Greetings
Master of Ceremonies
Spencer Duncanson, Artistic Director
The Holiday Season has various connotations for each of us. For some it is a time when families and friends come together to exchange presents and perhaps, spend quality time with each other. For others it is a time to celebrate Chanukah or Kwanzaa. Whatever our experience, many of us find our thoughts going to the memory of days of old and loved ones present and passed. If we’ll let ourselves, we might even have to admit there is something very magical about it. Christmas has always been a very special time of the year for me. Not just because of the opportunity to mingle with family and friends, but I find that in the chaos that often accompanies everyday activates there emerges a glimmer of peace, I get to sit down and contemplate my life and the beauty of it all. I am energized as I throw off the weight of fretting about the increasing crime rate the ever-escalating cost of living, the dreadful divisiveness of xenophobia or the obsession humankind has for violence. My thoughts go back to times when my parents, siblings and I would head to church for the Christmas Eve service to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace and my worries would disappear as we sang carols, listened to the sermon and basked in the joy of being together. It is a tradition I seek to replicate each year, and each year wish it would last forever.Whatever the emotional state that Christmas brings for you, I wish you the magic and peace of the season and a brilliant year ahead. Thank you for sharing this time with The Little Opera Company. Sincerely, Spencer Duncanson - Artistic Director.
Rob Herriot
Winnipeg based Rob Herriot has directed productions across North America including a recent production of The Elixir of Love for Livermore Valley Opera in the San Francisco bay area. Local productions include Così Fan Tutte, La Cenerentola, Madama Butterfly, Don Pasquale, Rigoletto, La Boheme and Lucia di Lammermoor for Manitoba Opera as well as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Wizard of Oz for Rainbow Stage. Little Opera Company productions include The Magic Flute: Trials of Tamino and Pamina, Three Decembers and online productions of I Need Opera and Dance and All Those Arias.Conductor & Directors
Neil Weisensel, Conductor / Composer
Award-winning composer and conductor Neil Weisensel is one of the most frequently- performed and prolific opera composers in Canada. His eight operas, including four early works with librettist/director Michael Cavanagh, have seen over 200 performances across Canada and the US, including Vancouver Opera’s 2014 production of Stickboy. In 2017 Winnipeg’s Little Opera Company produced his 1997 opera Merry Christmas Stephen Leacock. Neil’s most recent opera, Li Keur, for which he composed the music and also conducted, was presented to sold out audiences and rave reviews by Manitoba Opera and the WSO. Neil is an Associate Professor at Canadian Mennonite University where also serves as Chair of the Music Department. He holds music degrees from UBC (Composition) and from the University of Manitoba (Piano Performance).
Carolyn Boyes, Director, Sisler High School
Carolyn Boyes began her tenure with the WBC in 1998. Since that time, WBC ensembles have performed regularly with Winnipeg’s finest professional arts organizations and have been the recipients of numerous accolades and awards at local festivals.Carolyn’s love for choral music was developed and nurtured from childhood through singing in school and church choirs. It continues to sustain and motivate her in her work with the WBC, her career as a high school Choral Music teacher and in her role as Children’s Chorus Director with Manitoba Opera. Carolyn has taught public school Kindergarten through grade 12 Music and Choir in both French and English and was instructor of Choral Techniques with the University of Manitoba’s Carl Orff Certification Program for many years. She loves opportunities to guest conduct and adjudicate.In 2009 and 2020, Carolyn was awarded the Winnipeg Music Festival’s Michael Proudfoot Trophy “in recognition of a conductor exemplifying a passion for excellence in choral work”. She has been recognized by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Opera, and the University of Manitoba for her contributions to music education in the province. Carolyn holds a Master of Music (Choral Conducting) from the University of Manitoba.
Sarah Sommer, Artistic Director, Nuovoce
Sarah Sommer is an active choral conductor, vocalist and music educator in Winnipeg. She completed her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education in June 2017 from the University of Manitoba, and most recently completed a Post Baccalaureate diploma in vocal performance under the tutelage of Tracy Dahl (June 2022). Sarah currently teaches music and drama at Technical- Vocational High School, as well as music lessons from her private studio. In addition to her role as co-founder and co-artistic director of NUOVOCE Chamber Choir, Sarah is also co-artistic director of the Chai Folk Ensemble. She has appeared as choir member and soloist with many local ensembles, including Canzona, Dead of Winter (Camerata Nova), the Winnipeg Singers, and the Shaarey Zedek Quartet. Sarah’s other directing credits, past and present, include: the Etz Chayim Synagogue Choir, Kolot Community Voices , WSD and LRSD divisional choirs, and assisting with the Winnipeg Girls’ Choir.Sarah has a passion for world music and language-learning, and has experience teaching in Spanish, Hebrew and French. Sarah also enjoys dabbling in choral- arranging, both for NUOVOCE and other ensembles.
