DANCE
Willow Harvey
Willow Harvey (She/Her) grew up in Treaty 2 Territory (Brandon, MB) with a dance focus; competing, assisting, workshops, camps, exams, and enjoying the chance to move and perform dance from a young age. During that time, she was lucky to have the opportunity to choreograph smaller musical theatre projects and community flashmobs, even teaching theatre dance at Dramarama summer camp. Soon she discovered singing, acting, playing music, and creating through other mediums that helped develop her skills as a multi-faceted artist. Since moving to Winnipeg, she has taught a variety of styles at Drop in Dance and MTYP, and has trained and performed with HopsKotch Dance Crew (Hip Hop), Language of Rhythm (Tap), and River City Swing (Lindy Hop). She is a graduate of the Honours Acting Program at the University of Winnipeg and spent a season with the Village Conservatory. She has acted in both film and theatre contexts since graduating. Her piece entitled “Lately” that was created during her time at the ViC, was presented at the Botany in Motion festival in 2023. She was featured as a dancer and performer in the Nocturne Collective’s “I’ll Find You in a Dream.” Her first full length choreographic work “Seasons of Love” premiered at the 2025 Winnipeg Fringe Festival. Most recently she had the opportunity to set a piece for the Jr. Company at Genesis School of Dance. Willow’s focus within theatre and dance is based in curiosity, exploration, play, fun, and feeling good. Aside from creating and performing, Willow works as the Administrative Assistant at Dance Manitoba, a Stage Manager (most recently with Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers), and a Costume Designer for local film projects (most recently with ThinkShift). She also works within the Winnipeg School Division as an educational assistant, and enjoys facilitating student growth. She is always looking for something creative to do and new to learn. Willow is very appreciative of this opportunity to witness all of the hard working dancers in Kenora!!
Magdalena McGregor
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Magdalena McGregor began her formal dance training in the Intensive Training Program at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. During her studies, she was awarded several prestigious scholarships including the Jean Mackenzie Scholarship, Teaching Assisting scholarships, and Senior National Scholarships on multiple occasions at the Manitoba Provincial Dance Festival.
While pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Winnipeg, Magdalena completed the Professional Teacher Training Program at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. Through this program, she successfully completed examinations and holds teaching accreditation with the Cecchetti Society of Canada. She further expanded her training internationally, studying flamenco extensively at Centro de Baile Jerez in Spain. She also holds accreditation from the International Music and Performing Arts Board, through completing the Spanish Society Examinations in flamenco.
As a performer, Magdalena has appeared with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in A Chorus Line and performed as a soloist at the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s Picasso Exhibition Premiere.
Magdalena now serves as Artistic and Scheduling Coordinator at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, where she teaches students of all ages in creative movement, ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, and flamenco.
PIANO/HARP April 13 Kenora, April 14 Dryden, HARP workshop April 14 eve TBC
Anne Germani – Brandon
Ann Germani thrives on making music – as a pianist, harpist, composer, teacher, and therapeutic musician.
Ann holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The University of Prince Edward Island and a Masters degree in Music Education from Brandon University, as well as Associate and Licentiate Diplomas in Piano Performance from Trinity College of Music, London England. Advanced studies in Piano Performance and Pedagogy include scholarship at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in Banff, Alberta.
Ann discovered and developed her passion for the harp while living in Iqaluit, Nunavut. Since then, she has played professionally for orchestras, choirs, and festivals across Canada – including as second harp with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra for twenty-one seasons.
In 2003, Ann was commissioned to write “Noël Nouvelet” – a Suite of Carols for youth choir and harp – which was performed and recorded that same year. She has since released three other CD’s of solo harp music, including two featuring her arrangements of works by Canadian song writers and composers.
Ann’s compositions are inspired by travels in Canada and being in nature. A recent project, “The Green Bike Series”, was inspired by a cycling holiday in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. It consists of a visual media presentation of photography and sketches combined with original music for solo harp. A digital presentation format can be viewed at www.annngermani.com, including access to audio recordings, collections, and sheet music.
