A Traditional Christmas Concert
Program & Credits
LITTLEOPERA.CA
Soloists
Master of Ceremonies
Winnipeg based Rob Herriot has directed productions across North America including a
recent production of The Elixir of Love for Livermore Valley Opera in the San Francisco bay area.
Local productions include Cosi Fan Tutte, La Cenerentola, Madama Butterfly, Don Pasquale, Rigoletto,
La Boheme and Lucia di Lammermoor for Manitoba Opera as well as Beauty and the Beast,
Cinderella and Wizard of Oz for Rainbow Stage. Little Opera Company productions include The
Magic Flute: Trials of Tamino and Pamina, Three Decembers and online productions of I Need Opera
and Dance and All Those Arias.
Rob Herriot, Master of Ceremonies
Carolyn Boyes, Director,
Sisler High School Choir
Carolyn Boyes began her tenure with the WBC in 1998. Since that time, WBC ensembles
have performed regularly with Winnipeg’s finest professional arts organizations and have
been the recipients of numerous accolades and awards at local festivals.
Carolyn’s love for choral music was developed and nurtured from childhood through
singing in school and church choirs. It continues to sustain and motivate her in her work
with the WBC, her career as a high school Choral Music teacher and in her role as Children’s
Chorus Director with Manitoba Opera. Carolyn has taught public school Kindergarten
through grade 12 Music and Choir in both French and English and was instructor of Choral
Techniques with the University of Manitoba’s Carl Orff Certification Program for many years.
She loves opportunities to guest conduct and adjudicate.
In 2009 and 2020, Carolyn was awarded the Winnipeg Music Festival’s Michael Proudfoot
Trophy “in recognition of a conductor exemplifying a passion for excellence in choral work”.
She has been recognized by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Opera, and the
University of Manitoba for her contributions to music education in the province. Carolyn
holds a Master of Music (Choral Conducting) from the University of Manitoba.
Media / Public Relations
Lead Marketing and Promotional Photography:
Heather Milne
Marketing and Webmaster :
Don Larsen
Program / Original Poster Design:
Stephen C. Boyd
Spencer Duncanson, Artistic Director,
Little Opera Company
The Holiday Season has various connotations for each of us. For some it is a time when
families and friends come together to exchange presents and perhaps, spend quality time with
each other. For others it is a time to celebrate Chanukah or Quanza. Whatever our experience,
many of us find our thoughts going to the memory of days of old and loved ones present and
passed. If we’ll let ourselves, we might even have to admit there is something very magical about
it.
Christmas has always been a very special time of the year for me. Not just because of the
opportunity to mingle with family and friends, but I find that in the chaos that often
accompanies everyday activates there emerges a glimmer of peace, I get to sit down and
contemplate my life and the beauty of it all. I am energized as I throw off the weight of fretting
about the increasing crime rate the ever-escalating cost of living, the dreadful divisiveness of
xenophobia or the obsession humankinds have for violence. My thoughts go back to times when
my parents, siblings and I would head to church for the Christmas Eve service to celebrate the
birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace and my worries would disappear as we sang carols, listened to
the sermon and basked in the joy of being together. It is a tradition I seek to replicate each year,
and each year wish it would last forever.
Whatever the emotional state that Christmas brings for you, I wish you the magic and peace
of the season and a brilliant year ahead.
Thank you for sharing this time with The Little Opera Company.
Sincerely,
Spencer Duncanson
Artistic Director
Award-winning composer and conductor Neil Weisensel is one of the most frequently-
performed and prolific opera composers in Canada. His eight operas, including four early works
with librettist/director Michael Cavanagh, have seen over 200 performances across Canada and
the US, including Vancouver Opera’s 2014 production of Stickboy. In 2017 Winnipeg’s Little Opera
Company produced his 1997 opera Merry Christmas Stephen Leacock. Neil’s most recent opera,
Li Keur, for which he composed the music and also conducted, was presented to sold out
audiences and rave reviews by Manitoba Opera and the WSO. Neil is an Associate Professor at
Canadian Mennonite University where also serves as Chair of the Music Department. He holds
music degrees from UBC (Composition) and from the University of Manitoba (Piano
Performance).
Neil Weisensel, Conductor / Composer
Rachel Landrecht, Soprano
Ashley Schneberger, Mezzo Soprano
Sloan Smith, Soprano
Jyoti Jhass, Tenor
Gust soloist, Rachel Landrecht is a sacred singer and Co-Director of the World Village
Gospel Choir.
She and husband Neil Weisensel have given keynote musical presentations for political
figures like Bill Clinton and Justin Trudeau, Nobel laureate Al Gore, and authors such as Wayne
Dyer and John Kabbat-Zinn.
