DANCE
Carmelle Hearn, Hip Hop/ Jazz
Carmelle Hearn is a dynamic dance educator and choreographer. Committed to professional growth, Carmelle completed two Royal Winnipeg Ballet Teachers course, earning her Intermediate & Advanced 1 Cecchetti Ballet exam certifications, as well as, Modern, Pointe and Character certifications. She’s also completed exams in the ‘ADAPT’ Associated Dance Arts for Professional Teachers syllabus and studied with the Winnipeg Contemporary Dancers’ Professional Program, showcasing her versatility as a performer.
In the competitive dance scene, Carmelle is a standout, her hip hop teams consistently earn top marks at various Winnipeg dance competitions. She’s been featured with many dance teams and hip hop events such as Marquis, Bad Kids, Sikat, B-Team, In the Zone, Represent, Urban Legends, Peg City Movement and winning 1st place at prestigious hip hop dance competitions Artists Emerge in Edmonton & World of Dance in Chicago.
Ever expanding her skills through courses like the Calgary Teachers Seminar and Arizona’s Hip Hop International Judges course, Carmelle has also been the recipient of the Senior Hip Hop Scholarship at the Manitoba Dance Festival and a Paris Dance Tour Scholarship.
Carmelle’s versatility includes Latin dance, winning 1st place in both Salsa & Bachata categories two years in a row at the annual Salsa Explosion competition. Along with being a certified Zumba fitness instructor, Carmelle is also well-versed in nutrition and anatomy, promoting a holistic approach to dance education. Carmelle also crafts gymnastics floor routines, showcasing her ability to blend athleticism with artistry. She also shares her knowledge by teaching hip-hop foundations in high schools.
Miss Carmelle loves to see her students progress and develop their understanding of dance and their technique in various dance disciplines. She is an invaluable asset to the dance community, inspiring students and audiences alike with her talent and passion!
Danielle Platford, Ballet/Tap/Open
Born in Thompson, Manitoba, Danielle Platford began dancing at the tender age of three under the inspiring guidance of Kelly Waterman. Her passion for dance blossomed over the next eight years as she trained in various disciplines, including Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Lyrical, and Musical Theatre. At 11 years old, Ms. Platford auditioned for and was accepted into the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division with scholarship. During her six years at the RWB School, she performed in numerous school productions and alongside the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Company in Romeo & Juliet and The Sleeping Beauty.
Ms. Platford pursued advanced education at one of the leading university dance programs with a scholarship at the University of Arizona. There, she studied under world-renowned instructors, had numerous performance opportunities, such as Balanchine’s Four Temperaments, and collaborated with Gary Chryst and Ann Ranking in Chicago Suite. After graduating magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a Minor in Business, Danielle embarked on a seven-year career as a professional dancer with Royal Caribbean Cruises, performing in a variety of Jazz, Musical Theatre, Fosse, and Ballroom production shows, as well as acting in Mystery Theatre Dinner Shows.
After returning to Canada in 2020, Ms. Platford enriched her professional career by sharing her expertise and passion for teaching youth the concepts and essence of dance. She completed the RWB School’s Teacher Training Program, holds her Associate Qualification with Cecchetti Canada, and obtained her A.D.A.P.T. Jazz and Tap Teaching Certification from Brian and Faye Foley. Furthermore, she enhanced her qualifications as a STOTT Pilates Instructor under the tutelage of Monique Lavoie.
Ms. Platford has taught throughout Manitoba and conducted master classes and workshops in the United States and England. Notably, she assisted in staging the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Professional Division students for their roles in the company’s performances of The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker, and contributed to staging and choreographing the Professional Division’s Spotlight performances of Laurencia, La Esmeralda, Raymonda and La Sylphide. Currently, she teaches Ballet, Pointe, Repertoire, Jazz, and Historical Dance in the Professional Division while also instructing in both the Teacher Training Program and the Recreational Division.
Ms. Platford takes great joy in developing young dancers technically and is passionate about inspiring the next generation to thrive and reach their fullest potential. She believes in fostering a nurturing and disciplined environment where students not only refine their craft but also gain confidence, resilience, and a deep appreciation for the art of dance, both on and off the stage.
FILM/VIDEO
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.
