Artistic Staff

Johanna Hildebrand
Artistic Director, Horizon

Johanna Hildebrand has enjoyed a life-long involvement in music of all styles and genres. Subsequent to the acquisition of Musical Arts and Education degrees from Canadian Mennonite University and the University of Manitoba, she has taught choir and fiddling in various schools, and presently teaches in the Seven Oaks School Division, where she runs a vibrant fiddling program. Johanna has performed and studied music since the age of two. Her musical interests have multiplied through the years; highlights include singing in Winnipeg's Renaissance Voices, the Canadian Chamber Choir, and touring Canada on her fiddle with folk group The Wyrd Sisters. Johanna's choral experience includes working with singers of all ages through university, community, public and private schools. She currently is the Artistic Director of Winnipeg based choir Horizon, whose recent engagements include performing with The Eagles, features in Winnipeg's New Music Festival, and is a regular onstage with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Johanna has served as the choral director of Winnipeg's LGBTQ2* choir the Rainbow Harmony Project, and has served as a guest conductor at various Manitoba choral days, including Manitoba Choral Association’s Provincial Honour Choirs. She is widely travelled, has never missed a Winnipeg Folk Festival, and looks forward to her daily walks with her giant German Shepherd, Chicken.

Katie Donnelly
Artistic Director, Prairie Voices

Katie holds both a bachelor of music, a bachelor of education, and a post bacc in education from the University of Manitoba. Katie has been teaching instrumental and choral music courses at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé since 2016, where she started both the music tech and musical theatre programs. In addition to her daytime teaching, Katie has worked in several musical roles, including assistant conductor for the University of Manitoba Concert Choir (2015-2016), assistant conductor for Horizon (2022-2024), over a decade as a private voice and piano instructor, and on the board of directors for Manitoba Choral Association. In her free time, Katie enjoys working out, spending time at her family cottage and watching trashy TV like the Kardashians. Katie was involved with both Prairie Voices (2010-2011) and Horizon (2017-2022) as a singer before joining the artistic team, and is very excited to take on the position of artistic director for Prairie Voices in 2024.

Rob Monson
Artistic Director, Bluestem

Rob Monson currently teaches choral and instrumental music at Glenlawn Collegiate and is very excited to be working with the singers of Bluestem. Over the past 25 years he has had the privilege of singing with and directing many choirs and bands throughout the province. He has conducted workshops for the Central, Eastern, and Western Manitoba Choral Associations, as well as numerous school divisions across Manitoba. As a tuba player, Rob has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Wind Ensemble and the Winnipeg Brass Quintet. Rob is passionate about making music and how it brings people together. He firmly believes that “Music offers a phenomenon wherein may be expressed the highest feelings to which humanity has arisen. The destiny of music education is to teach us to love this great force not merely as an ornament, but for its ennobling energy, for its power of making us better by arousing within each individual a perception of what is good, just and beautiful.”
- Dr. Frank Bencriscutto

Katy Abraham
Assistant Director, Horizon

Katy is a musician and conductor in the Winnipeg music community. Her love of choral music started from a young age and blossomed as a chorister in both Prairie Voices and Horizon choirs. She is thrilled to be taking on her new role as Assistant Director of Horizon. Katy has a passion for building community through music making, which she shares with her students in Seven Oaks and actors in Recycled Talent Productions. A total theory nerd, Katy loves a good rhythm puzzle and analyzing crunchy chords. When not making music, she is busy chasing after her two young kiddos, taking long walks (sometimes on the golf course), and swimming laps. 

Madly Friesen
Assistant Director, Prairie Voices

Madly Friesen is a choral conductor and educator committed to fostering inclusive and equitable choral communities. Madly holds a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Toronto, and two undergraduate degrees in music and education. Their academic work has focused on gender in music education, highlighting the importance of creating inclusive spaces for singers. Madly has conducted choirs across Manitoba and Ontario, including the Hippocratic High Notes, Southern Manitoba Choral Society, the Grant Park Trebles, and Canadian Mennonite University Singers. Madly teaches drama, dance, and music at Wolseley School. In addition to their conducting work, Madly is a pianist and keyboardist who is equally at home in classical and popular music scenes. Currently, they play keys with local artist Linzle, and have been teaching piano since 2011. Madly’s dedication to choral music extends beyond their conducting work. They are an active member of the choral community, serving as the Voices:Columns editor for Anacrusis, Choral Canada's national journal. In this role, Madly writes and edits articles that highlight groundbreaking efforts toward inclusion and equity in Canada's choral music scene. New to the PVI family, Madly is looking forward to the 25th anniversary season!

Administrative Staff

Jenny Steinke-Magnus
Executive Director, Prairie Voices Inc.

Jenny has over 16 years’ experience in non-profit administration, communications, event management, and human resources. She holds a BA degree in English and French linguistics from the University of Winnipeg and an MA in French Studies from Simon Fraser University (Burnaby, BC), and she recently completed a certificate in Non-Profit Management from Mount Royal University (Calgary). She has worked with various arts, international development, and professional non-profit organizations over the years, most recently serving as the Executive Director of Manitoba Choral Association. Jenny is passionate about the choral arts. She has sung with school and community choirs since her youth, most recently with Winnipeg’s Ecco Singers. She is excited to work with PVI’s board, artistic staff, and singers to support the areas of events, communications, fundraising, and more.

Contact Jenny: admin@prairievoices.ca

Board of Directors

Prairie Voices Inc. is governed by a board of directors elected annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

• Chair - Joel Lebois

• Vice-Chair - Solomon Schlegel

• Treasurer - Tom Ens

• Secretary - Farimehr Hakemzadeh

• Member at Large - Mia Agren

• Member at Large - Julia Andromidas

• Member at Large - Glen Ditchfield

• Member at Large - Evan Hawkins

• Member at Large - Sarah Lampertz

• Member at Large - Byron Lebois

• Member at Large - Kevin Reid

• Member at Large - Matthew Thiessen