board and staff

Brittany Mielnichuk

artistic director (on leave)

Brittany Mielnichuk (she/her) is an arts and administrative professional based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She has dedicated much of her life to the choral community across Canada and has a myriad of choral conducting, music education, vocal, and arts administrative experience.

As the Artistic Director and conductor of Winnipeg’s LGBTQ2* community choir, Rainbow Harmony Project, Brittany is dedicated to using music and song to build community and inspire social change. Brittany also works for Manitoba Choral Association, performs as a soloist at local venues and currently sings with the Winnipeg ensembles Canzona and Dead of Winter, in addition to teaching private music lessons and facilitating choral workshops.

Brittany completed a Master of Music in Choral Conducting at the University of Manitoba with Dr. Elroy Friesen. She also holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Capilano University (Vancouver, BC) and a Diploma in Professional Music from Southwestern Community College (Creston, IO).

Katy Harmer

interim artistic director

Katy Harmer (she/her) is a choral conductor, singer, and educator based in Winnipeg. She is currently the Music Director at St. Andrew's River Heights United Church, Artistic Director for Margaret's Choir, and the founding Artistic Director of Winnipeg Upper Voices. She has recently sung with Dead of Winter and the Canadian Chamber Choir, and conducted the University of Manitoba Singers. Katy believes strongly in the power of choir to bring people together in community, and brings this philosophy to all her musical ventures and collaborations. She's excited and honoured to work with Rainbow Harmony Project for this season!

Jean van der Merwe

assistant director

Jean is a queer, non-binary theatre-maker, opera singer and clown based in Treaty 1 territory. They are a graduate of the University of Manitoba, where they obtained both an Undergraduate Degree, and a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Music, Vocal Performance. Whether it’s their home-town of North Battleford, SK, or their new home in Winnipeg, MB, Jean takes pride in their prairie roots. Jean has performed on stages across Winnipeg, Saskatoon and beyond in shows such as Saskatoon Opera in Schools production of The Brothers Grimm (Jacob Grimm), Jacob Herd Productions’ award winning Fringe show The Cause (Jovan Musk) and The Village Conservatory of Musical Theatre & Keep Theatre’s production of Twelfth Night (Duke Orsino). Most recently, they performed as both Father and Whale in Theater Project Manitoba’s Climate & Main. Jean’s love for music is only rivaled by their love for house-plants, of which they have far too many.

Dylan Summers

collaborative pianist

Dylan Summers (he/him) is a Winnipeg-born pianist, organist, guitarist, and vocalist. He is an alumnus of the Desautels Faculty of Music having studied as a piano major and organ minor. Dylan has always had an interest in choral music beginning in the Winnipeg Boys' Choir as a boy soprano, eventually moving on to sing in The University of Manitoba Singers all throughout the course of his studies. He then went on to become the organist and choir director at First Presbyterian Church, while also accepting freelance work as a pianist in the choral world. Dylan has performed and recorded with many local bands over the years, and continues to do so as the keyboardist of Matlock.

Outside of music, Dylan attended Red River Polytechnic completing the requirements of the Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanic Certificate program. He is now a registered Truck and Transport Mechanic apprentice, working his way towards Red Seal Certification.

Caleb Rondeau

youth choir conductor

Caleb Rondeau (he/they) is an up and coming face in the Manitoba music scene. He holds a Bachelor of Music - Music Education degree from the University of Manitoba with a specialization in senior years choral music. He is currently completing his Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Manitoba in the senior years stream.

As a chorister, Caleb has sung with NUOVOCE chamber choir since its first season in 2019. He was a member of the University of Manitoba Singers for five years under the direction of Elroy Friesen. Caleb made his professional choral debut with Dead of Winter in 2022 and is currently a rotating member of their roster. In the 2023-24 season Caleb was hired as the assistant conductor of Rainbow Harmony Project Youth Choir, and has been promoted to the Youth Choir Conductor for the 2024-25 season. He is also excited to be entering his second year of a conducting apprenticeship with NUOVOCE Chamber Choir.

Other credits include work with local arts organizations such as Manitoba Opera and Manitoba Underground Opera. He has also volunteered on numerous boards and councils in many roles including the Singers Rep on the NUOVOCE Chamber Choir board and as Secretary (1 term) and Social Committee Chair (1 term) on the University of Manitoba Singers Council.

As an Indigiqueer individual, Caleb is proud to have done presentations on Choir as a Gender Affirming Space for the Manitoba Choral Association’s IDEA corner as well as BEYOND Symposium. In the future, he hopes to run a music program that focuses on inclusivity, while fostering the skills learners need to make music for life. Caleb is passionate about making the rehearsal room a safer and more accessible place for all.

Emma Lewis

youth choir collaborative pianist

Emma Lewis is a passionate collaborative pianist and dedicated music educator, currently completing her Bachelor of Jazz Studies at the University of Manitoba. With over five years of experience singing in NUOVOCE Chamber Choir, she brings a rich understanding of vocal techniques and ensemble dynamics to her playing. Emma has worked with choirs in St. James, Louis Riel, and Winnipeg school divisions both as a collaborative pianist and sectional leader. She teaches piano and voice lessons, focusing on fostering creativity and musical expression in her students. In her first year with the Rainbow Harmony Project youth choir, she is committed to creating an inclusive and inspiring learning environment for all choristers.

board of directors

Lori McCarville, Vice-President
Laura Effinger, Treasurer

Sarah Davis, Secretary
Aimee Dunsford, Membership Director
Anthony Paventi, Communications & Marketing Director

Karl Johnson, Fundraising Director

Cyarra Pelda, Outreach Director

Aaron Klein, Member-at-Large

Cheryl Costen, Member-at-Large

D Phillips, Member-at-Large

Eli Dueck, Member-at-Large