During the recovery process from a life-altering brain injury, the Little Opera Company was
instrumental in her return to the stage, as she premiered the role of Time in their 2017
production of Merry Christmas Stephen Leacock. “The Little Opera Company holds such a
special place in my heart. Their nurturing of young talent is a gift to the city. The right and
needed support at a key moment or pivotal crossroads of your life, that’s Divine Grace in action.”
Ashley Schneberger, originally from Cochrane, Alberta, is a dynamic mezzo-soprano with a
passion for performance and an insatiable curiosity for musical growth. She recently earned her
Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Manitoba, studying under Tracy
Dahl, and completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Lethbridge in 2020 under the
guidance of Dr. Janet Youngdahl.
Ashley has brought her enthusiasm and artistry to a variety of roles, including Allecto in
Monsters Made (Good Mess Opera Theatre), Alto House in Rocking Horse Winner (Manitoba
Underground Opera), Minskwoman in Flight (NUOVA Vocal Arts), Augusta Tabor in The Ballad of
Baby Doe, Madame de la Haltière in Cendrillon, and Ottone in L’incoronazione di Poppea
(University of Manitoba). Her international experience includes performances in the United
States, where she appeared as Arnalta in L’incoronazione di Poppea and covered Dorabella in
Così fan tutte (Chicago Summer Opera).
In 2023, Ashley received the prestigious Rose Bowl Trophy at the Winnipeg Music Festival,
along with the George H. Price Memorial Scholarship and the Herbert & Audrey Belyea Trophy.
She was a winner of the University of Manitoba’s Concerto Competition, performing Berlioz’s Les
nuits d’été with the university’s Symphony Orchestra. Ashley made her debut as Alto Soloist in
Handel’s Messiah with Covenant CRC in 2023 and was a finalist in the 2021 National CFMTA Voice
Competition, where she earned the “Best Musical Diversity” prize for her performance of Métis
composer Ian Cusson’s Where There’s a Wall.
A passionate advocate for the arts, Ashley currently serves as Executive Assistant to the
General Director and CEO at Manitoba Opera. This December, she will perform Handel’s Messiah
with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Sloan Smith is a 20-year-old soprano hailing from the small town of Raymond, Alberta. She
has flourished under the mentorship of Tracy Dahl as she starts her third year of her Bachelor of
Music in Vocal Performance and has come to love Winnipeg as a second home. This season,
Sloan is honoured to join the Little Opera Company’s Traditional Christmas Concert, a cherished
opportunity to share her talents with Manitoba’s vibrant music community and collaborate with
so many talented artists and musicians.
Most recently, Sloan had the incredible opportunity to take to the stage as a Spirit in The
Magic Flute, performing alongside the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra. Under the
direction of Tracy Dahl and the baton of Monica Chen, this production highlighted her fun-loving
and energetic stage presence. Previously, Sloan embodied the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni
scenes with the UofM Opera Theatre program. She has also had the privilege of working with the
Cardston Carriage House Theatre in Alberta in their 2022 and 2023 summer seasons to portray
such timeless musical theatre roles as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Amy in Little Women.
Sloan’s passion for music drives her commitment to excellence, reflected in her many accolades,
including winning the 2024 Tudor Bowl at the Winnipeg Music Festival.
Dedicated to her vocal journey, Sloan continues to refine her technique and explore vast
repertoire, inspired by her connection to storytelling through music. With a bright future ahead,
she endeavours to use her voice and artistic vision to leave a lasting impression upon audiences
at home and abroad.
Jyoti Jhass is a relative newcomer to the Winnipeg Music scene and an alumnus of the
Winnipeg Boys' Choir where he received many years of vocal training and performance
opportunities. As a scholarship winner of The Little Opera Company, he has demonstrated a
musicality and quality of voice that will touch the hearts of many listeners to come.
A Traditional Christmas Concert with The Little Opera Company and Friends’ marks his
second appearance with the company.
Directors
Christopher Dunn, Bass Baritone
Christopher Dunn is a singer, improviser, actor, and producer from St. John’s,
Newfoundland and Labrador. He is a recipient of the Memorial University Performance and
Communications Media Diploma. He currently studies under Monica Huisman completing a
vocal performance undergrad from the University of Manitoba.
His most recent credits include Hermann / Schlemil in "The Tales Of Hoffman" (Manitoba
Underground Opera); Sarastro in "The Magic Flute"; Father/Prophet in "Dark Sisters" (University
Of Manitoba Chamber Opera Ensemble); and Monsieur Reyer in “Phantom of the Opera” (Opera
on the Avalon, 2019).
He also performs in Winnipeg with the musical improv troupe “Mundane Problems". They
recently featured at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and The Winnipeg International Jazz Festival.
