, agile voice lends itself well to Early Music. She especially enjoys singing anything coloratura! She holds Bachelor of Music and Bacherlor of Education degrees from the University of Manitoba. She has been the Soprano Soloist at Young United Church for over 12 years, and runs South Winnipeg Studio - a private in-home music instruction studio. Merina is an Orff-certified Early Years Music Specialist, and taught classroom Music in French Immersion prior to starting her family and opening her studio in 2014.