Justin Odwak, Artistic Director, Nuovoce
Justin Odwak is an in-demand choral conductor, tenor and vocal instructor. Justin serves as co- artistic director and co-founder of NUOVOCE Chamber Choir, founded in 2019. He currently teaches choir, vocal jazz, and musical theatre at Dakota Collegiate, and directs the Louis Riel Divisional Treble Choir and Divisional Senior Concert Choir. Justin is past director of the Winnipeg Jewish Chorus and the Shaarey Zedek Quartet at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, the St. James- Assiniboia Divisional Junior Concert Choir and Divisional Senior Concert Choir. He has also directed the Louis Riel School Division Senior Choir (Choral Celebration, 2019) Rainbow Harmony Project, Kolot Choir, and Interlake Youth Choir. He is in demand as a choral clinician and adjudicator, and also maintains a studio of private voice students.
A Traditional Christmas Concert with the LOC & Friends
Soloists
Guest soloist, Rachel Landrecht is a sacred singer and Co-Director of the World Village Gospel
Choir. She and husband Neil Weisensel have given keynote musical presentations for political
figures like Bill Clinton and Justin Trudeau, Nobel laureate Al Gore, and authors such as Wayne
Dyer and John Kabbat-Zinn.
During the recovery process from a life-altering brain injury, the Little Opera Company was
instrumental in her return to the stage, as she premiered the role of Time in their 2017 production
of Merry Christmas Stephen Leacock. “The Little Opera Company holds such a special place in my
heart. Their nurturing of young talent is a gift to the city. The right and needed support at a key
moment or pivotal crossroads of your life, that’s Divine Grace in action.”
Ashley Schneberger, originally from Cochrane, Alberta, is a dynamic mezzo-soprano with a
passion for performance and an insatiable curiosity for musical growth. She recently earned her
Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Manitoba, studying under Tracy Dahl,
and completed her Bachelor of Music at the University of Lethbridge in 2020 under the guidance of
Dr. Janet Youngdahl.
Ashley has brought her enthusiasm and artistry to a variety of roles, including Allecto in
Monsters Made (Good Mess Opera Theatre), Alto House in Rocking Horse Winner (Manitoba
Underground Opera), Minskwoman in Flight (NUOVA Vocal Arts), Augusta Tabor in The Ballad of
Baby Doe, Madame de la Haltière in Cendrillon, and Ottone in L’incoronazione di Poppea
(University of Manitoba). Her international experience includes performances in the United States,
where she appeared as Arnalta in L’incoronazione di Poppea and covered Dorabella in Così fan
tutte (Chicago Summer Opera).
In 2023, Ashley received the prestigious Rose Bowl Trophy at the Winnipeg Music Festival, along
with the George H. Price Memorial Scholarship and the Herbert & Audrey Belyea Trophy. She was a
winner of the University of Manitoba’s Concerto Competition, performing Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été
with the university’s Symphony Orchestra. Ashley made her debut as Alto Soloist in Handel’s
Messiah with Covenant CRC in 2023 and was a finalist in the 2021 National CFMTA Voice
Competition, where she earned the “Best Musical Diversity” prize for her performance of Métis
composer Ian Cusson’s Where There’s a Wall.
A passionate advocate for the arts, Ashley currently serves as Executive Assistant to the General
Director and CEO at Manitoba Opera. This December, she will perform Handel’s Messiah with the
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.
Sloan Smith is a 20-year-old soprano hailing from the small town of Raymond, Alberta. She has
flourished under the mentorship of Tracy Dahl as she starts her third year of her Bachelor of Music
in Vocal Performance and has come to love Winnipeg as a second home. This season, Sloan is
honoured to join the Little Opera Company’s Traditional Christmas Concert, a cherished
opportunity to share her talents with Manitoba’s vibrant music community and collaborate with so
many talented artists and musicians.