Lisa Rumpel, Pianist
Praised for her "fierce artistry” and “poetic” pianism, “powerhouse” Winnipeg-based pianist
and coach Lisa Rumpel is an active member of Manitoba’s arts community. Lisa’s vibrant and
varied freelance career has included performances with Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective, The
Little Opera Company, Manitoba Underground Opera, Manitoba Opera, Women’s Musical Club of
Winnipeg, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, and community concert organizations such as
Agassiz Chamber Music Festival, Brandon Chamber Players, Edmonton Recital Society, Living
Room Live, Music & Mavens, Music at the Millennium, Nuit Blanche, Red Haus Live, Skywalk
Concert Series, the Winnipeg Boys’ Choir, and Virtuosi Concerts. She has had the opportunity to
work and perform with a multitude of exceptional artists including Tracy Dahl, Monica Huisman,
Lara Ciekiewicz, James McLennan, Lizzy Hoyt, and Kerson Leong. Alongside her demanding
performing schedule, Lisa is General Manager of Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective, teaches
piano at the Winnipeg Conservatory of Music, and sits on the board of The Little Opera
Company.
Amir Bissen Violinist
Amir Bissen is a virtuoso violinist known for his captivating performances and profound
musicality. His prodigious talent became evident early on, resulting in him winning numerous
competitions and getting opportunities to perform in concerts. At 12, he received a scholarship
to study at the prestigious Purcell School of Music in the UK. While studying there, Amir received
mentorship from world-class professors, allowing him to develop his unique style of playing.
One of the highlights of Amir's career was when he had the opportunity to play on a Guarneri
del Gesu violin, which is reputed to have been played by the legendary Paganini himself.
Amir holds a Bachelor's degree from one of the leading institutions in the world, the Royal
College of Music in London, UK. He has performed in recitals and concert performances at many
top venues internationally. In addition to performing, Amir teaches and mentors young
musicians. His teaching efforts have inspired the next generation of talented musicians.
Dietrich Bartel, Organist
Dietrich Bartel received his undergraduate degree at the University of British Columbia in
1975, where he majored in Music History and Organ Performance, studying with Hugh J. McLean.
He completed his PhD at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg, Germany, in 1982. While in
Freiburg, he also held the post of Kantor at the Lutherkirche.
In 1985 he moved to Winnipeg to take up a teaching position at what is now Canadian
Mennonite University, continuing his research and writing on German Baroque music theory and
practice with publications such as his Musica Poetica (University of Nebraska Press, 1997) and
more recently Andreas Werckmeister’s Musicalische Paradoxal-Discourse: A Well-Tempered
Universe (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing, 2017).
In 1996 Dr. Bartel was appointed Minister of Music at All Saints Anglican Church in
Winnipeg. With his extensive background and experience in German Baroque practice and
Lutheran worship experience, he brought a rich breadth and depth to the worship music at All
Saints, including performances of orchestrated masses, oratorios, and Bach cantatas. The All
Saints Choir continues to enjoy his book of descants, his settings of the Psalms for the lectionary,
and his numerous anthems.
Sarah Carswell, Violist
Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Sarah moved to Winnipeg in 2004 for school,
attending the University of Manitoba. She graduated in 2015 and now resides in Winnipeg with
her husband, Michael. She is currently a session musician, performing with various groups
around Winnipeg and surrounding areas.
Instrumentalists
Blair Burns, Violoncello
Blair Burns began studying cello at age 12 through the Regina Conservatory under
Cameron Lowe. He received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Manitoba where he
studied under Bryan Epperson. Blair was principal cellist of the Orchestral Training Programme
at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto and received his Master of Music from McGill University,
studying under Antonio Lysy. Blair studied period cello with Tafelmusik’s Christina Mahler and
the AIMS Festival orchestra in Grax, Austria. Upon completion of AIMS, Blair remained in Europe
for eleven years. During this time he was a member of the LOH-Orchester Sondershausen and
Stadtisches Orchester Bremerhaven, as well as playing as a guest with several orchestras in
Germany.
Jordie Ouellet, Trumpet
I was raised in a household where music was prominent, so naturally, I was thrown into it
the second I was able to hold an instrument up. My father had played bass in funk bands his
whole life, his influence of funk music surrounded me with Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire,
and Red Hot Chili Peppers. When my family moved to Winnipeg, I took up the trumpet in school
and still find myself playing it 10 years later.
Cameron Denby, Percussion
Since returning to Winnipeg from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Cameron
Denby has been working independently to create collaborative performances with artists in his
community. In 2019, Cameron created the Fresh Blood Project, an ongoing initiative to support
collaborations between emerging composers and percussionists. The project was opened with a
concert in which 8 composers had pieces premiered by 9 performers. In the summer of 2020,
Cameron recorded his debut EP, Music for Vibraphone. This four-piece EP featured music
composed by himself, Stephon Davis, Kiara Nathaniel, and Steve Denby, with 100% of proceeds
being donated to Black Lives Matter. As a performer, Cameron has traveled around Canada, to
the United States, Cuba, Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ukraine, and Israel.
