Who We Are

Prairie Soundscape is an inclusive choir for young adults aged 18 (or in grade 12) and over in the Pembina Valley! Based in Winkler, Prairie Soundscape hopes to offer a place for singers to connect with other vibrant and creative musicians, making wonderful music along the way.  Prairie Soundscape is also the "big sister" organization to the Middle Years Choir that is run alongside our adult choir each year.

Inclusivity for us means everyone is welcome.  It means we celebrate diversity and provide a safe place to be yourself in a respectful environment.

Meet the Team

Melanie Urichuk: 
Artistic Director, Adult Choir Conductor

Melanie Urichuk has a joy for music that began with singing duets in church while in preschool and soon after was followed by piano lessons.  She has loved working as a music educator since graduating from Brandon University in 2013, teaching students from Nursery to Grade 12 along the way to her current position as Choral Director at Garden Valley Collegiate.  In Melanie's time at GVC, the choirs have been recommended to AMAF Provincials, MusicFest Canada Nationals, and have toured to Edmonton, Montreal, and Chicago. 

In addition to conducting jazz and choral ensembles at GVC, Melanie has worked as a clinician for Cadenza Summer Music Week, the CMCA Vocal Jazz Workshop, and serves on the board of the Central Manitoba Choral Association. Melanie has previously conducted the Brandon School Division Junior High Choir, the Redeemer Lutheran Church Choir, and was privileged to help conduct and prepare Brandon University's Concert Choir and Chorale for their performance of Handel’s Messiah with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in 2011.

When not teaching, volunteering, or conducting, Melanie loves to coach, play volleyball, and spend time with her wonderful husband Mike and incredible kids!

Ben Kroeker: 
​Artistic Director, Adult Choir Conductor

Raised amongst a family and community of musicians in Blumenort, 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 serving as the choral director at Northlands Parkway Collegiate teaching high school choir and vocal jazz, Ben loves to share his joy of choral singing with anyone around him!

Ben has also served on the board of the Central Manitoba Choral Association and recently organized and hosted CMCA's 2022 Vocal Jazz and Contemporary Styles Workshop. 

2023 was Ben's first season conducting Prairie Soundscape, and we are over the moon to have him joining us once again for 2024!!

Heather Clyde
 Middle Years Choir Conductor

Heather Clyde is a choral conductor from Morden, Manitoba, who has taught music at École Morden Middle School for 26 years.

Over the years, she has conducted many choirs from Grades 5 to 8, helping students build confidence and develop their musical skills.

She enjoys working with middle years students and has a passion for helping young people discover the joy of singing.

​Outside of school, Heather values time with her family and enjoys relaxing at her cabin.
 

Steven Baker: 
 Middle Years Choir Co-Conductor

Steven Baker grew up in Morden, Manitoba where his teachers inspired him and helped foster a passion for music. He is now excited to be a teacher himself, and to give back to the southern Manitoba community by spreading the love of choral music and jazz to students.​

He holds a Bachelor of Jazz Studies degree from the University of Manitoba and was the lead singer of the UM jazz orchestra for 2 years. During that time, he was able to study one on one with Juno award winning musicians like Jon Gordon and Will Bonness.

​He is a Central Manitoba Youth Choir alumni and has since been a member of provincial choirs like Prairie Voices and UM Singers. He has experience performing several types of live music, teaching lessons in voice and piano, and has spent two years student teaching music and other subjects at Mennonite Collegiate Institute and Garden Valley Collegiate.

Jakiya Friesen: 
 Middle Years Choir Apprentice Conductor & Pianist

Growing up surrounded by musicians in her family and community, Jakiya Friesen learned her love of music young. She has continued to pursue musical excellence over the years through singing in choirs, playing and teaching piano, and serving on her church worship team. 

She has sung in many school, community, and university choirs and immensely enjoys making music in community. Her most recent choral experience is singing with Upper Voices at the University of Manitoba. 
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Jakiya has been involved with Middle Years Choir for several years as an accompanist and, more recently, as an apprentice conductor. She is currently finishing up a degree at the University of Manitoba, where she studied English and music. ​

Board of Directors

President
Melanie Urichuk (she/her)

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Vice President
Hannah Franz (she/her)

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Public Relations & Media
Heidi Friesen (she/her)

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Creative Consultant
Palmer Toews (they/them)

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Social Events Coordinator
Vacant

Secretary
Selina Lovatt (she/her)

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Treasurer
Ang Wolfe

Membership Coordinator 
Courtney Yeo-Thiessen (she/her)

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Fundraising Chair
Vacant

Vacant Positions

• ​Fundraising Chair - Collaborates with Treasurer and the board as a whole to coordinate fundraising efforts, connect with local businesses and help apply for grants.  This position also attends meetings.
• Social Chair - Plans social time for the choir to foster community, and getting to know people in the choir.  This includes outings after choir, potluck snack night, and more.  This position also attends meetings.
  
• ​Member(s) at Large - Attends meetings, volunteers for and/or takes on specific tasks as assigned, and is able to vote on board matters

If you are interested in any of the available positions, please contact us

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About our co-founder
KAREN GIESBRECHT
​1965-2019

Karen had either been in a choir or directing one for as long as she could remember, first learning the magic of singing 4 pt harmony in a grade 5 classroom. A teacher for 33 years, she considered herself fortunate enough to lead choirs in each of her 5 schools, including serving as the founding Choral Director at NPC.  Karen’s choirs were recognized provincially and nationally, were nominated to Musicfest Canada in Toronto and Calgary, and graced the stage at the Canadian Rocky Mountain Festival in Banff multiple times.

Karen served as the President of CMCA, on the board of MCA and was the Chairperson of Media & Communications/Editor of MCA's online journal Noteworthy. She was co-founder and co-Director of the GVSD Middle Years Choir, which eventually became the Prairie Soundscape Middle Years Singers.

Karen was married to Dan, with whom she had two grown children. She and Dan lived in the Pembina Hills south of Morden, where they enjoyed gardening, their gazebo and country life in general. 

When Karen wasn't selecting music or playing piano, she could be found reading, walking, working out, watching her favourite series, cheering on the Winnipeg Jets or planning her next vacation! She was thrilled to be co-director of Prairie Soundscape and considered it a dream come true. 

Thank you for helping keep Karen's dream flourishing.