Most recently, Sloan had the incredible opportunity to take to the stage as a Spirit in The Magic
Flute, performing alongside the University of Manitoba Symphony Orchestra. Under the direction
of Tracy Dahl and the baton of Monica Chen, this production highlighted her fun-loving and
energetic stage presence. Previously, Sloan embodied the role of Zerlina in Don Giovanni scenes
with the UofM Opera Theatre program. She has also had the privilege of working with the Cardston
Carriage House Theatre in Alberta in their 2022 and 2023 summer seasons to portray such timeless
musical theatre roles as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and Amy in Little Women. Sloan’s passion for
music drives her commitment to excellence, reflected in her many accolades, including winning the
2024 Tudor Bowl at the Winnipeg Music Festival.
Dedicated to her vocal journey, Sloan continues to refine her technique and explore vast
repertoire, inspired by her connection to storytelling through music. With a bright future ahead,
she endeavours to use her voice and artistic vision to leave a lasting impression upon audiences at
home and abroad.
Jyoti Jhass is a relative newcomer to the Winnipeg Music scene and an alumnus of the
Winnipeg Boys' Choir where he received many years of vocal training and performance
opportunities. As a scholarship winner of The Little Opera Company, he has demonstrated a
musicality and quality of voice that will touch the hearts of many listeners to come.
A Traditional Christmas Concert with The Little Opera Company and Friends’ marks his second
appearance with the company.
Christopher Dunn is a singer, improviser, actor, and producer from St. John’s, Newfoundland
and Labrador. He is a recipient of the Memorial University Performance and Communications
Media Diploma. He currently studies under Monica Huisman completing a vocal performance
undergrad from the University of Manitoba.
His most recent credits include Hermann / Schlemil in "The Tales Of Hoffman" (Manitoba
Underground Opera); Sarastro in "The Magic Flute"; Father/Prophet in "Dark Sisters" (University Of
Manitoba Chamber Opera Ensemble); and Monsieur Reyer in “Phantom of the Opera” (Opera on
the Avalon, 2019).
He also performs in Winnipeg with the musical improv troupe “Mundane Problems". They
recently featured at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and The Winnipeg International Jazz Festival.
Greetings
Master of Ceremonies
Spencer Duncanson, Artistic Director
The Holiday Season has various connotations for each of us. For some it is a time when families and friends come together to exchange presents and perhaps, spend quality time with each other. For others it is a time to celebrate Chanukah or Kwanzaa. Whatever our experience, many of us find our thoughts going to the memory of days of old and loved ones present and passed. If we’ll let ourselves, we might even have to admit there is something very magical about it. Christmas has always been a very special time of the year for me. Not just because of the opportunity to mingle with family and friends, but I find that in the chaos that often accompanies everyday activates there emerges a glimmer of peace, I get to sit down and contemplate my life and the beauty of it all. I am energized as I throw off the weight of fretting about the increasing crime rate the ever-escalating cost of living, the dreadful divisiveness of xenophobia or the obsession humankind has for violence. My thoughts go back to times when my parents, siblings and I would head to church for the Christmas Eve service to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace and my worries would disappear as we sang carols, listened to the sermon and basked in the joy of being together. It is a tradition I seek to replicate each year, and each year wish it would last forever.Whatever the emotional state that Christmas brings for you, I wish you the magic and peace of the season and a brilliant year ahead. Thank you for sharing this time with The Little Opera Company. Sincerely, Spencer Duncanson - Artistic Director.
Rob Herriot
Winnipeg based Rob Herriot has directed productions across North America including a recent production of The Elixir of Love for Livermore Valley Opera in the San Francisco bay area. Local productions include Così Fan Tutte, La Cenerentola, Madama Butterfly, Don Pasquale, Rigoletto, La Boheme and Lucia di Lammermoor for Manitoba Opera as well as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and Wizard of Oz for Rainbow Stage. Little Opera Company productions include The Magic Flute: Trials of Tamino and Pamina, Three Decembers and online productions of I Need Opera and Dance and All Those Arias.Conductor &
Directors
Neil Weisensel, Conductor /
Composer
Award-winning composer and conductor Neil Weisensel is one of the most frequently-performed and prolific opera composers in Canada. His eight operas, including four early works with librettist/director Michael Cavanagh, have seen over 200 performances across Canada and the US, including Vancouver Opera’s 2014 production of Stickboy. In 2017 Winnipeg’s Little Opera Company produced his 1997 opera Merry Christmas Stephen Leacock. Neil’s most recent opera, Li Keur, for which he composed the music and also conducted, was presented to sold out audiences and rave reviews by Manitoba Opera and the WSO. Neil is an Associate Professor at Canadian Mennonite University where also serves as Chair of the Music Department. He holds music degrees from UBC (Composition) and from the University of Manitoba (Piano Performance).