Choral Groups
École Secondaire Sisler High School Choir
Director Carolyn Boyes
Ecole Secondaire Sisler's dynamic choral program comprises six ensembles. Students from
Grades 9-12 have the opportunity to develop singing and performing skills in both auditioned
(Chamber Chorus and Vocal Jazz) and un-auditioned choirs (Grade Nine and Concert Choirs). As
much as possible, singers participate in local festivals and perform at various school and
community events.
The school's Chamber and SopAlto Choirs study challenging repertoire from a wide variety
of genres. They each regularly earn invitations to perform at MusicFest Canada. At the past two
Winnipeg Music Festivals, the SopAlto Choir has been awarded trophies for excellence.
The singers are always proud to represent their school and community and are thrilled to
be sharing the stage with The Little Opera Company tonight.
Winnipeg Boys Choir - Continuo
Director Spencer Duncanson
The Winnipeg Boys' Choir, founded in 1925, is celebrating a Century of Song in the 2024-
25 season. Now comprising two treble choruses (Brio and Vivo) and a changed voice chorus
(Continuo), the choir is led by Artistic Director Carolyn Boyes with Albert Bergen (trebles) and
Spencer Duncanson (changed voices), and collaborative pianists Megan Dufrat, Deena Greer and
Lisa Rumpel. The choir is delighted in this 100th season to be collaborating with other fine
musical institutions in this city, and to be reconnecting with alumni from eight decades as we
continue to bring musical excellence and the joy of song to audiences and singers alike.
Nuovoce - Directors Sarah Sommer &
Justin Odwak
NUOVOCE Chamber Choir is one of Manitoba’s newest choral ensembles. Founded in the
Spring of 2019 by husband and wife duo, Justin Odwak and Sarah Sommer, NUOVOCE aims to
deliver creative & contemporary choral programming of a high calibre to local audiences while
providing opportunities for young singers to continue their careers as choristers after high
school.
NUOVOCE is proud to be celebrating its fifth anniversary during the 2023-2024 season.
NUOVOCE is a fusion of the Italian words: nuovo, meaning ‘new’, and voce, meaning ‘voice’.
Conductor
Justin Odwak, Artistic Director,
Nuovoce
Sarah Sommer, Artistic Director,
Nuovoce
Sarah Sommer is an active choral conductor, vocalist and music educator in Winnipeg. She
completed her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education in June 2017 from the University of
Manitoba, and most recently completed a Post Baccalaureate diploma in vocal performance
under the tutelage of Tracy Dahl (June 2022). Sarah currently teaches music and drama at
Technical-Vocational High School, as well as music lessons from her private studio. In addition to
her role as co-founder and co-artistic director of NUOVOCE Chamber Choir, Sarah is also co-
artistic director of the Chai Folk Ensemble. She has appeared as choir member and soloist with
many local ensembles, including Canzona, Dead of Winter (Camerata Nova), the Winnipeg
Singers, and the Shaarey Zedek Quartet. Sarah’s other directing credits, past and present,
include: the Etz Chayim Synagogue Choir, Kolot Community Voices , WSD and LRSD divisional
choirs, and assisting with the Winnipeg Girls’ Choir.
Sarah has a passion for world music and language-learning, and has experience teaching in
Spanish, Hebrew and French. Sarah also enjoys dabbling in choral-arranging, both for NUOVOCE
and other ensembles.
Justin Odwak is an in-demand choral conductor, tenor and vocal instructor. Justin serves as
co-artistic director and co-founder of NUOVOCE Chamber Choir, founded in 2019.
He currently teaches choir, vocal jazz, and musical theatre at Dakota Collegiate, and directs
the Louis Riel Divisional Treble Choir and Divisional Senior Concert Choir. Justin is past director
of the Winnipeg Jewish Chorus and the Shaarey Zedek Quartet at Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
the St. James-Assiniboia Divisional Junior Concert Choir and Divisional Senior Concert Choir. He
has also directed the Louis Riel School Division Senior Choir (Choral Celebration, 2019) Rainbow
Harmony Project, Kolot Choir, and Interlake Youth Choir. He is in demand as a choral clinician
and adjudicator, and also maintains a studio of private voice students.
Directors
Soloists
Winnipeg based Rob Herriot has directed
productions across North America including a
recent production of The Elixir of Love for
Livermore Valley Opera in the San Francisco bay
area. Local productions include Cosi Fan Tutte, La
Cenerentola, Madama Butterfly, Don Pasquale,
Rigoletto, La Boheme and Lucia di Lammermoor for
Manitoba Opera as well as Beauty and the Beast,
Cinderella and Wizard of Oz for Rainbow Stage.
