Who We Are
Prairie Soundscape is a 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 each year out of the GVC Choir Room.
The Prairie Soundscape Choral Organization understands that we live, work, and sing on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Dakota, and Ininiwak, and the homeland of the Metis.
We are grateful to the Treaty One Nations who agreed to share the land with the settles in 1871.
Prairie Soundscape acknowledges that many wrongs have been committed against Indigenous people, creating a lasting legacy of harm. We remain dedicated to the ongoing work of healing as we strive toward reconciliation.
Prairie Soundscape is also the "big sister" organization to the Middle Years Choir that is run each year out of the GVC Choir Room.
The Prairie Soundscape Choral Organization understands that we live, work, and sing on the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Dakota, and Ininiwak, and the homeland of the Metis.
We are grateful to the Treaty One Nations who agreed to share the land with the settles in 1871.
Prairie Soundscape acknowledges that many wrongs have been committed against Indigenous people, creating a lasting legacy of harm. We remain dedicated to the ongoing work of healing as we strive toward reconciliation.
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Meet the Team
MELANIE URICHUK:
Artistic Director, Adult Choir Conductor
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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 and toured to Montreal and Chicago.
In addition to conducting 6 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 and play volleyball and spend time with her wonderful husband Mike and incredible kids! |
Ben Kroeker:
Adult Choir Conductor
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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 also serves as the treasurer of the Central Manitoba Choral Association and recently organized and hosted CMCA's 2022 Vocal Jazz and Contemporary Styles Workshop. We are thrilled to welcome Ben to the podium for our Spring 2023 season! |
Board of Directors
President
Melanie Urichuk (she/her) |
Vice President
Palmer Toews (they/them) |
Treasurer
Heidi Friesen (she/her) |
Secretary
Selina Lovatt (she/her) |
Public Relations/Media
Brooklyn Toews (she/her) |
Fundraising/Sponsorship
Currently Vacant |
About our co-founder
KAREN GIESBRECHT
1965-2019
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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. |
