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.

Contact Johanna: johanna@prairievoices.ca

Philip Lapatha
Artistic Director, Prairie Voices

Manitoba is abundantly rich in all things choral, and Philip is grateful for the many choral opportunities that have come his way. His parents, Noel and Rosina, were part of the first wave of Filipino immigrants to Manitoba, and treasured the values of education, community, and family. Philip has two Bachelor degrees, Music and Education, earned in Manitoba, and a Master's degree (piano and music theory), earned in Kentucky. Philip is a choir teacher at Maples Collegiate. The Maples Choral Program is recognized for its strong teaching, musical artistry, and community spirit. The Maples Senior Choir and Chamber Choir have earned awards at local and national music festivals, and invitations to perform with some of Winnipeg’s leading musical organizations. Philip held director positions with Ecco Singers and Pembina Trails Voices Men and Singers, and has guest conducted the Eastern, Central, and Western Manitoba Youth Choirs, as well the senior years Provincial Honour Choir. Philip’s choral arrangements have been performed by choirs such as Camerata Nova, the Vancouver Youth Choir, and Those Guys. Currently, Philip finds himself on committees and boards for Manitoba Choral Association, Choral Canada, and the Foundation for Choral Music in Manitoba. Philip is married to Kimberly Lapatha, a talented music teacher and mind-reading collaborative pianist for several choirs in Winnipeg.

Contact Philip: philip@prairievoices.ca

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

Contact Rob: rob@prairievoices.ca

Katie Donnelly
Assistant Artistic Director, Horizon

holds both a bachelor of music and education from the University of Manitoba. Katie currently teaches at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé and has spent her career exploring the various ways that students want to experience music, whether that be in band and choir or through music technology and musical theatre. Katie has worked in several musical areas including as assistant conductor for the University of Manitoba Concert Choir (2015-2016), for over a decade as a private voice and piano instructor, and recently as a provincial curriculum consultant for the French music technology program. Katie has been involved with Horizon as a singer since 2017 and is very excited to work alongside Johanna as assistant director.

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 - Glen Ditchfield

• Member at Large - Sarah Lampertz

• Member at Large - Byron Lebois

• Member at Large - Matthew Thiessen