As an educator, Ann has lectured, conducted workshops, and established music education programs in libraries, pre-school centres, conservatories, colleges and teaching studios across Canada. Nowadays you can find her mostly online, teaching and playing by Zoom. She greatly encourages ensemble and group work that explores new music and ideas.
Ann is a Certified Clinical Musician, and a Vibroacoustic Therapeutic Music Practitioner. She has been involved in “Artists in Healthcare Manitoba”, playing therapeutic music in local hospitals and care centres, and currently practises from her private studio in Brandon, Manitoba.
Ann is excited to engage with all musicians and listeners, to share the joy that comes when making music together!
VISUAL April 15 to 22 (April 18 reception)
Jennifer Caie – Dryden
As a sixteen year old, Jennifer Caie picked up a brush and paint for the first time! Caie is an Elected Member of the Society of Canadian Artists (SCA) and an Associate Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists (AFCA). She is represented by Winnipeg’s Woodlands Gallery.
https://woodlandsgallery.com
Caie spends time each day on the trails and in her Dryden, Ontario studio. She takes part in art festivals and shows throughout Northwestern Ontario each year, and teaches classes in her home studio and abroad. Her work is held in private collections around the world.
https://www.jennifercaieart.ca
https://www.instagram.com/jennifercaieart/
Nancy Barclay – Kenora
Nancy Barclay received her Honours in Visual Arts degree in 1993 at Lakehead University. She then attended Nipissing University to attain her Bachelor of Education with a specialization in Visual Arts. Nancy went on to teach Visual Arts in Northern Ontario for the next 29 years.
Nancy has taught in both intermediate and senior divisions including specialty courses that included drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics. She has worked with various grade levels completing 14 large scale paper mache installations for the St. Thomas Aquinas High School foyer.
Nancy is now a retired teacher who enjoys travel, the outdoors, home improvement projects and creating art when she is inspired to do so.
INSTRUMENTAL April 16 TA/ April 15 Dryden
Jacquline Dawson – Winnipeg
Dr. Jacqueline Dawson is in demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator across Canada and the United States, appearing at numerous festivals, honour bands, and music conferences coast to coast. Engagements have included the New Mexico State University southwest Honor Band, Kamehameha Schools Big Island Honor Band (Hawaii), Ontario Provincial Honour Band, Minnesota All-State Band, Musicfest Canada, the Alberta Band Association Wind Symphony, The Maritime Youth Wind Ensemble, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra New Music Festival, the International Music Camp, and numerous provincial, regional and divisional honour bands in Canada and the United States. Jacquie has engaged in conducting and teaching residencies with the Royal Canadian Airforce Band, Western University, Memorial University of Newfoundland and various band associations and school districts. She was awarded the 2003 University of Manitoba School of Music Excellence in Music Education Award, the 2013 University of Manitoba Teacher Recognition Award, the 2015 Manitoba Band Association Award of Distinction and the 2024 University of Manitoba Community Engagement Award.
Dr. Dawson is currently an Associate Professor and the Director of Bands at the University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music where she conducts the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble, teaches courses in music education and oversees the graduate wind conducting program. The University of Manitoba Wind Ensemble has been featured at festivals such as the Cantando Festival in Edmonton and Sunpeaks, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Music Festival, has performed in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra New Music Festival and has participated in numerous consortium commissions and world premiere performances. Prior to her appointment at the University of Manitoba, Jacquie taught in the public school system for twenty years and served as a sessional instructor at the University of Manitoba. She served on the board of directors of the Manitoba Band Association from 1999 – 2005 and remains active with numerous MBA projects. Jacquie was the Artistic Director of The Winnipeg Wind Ensemble from 2009-2020, helped establish the Winnipeg Youth Wind Ensemble and is the founder of the newly formed Winnipeg Chamber Winds Collective. She continues to spend as much time as possible with young students and band programs as a strong advocate for music education.