Little Opera Company productions include The
Magic Flute: Trials of Tamino and Pamina, Three
Decembers and online productions of I Need Opera
and Dance and All Those Arias.
Lisa Rumpel, Pianist
Praised for her "fierce artistry” and “poetic”
pianism, “powerhouse” Winnipeg-based pianist and
coach Lisa Rumpel is an active member of
Manitoba’s arts community. Lisa’s vibrant and
varied freelance career has included performances
with Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective, The Little
Opera Company, Manitoba Underground Opera,
Manitoba Opera, Women’s Musical Club of
Winnipeg, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, and
community concert organizations such as Agassiz
Chamber Music Festival, Brandon Chamber Players,
Edmonton Recital Society, Living Room Live, Music
& Mavens, Music at the Millennium, Nuit Blanche,
Red Haus Live, Skywalk Concert Series, the
Winnipeg Boys’ Choir, and Virtuosi Concerts. She
has had the opportunity to work and perform with
a multitude of exceptional artists including Tracy
Dahl, Monica Huisman, Lara Ciekiewicz, James
McLennan, Lizzy Hoyt, and Kerson Leong. Alongside
her demanding performing schedule, Lisa is
General Manager of Flipside Opera & Art Song
Collective, teaches piano at the Winnipeg
Conservatory of Music, and sits on the board of The
Little Opera Company.
Carolyn Boyes began her tenure with the WBC
in 1998. Since that time, WBC ensembles have
performed regularly with Winnipeg’s finest
professional arts organizations and have been
the recipients of numerous accolades and awards
at local festivals.
Carolyn’s love for choral music was developed
and nurtured from childhood through singing in
school and church choirs. It continues to sustain
and motivate her in her work with the WBC, her
career as a high school Choral Music teacher and
in her role as Children’s Chorus Director with
Manitoba Opera. Carolyn has taught public
school Kindergarten through grade 12 Music and
Choir in both French and English and was
instructor of Choral Techniques with the
University of Manitoba’s Carl Orff Certification
Program for many years. She loves opportunities
to guest conduct and adjudicate.
In 2009 and 2020, Carolyn was awarded the
Winnipeg Music Festival’s Michael Proudfoot
Trophy “in recognition of a conductor
exemplifying a passion for excellence in choral
work”. She has been recognized by the Winnipeg
Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Opera, and the
University of Manitoba for her contributions to
music education in the province. Carolyn holds a
Master of Music (Choral Conducting) from the
University of Manitoba.
Carolyn Boyes, Director,
Sisler High School Choir
Rob Herriot, Master of Ceremonies
Media / Public
Relations
Lead Marketing and Promotional
Photography:
Heather Milne
Marketing and Webmaster :
Don Larsen
Program / Original Poster Design:
Stephen C. Boyd
A Traditional Christmas Concert
Program & Credits
The Holiday Season has various connotations
for each of us. For some it is a time when families
and friends come together to exchange presents
and perhaps, spend quality time with each other.
For others it is a time to celebrate Chanukah or
Quanza. Whatever our experience, many of us find
our thoughts going to the memory of days of old
and loved ones present and passed. If we’ll let
ourselves, we might even have to admit there is
something very magical about it.
Christmas has always been a very special time
of the year for me. Not just because of the
opportunity to mingle with family and friends, but I
find that in the chaos that often accompanies
everyday activates there emerges a glimmer of
peace, I get to sit down and contemplate my life and
the beauty of it all. I am energized as I throw off
the weight of fretting about the increasing crime
rate the ever-escalating cost of living, the dreadful
divisiveness of xenophobia or the obsession
humankinds have for violence. My thoughts go back
to times when my parents, siblings and I would
head to church for the Christmas Eve service to
celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace and
my worries would disappear as we sang carols,
listened to the sermon and basked in the joy of
being together. It is a tradition I seek to replicate
each year, and each year wish it would last forever.
Whatever the emotional state that Christmas
brings for you, I wish you the magic and peace of
the season and a brilliant year ahead.
Thank you for sharing this time with The Little
Opera Company.
Sincerely,
Spencer Duncanson
Artistic Director
Rachel Landrecht, Soprano
Ashley Schneberger, Mezzo Soprano
Sloan Smith, Soprano
Jyoti Jhass, Tenor
Gust soloist, Rachel Landrecht is a sacred
singer and Co-Director of the World Village Gospel
Choir.
She and husband Neil Weisensel have given
keynote musical presentations for political figures
like Bill Clinton and Justin Trudeau, Nobel laureate Al
Gore, and authors such as Wayne Dyer and John
Kabbat-Zinn.