Carolyn Boyes, Director, Sisler High
School
Carolyn Boyes began her tenure with the WBC in 1998. Since that time, WBC ensembles have performed regularly with Winnipeg’s finest professional arts organizations and have been the recipients of numerous accolades and awards at local festivals.Carolyn’s love for choral music was developed and nurtured from childhood through singing in school and church choirs. It continues to sustain and motivate her in her work with the WBC, her career as a high school Choral Music teacher and in her role as Children’s Chorus Director with Manitoba Opera. Carolyn has taught public school Kindergarten through grade 12 Music and Choir in both French and English and was instructor of Choral Techniques with the University of Manitoba’s Carl Orff Certification Program for many years. She loves opportunities to guest conduct and adjudicate.In 2009 and 2020, Carolyn was awarded the Winnipeg Music Festival’s Michael Proudfoot Trophy “in recognition of a conductor exemplifying a passion for excellence in choral work”. She has been recognized by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Opera, and the University of Manitoba for her contributions to music education in the province. Carolyn holds a Master of Music (Choral Conducting) from the University of Manitoba.
Sarah Sommer, Artistic Director,
Nuovoce
Sarah Sommer is an active choral conductor, vocalist and music educator in Winnipeg. She completed her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education in June 2017 from the University of Manitoba, and most recently completed a Post Baccalaureate diploma in vocal performance under the tutelage of Tracy Dahl (June 2022). Sarah currently teaches music and drama at Technical- Vocational High School, as well as music lessons from her private studio. In addition to her role as co- founder and co-artistic director of NUOVOCE Chamber Choir, Sarah is also co-artistic director of the Chai Folk Ensemble. She has appeared as choir member and soloist with many local ensembles, including Canzona, Dead of Winter (Camerata Nova), the Winnipeg Singers, and the Shaarey Zedek Quartet. Sarah’s other directing credits, past and present, include: the Etz Chayim Synagogue Choir, Kolot Community Voices , WSD and LRSD divisional choirs, and assisting with the Winnipeg Girls’ Choir.Sarah has a passion for world music and language-learning, and has experience teaching in Spanish, Hebrew and French. Sarah also enjoys dabbling in choral-arranging, both for NUOVOCE and other ensembles.
Justin Odwak, Artistic Director,
Nuovoce
Justin Odwak is an in-demand choral conductor, tenor and vocal instructor. Justin serves as co-artistic director and co-founder of NUOVOCE Chamber Choir, founded in 2019. He currently teaches choir, vocal jazz, and musical theatre at Dakota Collegiate, and directs the Louis Riel Divisional Treble Choir and Divisional Senior Concert Choir. Justin is past director of the Winnipeg Jewish Chorus and the Shaarey Zedek Quartet at Congregation Shaarey Zedek, the St. James-Assiniboia Divisional Junior Concert Choir and Divisional Senior Concert Choir. He has also directed the Louis Riel School Division Senior Choir (Choral Celebration, 2019) Rainbow Harmony Project, Kolot Choir, and Interlake Youth Choir. He is in demand as a choral clinician and adjudicator, and also maintains a studio of private voice students.
A Traditional Christmas Concert with
the LOC & Friends
Soloists
Guest soloist, Rachel Landrecht is a sacred
singer and Co-Director of the World Village Gospel
Choir. She and husband Neil Weisensel have given
keynote musical presentations for political figures
like Bill Clinton and Justin Trudeau, Nobel laureate Al
Gore, and authors such as Wayne Dyer and John
Kabbat-Zinn.
During the recovery process from a life-altering
brain injury, the Little Opera Company was
instrumental in her return to the stage, as she
premiered the role of Time in their 2017 production
of Merry Christmas Stephen Leacock. “The Little
Opera Company holds such a special place in my
heart. Their nurturing of young talent is a gift to the
city. The right and needed support at a key moment
or pivotal crossroads of your life, that’s Divine Grace
in action.”