Dr. Dawson has been published in the Canadian Music Educator Journal and the Canadian Winds Journal and is a contributor to Winds of the North: A Survey of the Canadian Wind Band Tradition and Repertoire edited by Dr. Darrin Oehlerking. She has presented at conferences internationally, including the Canadian Music Educators’ Association National Conference, the Kansas Music Educators Conference and the International Society for the Research and Promotion of Wind Music Conference. She is an active proponent in the promotion of new wind band works and has led or participated in numerous commissions and premieres of works by Gary Kulesha, Kenley Kristofferson, Viet Cuong, Steven Danyew, Peter Meechan, Isabella Morrill, Holly Harrison, Karen Sunabacka and more. Jacquie received undergraduate degrees in music and music education from Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds a master’s degree in conducting from the University of Manitoba where she studied with Dr. Dale Lonis and Earl Stafford. She completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting from the University of Kansas under the tutelage of Dr. Paul Popiel.
SPEECH DRAMATIC ARTS April 17
Melanie Whyte – Winnipeg
Winnipeg based Melanie Whyte has made her career by combining performing as an actor and singer, and teaching singing. She trained at Vancouver Community College and at UBC, where she completed her BMus in singing, and at the Film and Theatre School as an actor. She has pursued further learning, both for the singing and speaking voice, through private vocal study and in various courses over the years, and has completed the three levels of pedagogical training in Somatic Voicework ™ -The LoVetri Method. She is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association, ACTRA, and the Association of Acting Coaches and Educators. Some recent favourite theatre roles include Murder for Two for the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre Tour, Mary Poppins at Rainbow Stage, and Narnia at Manitoba Theatre for Young People, and she is happily anticipating a romp in As You Like It for Shakespeare in the Ruins this early summer. Her 9 woman band The Fu Fu Chi Chi Choir will play at Moose and Fiddle this August as well as at other summer festivals in Manitoba. Melanie loves to work with students as they develop their artistry.
FILM VIDEO April 20
Matthew Kennedy
A filmmaker since he was 10 years old, Matthew Kennedy studied filmmaking in Winnipeg and Vancouver where he received his MFA in Film Production and Creative Writing. His films have screened in theatres around the globe, including premieres at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival and Sundance International Film Festival.
In 2016, Kennedy formed his production company, Upriver Media, which has produced hundreds of videos for organizations, businesses and artists across Northwestern Ontario and the world.
VOCAL April 21
Dawn Bruch Wiens – Winnipeg
Dawn Bruch-Wiens holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice from McGill University, as well as Post-Baccalaureate and Master of Music degrees from the University of Manitoba, where she studied with Tracy Dahl. Praised by Opera Canada as a “mesmerizing” singer with “effervescent vocal agility,” Dawn has performed with Manitoba Opera, The Little Opera Company, Flipside Opera and Art Song Collective, Manitoba Underground Opera, Groundswell, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Studio Weimar, and Opera on the Avalon.
With over 19 years of experience teaching private voice, Dawn also served as a sessional instructor at Canadian Mennonite University for five years. Passionate about the festival movement, she has been actively involved as a performer, teacher and adjudicator for more than 30 years.
KDFA KAFE April 24 and evening concert
Tim Kingsbury of Arcade Fire
Tim Kingsbury is a multi-instrumentalist singer and musician from Montreal, Quebec. Never a natural school student, from the time he was a child, his preferred approach to music was through play and experimentation rather than theory and repetition. He played in many bands as a teenager and young adult and eventually joined the group “Arcade Fire” with whom he has been a writing, recording and touring member since 2002. He also released and toured a solo record under the name “Sam Patch” in 2017.
With Arcade Fire, he has received many awards and award nominations around the world including a Grammy for Album Of the Year and an Oscar nomination for the soundtrack for the movie “Her”.
These days, Tim can be found taking on many musical endeavors from production and session work for other artists, to soundtrack composition and improvisation with friends. He is currently writing and in the early stages of producing a new solo album.
Instagram- @sampatchmusic