During the recovery process from a life-altering
brain injury, the Little Opera Company was
instrumental in her return to the stage, as she
premiered the role of Time in their 2017 production
of Merry Christmas Stephen Leacock. “The Little
Opera Company holds such a special place in my
heart. Their nurturing of young talent is a gift to the
city. The right and needed support at a key moment
or pivotal crossroads of your life, that’s Divine Grace
in action.”
Ashley Schneberger, originally from Cochrane,
Alberta, is a dynamic mezzo-soprano with a passion
for performance and an insatiable curiosity for
musical growth. She recently earned her Master of
Music in Vocal Performance from the University of
Manitoba, studying under Tracy Dahl, and
completed her Bachelor of Music at the University
of Lethbridge in 2020 under the guidance of Dr.
Janet Youngdahl.
Ashley has brought her enthusiasm and artistry
to a variety of roles, including Allecto in Monsters
Made (Good Mess Opera Theatre), Alto House in
Rocking Horse Winner (Manitoba Underground
Opera), Minskwoman in Flight (NUOVA Vocal Arts),
Augusta Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Madame
de la Haltière in Cendrillon, and Ottone in
L’incoronazione di Poppea (University of Manitoba).
Her international experience includes performances
in the United States, where she appeared as Arnalta
in L’incoronazione di Poppea and covered Dorabella
in Così fan tutte (Chicago Summer Opera).
In 2023, Ashley received the prestigious Rose
Bowl Trophy at the Winnipeg Music Festival, along
with the George H. Price Memorial Scholarship and
the Herbert & Audrey Belyea Trophy. She was a
winner of the University of Manitoba’s Concerto
Competition, performing Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été
with the university’s Symphony Orchestra. Ashley
made her debut as Alto Soloist in Handel’s Messiah
with Covenant CRC in 2023 and was a finalist in the
2021 National CFMTA Voice Competition, where she
earned the “Best Musical Diversity” prize for her
performance of Métis composer Ian Cusson’s Where
There’s a Wall.
A passionate advocate for the arts, Ashley
currently serves as Executive Assistant to the
General Director and CEO at Manitoba Opera. This
December, she will perform Handel’s Messiah with
the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Sloan Smith is a 20-year-old soprano hailing
from the small town of Raymond, Alberta. She has
flourished under the mentorship of Tracy Dahl as
she starts her third year of her Bachelor of Music in
Vocal Performance and has come to love Winnipeg
as a second home. This season, Sloan is honoured
to join the Little Opera Company’s Traditional
Christmas Concert, a cherished opportunity to share
her talents with Manitoba’s vibrant music
community and collaborate with so many talented
artists and musicians.
Most recently, Sloan had the incredible
opportunity to take to the stage as a Spirit in The
Magic Flute, performing alongside the University of
Manitoba Symphony Orchestra. Under the direction
of Tracy Dahl and the baton of Monica Chen, this
production highlighted her fun-loving and energetic
stage presence. Previously, Sloan embodied the role
of Zerlina in Don Giovanni scenes with the UofM
Opera Theatre program. She has also had the
privilege of working with the Cardston Carriage
House Theatre in Alberta in their 2022 and 2023
summer seasons to portray such timeless musical
theatre roles as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and
Amy in Little Women. Sloan’s passion for music
drives her commitment to excellence, reflected in
her many accolades, including winning the 2024
Tudor Bowl at the Winnipeg Music Festival.
Dedicated to her vocal journey, Sloan continues
to refine her technique and explore vast repertoire,
inspired by her connection to storytelling through
music. With a bright future ahead, she endeavours
to use her voice and artistic vision to leave a lasting
impression upon audiences at home and abroad.
Jyoti Jhass is a relative newcomer to the
Winnipeg Music scene and an alumnus of the
Winnipeg Boys' Choir where he received many years
of vocal training and performance opportunities. As
a scholarship winner of The Little Opera Company,
he has demonstrated a musicality and quality of
voice that will touch the hearts of many listeners to
come.
A Traditional Christmas Concert with The Little
Opera Company and Friends’ marks his second
appearance with the company.
Christopher Dunn, Bass Baritone
Christopher Dunn is a singer, improviser,
actor, and producer from St. John’s, Newfoundland
and Labrador. He is a recipient of the Memorial
University Performance and Communications Media
Diploma. He currently studies under Monica
Huisman completing a vocal performance
undergrad from the University of Manitoba.
His most recent credits include Hermann /
Schlemil in "The Tales Of Hoffman" (Manitoba
Underground Opera); Sarastro in "The Magic Flute";
Father/Prophet in "Dark Sisters" (University Of
Manitoba Chamber Opera Ensemble); and Monsieur
Reyer in “Phantom of the Opera” (Opera on the
Avalon, 2019).
