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board and staff
Brittany Mielnichuk
artistic director
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).
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 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. Now he is the organist and choir director at First Presbyterian Church, also doing freelance work as a pianist in the choral world. Dylan is a member of two local bands, Brooklyn Park and Everything +.
Kara Joseph
executive director
Kara Joseph (she/her) is a performer/creator based in Winnipeg. She studied classical voice at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts followed by the Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba. She is equally at home on stage, in creation/collaboration, and working behind the scenes as an administrator.
As a multidisciplinary artist, Kara has begun to explore different avenues of theatre creation such as writing and design. Her roles in the arts continue to expand to include teacher, collaborator, communications manager and co-producer. Within these roles, Kara has dedicated herself to creating art that is inclusive and accessible for artists and audiences alike. Kara also sits on the Board of Directors with The Village Conservatory for Music Theatre and CARFAC Manitoba.
board of directors
Karyn Kumhyr, President
Lori McCarville, Vice-President
Laura Effinger, Treasurer
Cheryl Costen, Secretary
Aimee Dunsford, Membership Director
Ell Hastings, Outreach Director
Karl Johnson, Fundraising Director
Kathleen Murphy, Member-at-Large
Ivan Zimmer, Member-at-Large