INSTRUMENTAL
Richard Gillis
Richard Gillis studied at The Banff Centre and The University of Michigan (M.Mus.; DMA), as well as privately with Armando Ghitalla, Vincent Cichowicz and James Stamp. Dr. Gillis is brass chair at the University of Manitoba, and artistic director of the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, and performs internationally with Icelandic guitarist Björn Thoroddsen. Richard has recorded 22 albums as a leader and sideman; two of these received recognitions/awards from the Icelandic Music Awards, and four received nominations at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Most recent projects include Devotion, a collection of original solo and chamber pieces, and East Meets West: Tidal Currents (winnipegjazzorchestra.com).
KDFA KAFE
Ken Tizzard
Ken Tizzard, now leading his alt-country/Americana band Music For Goats, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, bassist and producer known for his work as a member of the popular Canadian bands The Watchmen, Thornley and also with NL folk singer Ron Hynes. Between these bands, he is featured on six gold and platinum records, and, wearing his rock ‘n roll hat, Ken has toured internationally, appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and played such major venues as Toronto’s Air Canada Centre. In recent years Ken has performed at many major festivals including Merlefest, Philadelphia Folk Fest, Americanafest, Jam In The Trees and more. In 2003 Ken went into semi-retirement from the rock and roll world to continue to work in the music industry as a solo artist and producer. He has released several albums, including “Lost In Awe” and “No Dark No Light,” which showcase his talent as a songwriter and musician. As well Tizzard has proven himself as a talented interpreter of other’s music as shown with his 2018 release of “A Good Dog Is Lost – A Collection of Ron Hynes Songs” and his covid collaboration record “All Together Now” which features 42 musicians from across Canada and the US recording versions of 12 of Ken’s favourite songs.
LITERARY
Robert Hilles
Robert Hilles was born in Kenora and lived there until he was 21. He won the Governor General’s Award for Poetry for Cantos from a Small Room. His first novel, Raising of Voices, won the George Bugnet Award for best novel and his second novel, A Gradual Ruin, was published by Doubleday Canada. His books have also been shortlisted for The Milton Acorn People’s Poetry Prize, The W.O. Mitchell/City of Calgary Prize, The Stephan Stephansson Award, and The Howard O’Hagan Award. To date he has published twenty-five books including eighteen books of poetry, two nonfiction books and five books of fiction. His latest novel is Don’t Hang Your Soul on That and his latest poetry book is, From God’s Angle. In 2023 he published, The Pink Puppet, a book of flash fiction.
His webpage is: https://roberthilles.wordpress.com
PIANO
Heidi Peters
It is remarkable that if you are lucky to live long enough, you can divide your life’s work into periods. Heidi Peters is celebrating her 50th anniversary as a music teacher. Her schooling started in a one-room school with no plumbing in rural Manitoba. Along her life’s journey, she acquired two university degrees in music. As a passionate lifelong learner, Heidi’s primary interest is helping musicians prevent injuries and sound their best.
In 2018, as a seasoned performer, public speaker and teacher, Heidi presented at the USF-Performing Arts Medicine Association conference in Tampa, FL. A month later, she studied alongside medical professionals in California to become a Performing Arts Health Education Consultant: Instrumental Specialist. In January 2020, the World Piano and Piano Pedagogy Conference invited Heidi to present in Europe. Since then, Heidi added Diabetes Education Consultant and Resistance, Active Older Adult and Personal Fitness Trainer to her portfolio.
Heidi loves helping everyone explore the magic of music. As an examiner, adjudicator, teacher, and consultant, she has worked with thousands of performers of all ages, from beginners to professional artists, across much of Canada and the United States.
Are you curious? Check out Heidipetersmusic.com.
Let’s have fun!
SPEECH/DRAMA
Katherine Twaddle
Ms. Twaddle has worked as a staff director with most of the major opera companies in the UK, including English National Opera, Scottish Opera and the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Directing engagements in Canada have included Puccini’s Madama Butterfly for Manitoba Opera, Janacek’s Jenufa in Edmonton and Puccini’s Manon Lescaut for Calgary Opera.
