Briercrest Conservatory of the Performing Arts

Chris Kayler

Piano

Recently appointed the Principal Keyboard of the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Dr. Christopher Kayler completed his DMA in Accompanying and Chamber Music at the esteemed Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester) under the tutelage of Dr. Jean Barr.

An accomplished performer, he was awarded 1st prize in the 2017 Jessie Kneisel Lieder competition, which was judged by the internationally renowned pianist-scholar Graham Johnson, and performed as a piano soloist with the University of Manitoba Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. While at Eastman, he received an Excellence in Accompanying award, and held graduate assistantships in opera coaching, studio accompanying, and as a teacher's assistant. He has participated in numerous prestigious summer music programs, including the Vancouver International Song Institute, SongFest (Los Angeles), and the Franz Schubert lnstitut (Baden bei Wien, Austria). His academic awards include Eastman's Jerald C. Graue Fellowship for excellence in musicology and the University of Manitoba's Gold Medal for the highest graduating average in music.

At Briercrest, he teaches piano lessons and various music courses, performs in concerts throughout the year, and directs the Briercrest Orchestra. He has adjudicated at music festivals across Saskatchewan and Manitoba and also typesets music for academic publication. Chris' interests include reading, cooking, and exercise, each of which he enjoys with his wife, Heather. Chris lives in Moose Jaw with his wife Heather and sons Benjamin and James.

Elena de Jager

Piano

Elena de Jager's life has been entwined with music ever since she began formal piano lessons at age 7. In April of 2006 she graduated from Briercrest College and Seminary with a Bachelor of Arts in Music degree with an emphasis in Piano Performance.

While teaching and maintaining a vibrant piano studio, Elena completed the requirements for an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto (ARCT). She has served as an accompanist for auditions and recitals at the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels and was an accompanist for the Contemporary Opera Lab at the University of Manitoba.

Although she is equally at home accompanying singers and instrumentalists, Elena's primary musical collaborations have been with singers. She has served as an accompanist for vocalists at the regional and provincial levels of the Saskatchewan Music Festivals. In addition, she has collaborated with singers at both the local and regional levels of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Student Auditions. Recently, Elena received a Master of Music in Piano Performance degree from the University of Regina under the tutelage of Dr. Katherine Dowling. Currently Elena lives in Caron, where she enjoys investing in the lives of her piano students as well as her three children.

Marlene Pullman

Piano

Marlene Pullman began piano lessons at age seven, and by age twelve was the only pianist in her small church. She played for choirs, small groups and soloists in church and high school. Marlene began teaching piano students of her own during her teens, and at age 18 completed her A.R.C.T. degree in piano performance. She also spend a summer studying Piano Pedagogy with Lyle Gustin in Saskatoon.

Marlene came to Caron port to attend Briercrest College, and taught piano lessons as her student work. It was here that she met, and eventually married, her husband Ellery. They have been living here at Caronport since 1979, and raised their three girls here. Marlene has taught piano lessons, both privately and for the college, for many years, and enjoys accompanying vocal students and classes.

Brett Mitchell

Voice

Brett Mitchell, a native of Southern Saskatchewan received his bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance from Briercrest College. After having completed his bachelor's degree, he taught private voice lessons at Briercrest College and was highly involved in the Briercrest Onstage productions including Christmas Musical and Briercrest Summer Stage productions. While teaching at Briercrest, Brett had the opportunity to co-direct The Wizard of Oz and Honk! Jr. for Caronport High School. He has recently graduated with honours from the University of Montana with a master's degree in Classical Vocal Performa nee.

During his studies Brett gained experience in performing as well as teaching, having participated in both University and community theatre in Missoula, Montana. While in Montana, Brett was an active member of the opera community, performing in productions such as Mozart's ldomeneo and Gilbert and Sullivan's Gondoliers with the University of Montana's Opera Theatre. Brett was involved with the famous Missoula Community Theatre, taking the role of Pirelli in Sweeney Todd and assistant music directing The Drowsy Chaperone. Brett's favourite endeavour during his time in Montana was artistic and music directing Menotti's The Old Maid and the Thief. In May and June of 2016, he returned to Caronport to play the role of Frederick in the Briercrest Summer Stage production of Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance. Recently, Brett has completed a professional run of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella with RuBarb Productions Inc.

Nancy Loper

Voice

Nancy Loper dreamed of pursing a singing career since childhood as she developed a love of music from her father. Nancy moved from Ontario to study at Caronport SK in 2016 and now lives in the prairies with her husband, Jon. In 2020, Nancy graduated as the valedictorian from Briercrest College with a Bachelor of Arts in Music concentrating in Vocal Performance. Studying closely under Dr. Ron de Jager, she studied a wide range of Mezzo-Soprano repertoire including musical theatre, opera, German lieder, French art song, Italian art song, and contemporary.
Some of her major Musical Theatre roles include Tzietel from Fiddler on the Roof, Millie in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Laurey from Oklahoma!, and Elsa from Sound of Music. She was actively involved in Briercrest's opera scenes performances, starring as Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Cenerentola in La Cenerentola, and chorus roles in Die Fledermaus, Die Zauberflote, and Pirates of Penzance. Nancy has been teaching voice at Briercrest for two years and looks forward to share her love of singing with students in Caonport and surrounding areas for years to come!