He also performs in Winnipeg with the musical
improv troupe “Mundane Problems". They recently
featured at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and The
Winnipeg International Jazz Festival.
Instrumentalists
Award-winning composer and conductor Neil
Weisensel is one of the most frequently-performed
and prolific opera composers in Canada. His eight
operas, including four early works with
librettist/director Michael Cavanagh, have seen over
200 performances across Canada and the US,
including Vancouver Opera’s 2014 production of
Stickboy. In 2017 Winnipeg’s Little Opera Company
produced his 1997 opera Merry Christmas Stephen
Leacock. Neil’s most recent opera, Li Keur, for which
he composed the music and also conducted, was
presented to sold out audiences and rave reviews by
Manitoba Opera and the WSO. Neil is an Associate
Professor at Canadian Mennonite University where
also serves as Chair of the Music Department. He
holds music degrees from UBC (Composition) and
from the University of Manitoba (Piano
Performance).
Neil Weisensel, Conductor / Composer
Amir Bissen Violinist
Amir Bissen is a virtuoso violinist known for his
captivating performances and profound musicality.
His prodigious talent became evident early on,
resulting in him winning numerous competitions
and getting opportunities to perform in concerts. At
12, he received a scholarship to study at the
prestigious Purcell School of Music in the UK. While
studying there, Amir received mentorship from
world-class professors, allowing him to develop his
unique style of playing. One of the highlights of
Amir's career was when he had the opportunity to
play on a Guarneri del Gesu violin, which is reputed
to have been played by the legendary Paganini
himself.
Amir holds a Bachelor's degree from one of the
leading institutions in the world, the Royal College of
Music in London, UK. He has performed in recitals
and concert performances at many top venues
internationally. In addition to performing, Amir
teaches and mentors young musicians. His teaching
efforts have inspired the next generation of talented
musicians.
Dietrich Bartel, Organist
Dietrich Bartel received his undergraduate
degree at the University of British Columbia in 1975,
where he majored in Music History and Organ
Performance, studying with Hugh J. McLean. He
completed his PhD at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität
in Freiburg, Germany, in 1982. While in Freiburg, he
also held the post of Kantor at the Lutherkirche.
In 1985 he moved to Winnipeg to take up a
teaching position at what is now Canadian
Mennonite University, continuing his research and
writing on German Baroque music theory and
practice with publications such as his Musica
Poetica (University of Nebraska Press, 1997) and
more recently Andreas Werckmeister’s Musicalische
Paradoxal-Discourse: A Well-Tempered Universe
(Rowman & Littlefield Publishing, 2017).
In 1996 Dr. Bartel was appointed Minister of
Music at All Saints Anglican Church in Winnipeg.
With his extensive background and experience in
German Baroque practice and Lutheran worship
experience, he brought a rich breadth and depth to
the worship music at All Saints, including
performances of orchestrated masses, oratorios,
and Bach cantatas. The All Saints Choir continues to
enjoy his book of descants, his settings of the
Psalms for the lectionary, and his numerous
anthems.
Sarah Carswell, Violist
Originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan,
Sarah moved to Winnipeg in 2004 for school,
attending the University of Manitoba. She graduated
in 2015 and now resides in Winnipeg with her
husband, Michael. She is currently a session
musician, performing with various groups around
Winnipeg and surrounding areas.
Blair Burns, Violoncello
Blair Burns began studying cello at age 12
through the Regina Conservatory under Cameron
Lowe. He received his Bachelor of Music from the
University of Manitoba where he studied under
Bryan Epperson. Blair was principal cellist of the
Orchestral Training Programme at the Royal
Conservatory in Toronto and received his Master of
Music from McGill University, studying under
Antonio Lysy. Blair studied period cello with
Tafelmusik’s Christina Mahler and the AIMS Festival
orchestra in Grax, Austria. Upon completion of
AIMS, Blair remained in Europe for eleven years.
During this time he was a member of the LOH-
Orchester Sondershausen and Stadtisches
Orchester Bremerhaven, as well as playing as a
guest with several orchestras in Germany.
Jordie Ouellet, Trumpet
I was raised in a household where music was
prominent, so naturally, I was thrown into it the
second I was able to hold an instrument up. My
father had played bass in funk bands his whole life,
his influence of funk music surrounded me with
Tower of Power, Earth Wind and Fire, and Red Hot
Chili Peppers. When my family moved to Winnipeg, I
took up the trumpet in school and still find myself
playing it 10 years later.
