Wendy Brook Music Festival
Band/Instruments: Mathias Silveira
Mathias Silveira began his journey of learning the Violin at age 4 in Bombay, India, under the late Professor Micael Martins. Performing at the young age of 6, his performing career in India, as a Soloist and as Concert Master, includes numerous venues such as the National Centre for Performing Arts in Bombay. After completing all Practical Exams through the Trinity College of Music in London England he moved to Canada where he completed his Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at the University of Alberta, under Norman Nelson and Martin Risely. Mathias has been deeply involved in Edmonton’s music scene, performing at several venues in Edmonton since his arrival to Canada. Mathias has also been teaching Violin and Viola at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music, MacEwan University from 1997 to the present. He currently also teaches group classes at the Suzuki Charter School. Instructing for the Music Enrichment Program from 2008 to 2015, Mathias Conducted the Intermediate Orchestra there as well. He studied Conducting with the late Dr. Malcolm Forsythe (composer and Grammy Award winner) and Dr. Laszlo Nemes who is currently the Director of the Kodaly Institute of the Liszt Academy of Music. Mathias conducted the Orchestra at the Conservatory of Music, MacEwan University for many years.
Piano: Wendy Nieuwenhuis
Wendy Nieuwenhuis is an organist, teacher and collaborative musician based in Edmonton. She currently serves as the music director at Highlands United Church, in addition to her private teaching in both organ and piano. Wendy has performed recitals throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan and frequently collaborates with instrumentalists and churches as both a
collaborative and solo artist. She holds a Masters of Music in Organ Performance from the University of Alberta, as well as a Bachelor of Music and Church Music Diploma from The King's University. Her teachers have included Dr. Marnie Giesbrecht, Dr. Joachim Segger and Dr. Jacobus Kloppers. She has also studied abroad with Canadian organist Craig Humber in
Vienna, Austria.
Speech Arts: Ellen Chorley
Ellen (she/her) is an Edmonton-based playwright, producer and arts educator. She is the Festival Director of the Nextfest Arts Company, the organization which produces Edmonton’s annual multi-disciplinary emerging arts festival Nextfest. Ellen also teaches playwrighting and acting at the Foote Theatre School at the Citadel Theatre. Ellen was named one of Edmonton’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2013 and this past June, Ellen was awarded the Alberta Literary Award for Drama for her play “Everybody Loves Robbie”. You can learn more about Ellen on her website at www.ellenchorley.com.
Ukrainian: Ksenia Maryniak
Ksenia Maryniak was born in Ottawa and raised in Two Hills, Devon, and
Edmonton. During her first year of university she was a Page in the House of Commons, and after her bachelor's degree she worked for Hewlett-Packard and the Encyclopedia of Ukraine (vols. 3–5) in Toronto and then studied art restoration in Peterborough. She lived in Ukraine in 1993–2002 and was the first foreign student to graduate from the Master's programme at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
Ksenia was attested by the Canadian government for Ukrainian-English
translations in 1993 and certified in 2007. She has translated scholarly books and articles, memoirs, documentary subtitles, and a poetry collection, and in 2021 she won two grants and a book prize from the Peterson Literary Fund. Since 2003 she has worked at the University of Alberta. Ksenia has sung in choirs since she was fifteen years old, including Dnipro Choir of Edmonton, Hart House Chorus at the University of Toronto, Vydubychi Church Choir in Kyiv, and the Zemlia Trio in Edmonton, and she is pleased to be returning to the Wendy Brook Music Festival for a third time.
Vocals: Mame Goehner
Mame Helise Goehner, a lyrical soprano has been performing and studying music since the age of six. Studying under the expertise of Opera Nuova’s founder Kim Mattice Wanat and Canada’s top baritone Peter Barcza, she has won several major scholarships and festivals throughout Canada and Europe.
Mame is currently the conductor of the Victoria Children’s Choir, Past President of Choir Alberta and owns and runs two thriving music schools in Victoria, BC and Calgary, AB. She is highly sought after to do workshops, masterclasses and adjudicating across Alberta and British Columbia. Not only was Mame ranked Alberta’s top Musical Theatre performer in 2001, her students are also ranked at the top receiving Provincial Festival placements and Gold Awards for the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Mame Goehner was a prominent figure on many stages in Alberta until she made her move to Vancouver where studying at the University of British Columbia, she completed her BMus and MMus under the tutelage of Bruce Pullan and Nancy Hermiston. Mame was the lead soprano at West Point Grey United Church, and a lead member of the UBC Opera Ensemble.
Mame has toured throughout Europe, personally sang for the Queen of England and has showcased many private recitals and performances in Canada. Mame has produced and directed multiple productions across Alberta and British Columbia, including several productions for Victoria’s Saltwater Theatre Company. Mame is experienced in lieder, opera, 20th Century art song, musical theatre, pop and jazz. Her ability to combine these genres in her performances and teaching technique is extremely unique and sought after.
When not singing and teaching, she can be found camping and surfing with her husband and two children.