Ashley Schneberger, originally from Cochrane,
Alberta, is a dynamic mezzo-soprano with a passion
for performance and an insatiable curiosity for
musical growth. She recently earned her Master of
Music in Vocal Performance from the University of
Manitoba, studying under Tracy Dahl, and completed
her Bachelor of Music at the University of Lethbridge
in 2020 under the guidance of Dr. Janet Youngdahl.
Ashley has brought her enthusiasm and artistry
to a variety of roles, including Allecto in Monsters
Made (Good Mess Opera Theatre), Alto House in
Rocking Horse Winner (Manitoba Underground
Opera), Minskwoman in Flight (NUOVA Vocal Arts),
Augusta Tabor in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Madame
de la Haltière in Cendrillon, and Ottone in
L’incoronazione di Poppea (University of Manitoba).
Her international experience includes performances
in the United States, where she appeared as Arnalta
in L’incoronazione di Poppea and covered Dorabella
in Così fan tutte (Chicago Summer Opera).
In 2023, Ashley received the prestigious Rose
Bowl Trophy at the Winnipeg Music Festival, along
with the George H. Price Memorial Scholarship and
the Herbert & Audrey Belyea Trophy. She was a
winner of the University of Manitoba’s Concerto
Competition, performing Berlioz’s Les nuits d’été with
the university’s Symphony Orchestra. Ashley made
her debut as Alto Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with
Covenant CRC in 2023 and was a finalist in the 2021
National CFMTA Voice Competition, where she
earned the “Best Musical Diversity” prize for her
performance of Métis composer Ian Cusson’s Where
There’s a Wall.
A passionate advocate for the arts, Ashley
currently serves as Executive Assistant to the General
Director and CEO at Manitoba Opera. This December,
she will perform Handel’s Messiah with the Winnipeg
Symphony Orchestra.
Sloan Smith is a 20-year-old soprano hailing
from the small town of Raymond, Alberta. She has
flourished under the mentorship of Tracy Dahl as she
starts her third year of her Bachelor of Music in Vocal
Performance and has come to love Winnipeg as a
second home. This season, Sloan is honoured to join
the Little Opera Company’s Traditional Christmas
Concert, a cherished opportunity to share her talents
with Manitoba’s vibrant music community and
collaborate with so many talented artists and
musicians.
Most recently, Sloan had the incredible
opportunity to take to the stage as a Spirit in The
Magic Flute, performing alongside the University of
Manitoba Symphony Orchestra. Under the direction
of Tracy Dahl and the baton of Monica Chen, this
production highlighted her fun-loving and energetic
stage presence. Previously, Sloan embodied the role
of Zerlina in Don Giovanni scenes with the UofM
Opera Theatre program. She has also had the
privilege of working with the Cardston Carriage
House Theatre in Alberta in their 2022 and 2023
summer seasons to portray such timeless musical
theatre roles as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz and
Amy in Little Women. Sloan’s passion for music drives
her commitment to excellence, reflected in her many
accolades, including winning the 2024 Tudor Bowl at
the Winnipeg Music Festival.
Dedicated to her vocal journey, Sloan continues
to refine her technique and explore vast repertoire,
inspired by her connection to storytelling through
music. With a bright future ahead, she endeavours to
use her voice and artistic vision to leave a lasting
impression upon audiences at home and abroad.
Jyoti Jhass is a relative newcomer to the
Winnipeg Music scene and an alumnus of the
Winnipeg Boys' Choir where he received many years
of vocal training and performance opportunities. As
a scholarship winner of The Little Opera Company, he
has demonstrated a musicality and quality of voice
that will touch the hearts of many listeners to come.
A Traditional Christmas Concert with The Little
Opera Company and Friends’ marks his second
appearance with the company.
Christopher Dunn is a singer, improviser, actor,
and producer from St. John’s, Newfoundland and
Labrador. He is a recipient of the Memorial University
Performance and Communications Media Diploma.
He currently studies under Monica Huisman
completing a vocal performance undergrad from the
University of Manitoba.
His most recent credits include Hermann /
Schlemil in "The Tales Of Hoffman" (Manitoba
Underground Opera); Sarastro in "The Magic Flute";
Father/Prophet in "Dark Sisters" (University Of
Manitoba Chamber Opera Ensemble); and Monsieur
Reyer in “Phantom of the Opera” (Opera on the
Avalon, 2019).
He also performs in Winnipeg with the musical
improv troupe “Mundane Problems". They recently
featured at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and The
Winnipeg International Jazz Festival.