Cameron Denby, Percussion
Since returning to Winnipeg from the San
Francisco Conservatory of Music, Cameron Denby
has been working independently to create
collaborative performances with artists in his
community. In 2019, Cameron created the Fresh
Blood Project, an ongoing initiative to support
collaborations between emerging composers and
percussionists. The project was opened with a
concert in which 8 composers had pieces premiered
by 9 performers. In the summer of 2020, Cameron
recorded his debut EP, Music for Vibraphone. This
four-piece EP featured music composed by himself,
Stephon Davis, Kiara Nathaniel, and Steve Denby,
with 100% of proceeds being donated to Black Lives
Matter. As a performer, Cameron has traveled
around Canada, to the United States, Cuba,
Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ukraine, and
Israel.
Choral Groups
École Secondaire Sisler High School Choir
Director Carolyn Boyes
Ecole Secondaire Sisler's dynamic choral
program comprises six ensembles. Students from
Grades 9-12 have the opportunity to develop singing
and performing skills in both auditioned (Chamber
Chorus and Vocal Jazz) and un-auditioned choirs
(Grade Nine and Concert Choirs). As much as
possible, singers participate in local festivals and
perform at various school and community events.
The school's Chamber and SopAlto Choirs study
challenging repertoire from a wide variety of genres.
They each regularly earn invitations to perform at
MusicFest Canada. At the past two Winnipeg Music
Festivals, the SopAlto Choir has been awarded
trophies for excellence.
The singers are always proud to represent their
school and community and are thrilled to be sharing
the stage with The Little Opera Company tonight.
Winnipeg Boys Choir - Continuo
Director Spencer Duncanson
The Winnipeg Boys' Choir, founded in 1925, is
celebrating a Century of Song in the 2024-25
season. Now comprising two treble choruses (Brio
and Vivo) and a changed voice chorus (Continuo),
the choir is led by Artistic Director Carolyn Boyes
with Albert Bergen (trebles) and Spencer Duncanson
(changed voices), and collaborative pianists Megan
Dufrat, Deena Greer and Lisa Rumpel. The choir is
delighted in this 100th season to be collaborating
with other fine musical institutions in this city, and
to be reconnecting with alumni from eight decades
as we continue to bring musical excellence and the
joy of song to audiences and singers alike.
Nuovoce - Directors Sarah Sommer & Justin
Odwak
NUOVOCE Chamber Choir is one of Manitoba’s
newest choral ensembles. Founded in the Spring of
2019 by husband and wife duo, Justin Odwak and
Sarah Sommer, NUOVOCE aims to deliver creative &
contemporary choral programming of a high calibre
to local audiences while providing opportunities for
young singers to continue their careers as choristers
after high school.
NUOVOCE is proud to be celebrating its fifth
anniversary during the 2023-2024 season. NUOVOCE
is a fusion of the Italian words: nuovo, meaning ‘new’,
and voce, meaning ‘voice’.
Master of
Ceremonies
Conductor
Justin Odwak, Artistic Director,
Nuovoce
Sarah Sommer, Artistic Director,
Nuovoce
Sarah Sommer is an active choral conductor,
vocalist and music educator in Winnipeg. She
completed her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of
Education in June 2017 from the University of
Manitoba, and most recently completed a Post
Baccalaureate diploma in vocal performance under
the tutelage of Tracy Dahl (June 2022). Sarah
currently teaches music and drama at Technical-
Vocational High School, as well as music lessons
from her private studio. In addition to her role as co-
founder and co-artistic director of NUOVOCE
Chamber Choir, Sarah is also co-artistic director of
the Chai Folk Ensemble. She has appeared as choir
member and soloist with many local ensembles,
including Canzona, Dead of Winter (Camerata Nova),
the Winnipeg Singers, and the Shaarey Zedek
Quartet. Sarah’s other directing credits, past and
present, include: the Etz Chayim Synagogue Choir,
Kolot Community Voices , WSD and LRSD divisional
choirs, and assisting with the Winnipeg Girls’ Choir.
Sarah has a passion for world music and
language-learning, and has experience teaching in
Spanish, Hebrew and French. Sarah also enjoys
dabbling in choral-arranging, both for NUOVOCE
and other ensembles.
Justin Odwak is an in-demand choral conductor,
tenor and vocal instructor. Justin serves as co-artistic
director and co-founder of NUOVOCE Chamber
Choir, founded in 2019.
He currently teaches choir, vocal jazz, and
musical theatre at Dakota Collegiate, and directs the
Louis Riel Divisional Treble Choir and Divisional
Senior Concert Choir. Justin is past director of the
Winnipeg Jewish Chorus and the Shaarey Zedek
Quartet at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, the St.
James-Assiniboia Divisional Junior Concert Choir and
Divisional Senior Concert Choir. He has also directed
the Louis Riel School Division Senior Choir (Choral
Celebration, 2019) Rainbow Harmony Project, Kolot
Choir, and Interlake Youth Choir. He is in demand as
a choral clinician and adjudicator, and also maintains
a studio of private voice students.
