We are an auditioned adult-community choir in Southern Manitoba with a love for great choral music and great fellowship. ​Our season starts at the beginning of January and we practice once a week until our Spring concert near the end of March.
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Practices are held out of Emmanuel church in Winkler.
Our conductor is Rick Heppner Mueller, and our accompanist is Palmer Toews.
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Rick Heppner Mueller
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Rick was born and raised in Winnipeg studying voice and conducting at CMBC/CMU and at the University of Manitoba. He spent 20 years as the choral director at MCI (Mennonite Collegiate Institute) in Gretna. During his tenure, the MCI Chamber Choir and vocal jazz ensemble Resonate performed extensively in Manitoba, toured throughout Canada and produced 5 recordings. He directed 20 MCI stage productions, winning the prestigious Rainbow Stage Award in 2012 for Pirates of Penzance and in 2015 for Beauty and the Beast. Over the years Rick has been involved with various regional choirs having conducted the Westman, Eastman and Central Manitoba Youth Choirs. He has conducted the Manitoba Provincial Honour Choirs on five occasions and the CAMS senior choir in 2024. Rick, now in his fourth season conducting the Prairie Singers, lives in Altona with his wife Connie and works as a Financial Planner at RHM Financial Inc. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family, camping, hiking, canoeing and riding his gravel bike.
PRAIRIE SINGERS EXEC BOARD
Rick Heppner Mueller, Erin Boschmann,
Darren Kehler, Carl Friesen, Kailey Peters
Palmer Toews
Palmer is this season's piano accompanist. They have been tickling the ivories from the age of 6, through their Bachelor of Music at Canadian Mennonite University, and on to the present day. Palmer has been singing and loving music for even longer. Every morning they are delighted to be greeted by Juxley and Amaretto, their two Betta fish. Palmer's favourite part of accompanying is continually being introduced to new and challenging music.