She has also worked as Assistant Director for such companies as La Zarzuela in Madrid, the Festival Aix en Provence in France and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis in the USA. She began her association with the University of Manitoba as director of the Opera Workshop in 2002. In January of 2003, Ms. Twaddle and Professor Mel Braun began looking for a way to expand this course into a post-graduate training program, which ultimately led to the creation of the University of Manitoba Opera Apprenticeship in 2004, now known as Advanced Opera Studies.
Notable performance projects include creating and directing condensed productions of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, Handel’s Rinaldo, Rossini’s La Cenerentola and a Mozart pastiche entitled Life in the Key of Genius in a collaboration between the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra and UM Opera Theatre. The fall of 2018 brought a production of M.A. Charpentier’s Les Arts Florissants by the Desautels Chamber Opera Group in collaboration with various areas of the Arts at the University of Manitoba. The production, entitled Mightier Than the Sword, marked the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
VISUAL 1
Adrianne Jeswiet
Adrianne Jeswiet is a Canadian artist known for her innovative art combining polymer clay and recycled glass. She began developing this unique process in 1994 while studying fine art, and over the past three decades, has refined it into a signature style. Through her business, Kissinglass, Jeswiet creates functional, three-dimensional pieces using found materials like recycled wood, dead light bulbs, and other upcycled objects.
Environmental sustainability is central to Jeswiet’s practice. By working with recycled materials, she reduces the need for raw resources, helping to minimize emissions and contribute to a cleaner planet. Her work often features interactive elements, such as candle holders where light brings the polymer clay designs to life, while the clay’s natural colors shine vibrantly without it.
Inspired by Canada’s diverse landscapes and wildlife, Jeswiet’s work reflects her deep connection to nature, particularly the Boreal Forest of Northwestern Ontario. The region’s flora and fauna are present in much of her current work, translated into intricate sculptures that evoke the beauty of the natural world. Jeswiet’s art blends creativity, sustainability, and nature, inviting viewers to experience the transformation of discarded materials into meaningful, functional works of art.
VISUAL 2
Melissa Jean
Melissa Jean is a contemporary artist known for her emotive, vibrant paintings inspired by the raw beauty of the Canadian wilderness. Based in Keewatin, Ontario, Melissa draws inspiration from the stunning landscapes of Lake of the Woods and Northwestern Ontario, where she has a deep and personal connection to the natural world. This connection is evident in her sought-after works, which explore themes of transformation, connection, and the interplay between light and shadow.
Melissa’s distinctive style combines bold color palettes, dynamic textures, and intricate layering techniques to create pieces that are both visually captivating and emotionally resonant. Her work invites viewers on a journey of reflection and discovery, evoking a sense of movement and introspection.
A highly regarded artist, Melissa has exhibited in solo shows across Canada, including at the Muse in 2022, and her work is represented in galleries nationwide. She is also collected by private and corporate collectors around the world. To learn more, visit melissajeanart.com.
VOCAL
Lara Ciekiewicz
Hailed for her “tour-de-force performance” (Winnipeg Free Press) in the title role of Manitoba Opera’s Susannah, Lara has established herself as a dynamic, intelligent, and moving singing-actress. Her facility for fully transforming into a character, regardless of genre, has earned her the reputation of being an artistic chameleon.
This season Lara joins Vancouver Opera’s 65th anniversary season as Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus. She makes her Regina Symphony Orchestra debut as soprano soloist for their Messiah, and rejoins her Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra family for Mahler’s Symphony No. 4. Lara also returns to NUOVA Vocal Arts to create the role of Ymma in the world première of Uyeda and Hagen’s Silence.
Recent appearances include creating the role of Bartender in Kaminsky and Moore’s February for Opera on the Avalon, making role and house debuts as Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music for both the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre and The Citadel Theatre, and a role debut as Bird Woman in Mary Poppins for Rainbow Stage. Lara also returned to her Manitoba Opera family as Micaëla in Carmen, and to NUOVA Vocal Arts for their workshop of Uyeda and Hagen’s Silence.
Lara is increasingly in demand as an adjudicator, and teacher. She holds a Masters in Music (Opera) from McGill University, and a Bachelor of Arts – Honours (Voice) from the University of Winnipeg. She is an alumna of l’Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal, San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center, the Banff Centre, Opera NUOVA, and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School (Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Musical Theatre). Lara also enjoys gardening, is an avid walker, loves fabulous footwear, and is a self-professed prairie-girl forever.
