Artistic Staff

Johanna Hildebrand
Artistic Director, Horizon (on leave for the 2025-26 season)

Johanna Hildebrand has enjoyed a life-long involvement in music of all styles and genres. Subsequent to the acquisition of Musical Arts and Education degrees from Canadian Mennonite University and the University of Manitoba, she has taught choir and fiddling in various schools, and presently teaches in the Seven Oaks School Division, where she runs a vibrant fiddling program. Johanna has performed and studied music since the age of two. Her musical interests have multiplied through the years; highlights include singing in Winnipeg's Renaissance Voices, the Canadian Chamber Choir, and touring Canada on her fiddle with folk group The Wyrd Sisters. Johanna's choral experience includes working with singers of all ages through university, community, public and private schools. She currently is the Artistic Director of Winnipeg based choir Horizon, whose recent engagements include performing with The Eagles, features in Winnipeg's New Music Festival, and is a regular onstage with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Johanna has served as the choral director of Winnipeg's LGBTQ2* choir the Rainbow Harmony Project, and has served as a guest conductor at various Manitoba choral days, including Manitoba Choral Association’s Provincial Honour Choirs. She is widely travelled, has never missed a Winnipeg Folk Festival, and looks forward to her daily walks with her giant German Shepherd, Chicken.

Katie Donnelly
Co-Artistic Director, Prairie Voices

Katie holds both a bachelor of music, a bachelor of education, and a post bacc in education from the University of Manitoba. Katie has been teaching instrumental and choral music courses at Collège Jeanne-Sauvé since 2016, where she started both the music tech and musical theatre programs. In addition to her daytime teaching, Katie has worked in several musical roles, including assistant conductor for the University of Manitoba Concert Choir (2015-2016), assistant conductor for Horizon (2022-2024), over a decade as a private voice and piano instructor, and on the board of directors for Manitoba Choral Association. In her free time, Katie enjoys working out, spending time at her family cottage and watching trashy TV like the Kardashians. Katie was involved with both Prairie Voices (2010-2011) and Horizon (2017-2022) as a singer before joining the artistic team, and is very excited to take on the position of artistic director for Prairie Voices in 2024.

Leanne Cooper-Carrier
Co-Artistic Director, Horizon and Prairie Voices

Leanne Cooper-Carrier is a choral director, vocal coach, clinician, and all-around singing geek who has been based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba since 2010. As a neuro-diverse vocalist herself, she uses mindfulness and body awareness to gently guide singers towards a flexible and healthy voice. Whether she is directing elite vocal ensembles, working as a guest conductor for divisional or regional choirs, or even teaching 5 year olds (or 55 year olds!) the difference between the singing voice and the speaking voice, Leanne puts singers at ease with her unique blend of approachable yet infectious energy. 

Katy Abraham
Co-Artistic Director, Horizon

Katy is a musician and conductor in the Winnipeg music community. Her love of choral music started from a young age and blossomed as a chorister in both Prairie Voices and Horizon choirs. She is thrilled to be taking on her new role as Assistant Director of Horizon. Katy has a passion for building community through music making, which she shares with her students in Seven Oaks and actors in Recycled Talent Productions. A total theory nerd, Katy loves a good rhythm puzzle and analyzing crunchy chords. When not making music, she is busy chasing after her two young kiddos, taking long walks (sometimes on the golf course), and swimming laps. 

Madly Friesen
Assistant Director, Prairie Voices

Madly Friesen is a choral conductor and educator dedicated to fostering inclusive and equitable music communities. They hold a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Toronto, along with undergraduate degrees in music and education. Their academic research has centered on gender in music education, emphasizing the importance of creating welcoming and inclusive spaces for singers. Madly is a sessional instructor in music education at Canadian Mennonite University and has conducted choirs across Manitoba and Ontario. They currently teach drama, dance, and music at Faraday School. In addition to their work on the podium and in the classroom, Madly is an active pianist and keyboardist, equally at home in classical and popular music. They perform with local rock artist Linzle and serve as the keyboard instructor for We Rock Winnipeg camp — work that combines their passion for performance with empowering young musicians. 

Administrative Staff

Everett Hopfner
Executive Director, Prairie Voices Inc.

Everett is an experienced arts administrator and an award-winning pianist. After completing studies at Brandon University, HfMDK Frankfurt am Main and HfMDK Stuttgart, he has served Manitoba’s musical community as a board member of Associated Manitoba Arts Festivals, the Manitoba Registered Music Teachers’ Association, and the Eckhardt-Gramatté National Music Competition. He recently completed a term as Director of the Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory of Music at Brandon University, where he oversaw operations for a community music school with over 400 students and supervised a thriving choral program. Everett is excited to work with PVI’s board, artistic staff, and singers to support the areas of events, communications, fundraising, and more.

Contact Everett: admin@prairievoices.ca

Board of Directors

Prairie Voices Inc. is governed by a board of directors elected annually at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).

• Chair - Solomon Schlegel

• Vice-Chair - Farimehr Hakemzadeh

• Treasurer - Jeremy Kroeker

• Secretary - Julia Andromidas

• Member at Large - Glen Ditchfield

• Member at Large - Barry Goodwill

• Member at Large - Evan Hawkins

• Member at Large - Isaac Hildebrandt

• Member at Large - Sarah Lampertz

• Member at Large - Byron Lebois

• Member at Large - Joel Lebois