Daniel McElroy

Voice

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, bass-baritone Daniel McElroy is completing his Master of Music
(Vocal Performance) degree at the University of Regina. He graduated from Briercrest College and Seminary in 2020 with a Bachelor of Arts (Vocal Performance). A prolific performer, Daniel's recent roles include Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Adam in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers with Briercrest Onstage. Daniel has studied voice and piano from a young age and completed his Grade 9 RCM piano exam in 2017. He teaches voice, piano, music theory, and choir with the Briercrest Conservatory of the Performing Arts and has extensive experience with students of all ages. He's delighted to help the next generation of young musicians realize their potential!

Melissa Wood

Voice

Originally from Manitoba, Mezzo-soprano Melissa Wood has called Saskatchewan home for the past eighteen years. A graduate of Briercrest College, Melissa received her B.A. In Music Performance: Voice under the tutelage of Dr. Ron de Jager.

Since graduating, Melissa's passion has been to teach and perform. She has starred in numerous productions encompassing musical theatre to opera. Some of her more recent performances include, Ruth in Pirates of Penzance, the Duchess in The Gondoliers, Miss Todd in Old Maid and the Thief, Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, The Mother Abbess in Sound of Music and Marilla in Anne of Green Gables.

In 2020 Melissa completed a Master of Music degree at the University of Regina. Her final Graduate recital featured the music of Canadian composers such as Beckwith, Somers, Ford, Greer, Archer and Forsyth. Melissa has taught at Briercrest College in Caron port, SK for the past 16 years where she enjoys working with young singers and participating in their vocal development. She is the proud mother of three young children, Isabel, Hannah and Felix, who enjoy music just as much as she does.

Carmelle Pretzlaw

Violin

Regina violinist Carmelle Pretzlaw's formative years of musical training were spent at Regina's Conservatory of Performing Arts with various teachers, including Elman Lowe and Dr. Howard Leyton-Brown, under whose guidance she received the Conservatory's President's and Director's Gold Medals, the Dr. Howard Leyton-Brown Bow Award, and the string category in the Shumiatcher Competition through the Regina Music Festival. Studying with Calvin Dyck, Carmelle received her bachelor of arts from Trinity Western University, and with violinist Ed Minevich received her master's degree in violin performance from the University of Regina.

Carmelle is a section violinist with the Regina Symphony Orchestra who has also played and recorded freelance with multiple Saskatchewan artists such as Poor Nameless Boy, Jason Plumb, Jeffery Straker, Belle Plaine, Scott Richmond, Wolf Willow, and Indigo Joseph.

In addition to performing and arranging popular music with her string quartet Pile of Bows, she occasionally plays jazz, rock, and other instruments including bass guitar and piano. She's involved with her church's worship bands and previously directed their Christmas productions with choir and orchestra. By day, Carmelle works at SK Arts as an administrative coordinator.

Emily Sanche

Dance

Emily, currently residing in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan with her husband Jacob, was born and raised in Calgary, Alberta where she began dancing at the age of four. She trained at Elite Dance Academy in all styles, including the completion of the Imperial Classical Ballet Advanced 2 Vocational Exam (2016).

During this time, she had the humble honour of receiving various scholarships and awards in many styles, but this was ultimately when her strong love for Rhythm Tap flourished under the mentorship of Danny Nielsen, Lisa La Touche, and Candice Mathewson. Following her time at EDA, Emily trained and performed with illFx Education and Entertainment in many substyles of hip hop, 02 Dance Company in contemporary, ballet, and jazz, as well as a week of intensive training on scholarship at the Harbour Dance Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. While they are many, one of her most memorable performances includes We Day (Alberta) in 2016. She has also enjoyed performing in the Briercrest Christmas production over the years as she studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies
(minor in Ancient and Biblical Languages, minor in Business Administration), graduating in April 2021.

Emily began teaching in 2016 and has enjoyed investing in the Briercrest Conservatory program since 2018. Along with her role in the Performing Arts department, she also serves in the Briercrest Recruitment department as the Marketing Automation Specialist.

Luke Jongsma

Drums and Guitar

Luke Jongsma is a gifted guitarist and multi-instrumentalist from Toronto, Ontario. As a graduate of the Humber College music program, Luke has a Bachelor of Music (BM us) in jazz and commercial music on his primary instrument - guitar.

Born into a musical family, Luke's childhood was filled with music from a young age. Picking up the guitar at age 9, Luke's passion for music was quickly ignited and continued to this very day, over 19 years later. With his roots firmly set in jazz & blues, Luke's passion, education, and extensive playing experience enable him to draw on a variety of musical influences from genres such as rock, folk, gospel, and pop.

Luke started teaching music in his second year of college and quickly realized his passion for mentoring and guiding young musicians. As a teacher Luke's passion and love for music is undeniably vibrant, and his demeanour upbeat and positive. Luke prioritizes building positive relationships and a relaxed learning environment for students to grow and realize their potential. Experienced and highly knowledgeable, each of Luke's students enjoy uniquely tailored lesson plans based on individual learning styles and musical preferences.