Deborah Buck - Saskatoon, SK
Karla Ferguson - Winnipeg, MB
Sandy Jasper - Brandon, MB
Naomi Russell - Rivers, MB

 

Deborah Buck is a theatre music director and pianist living in Saskatoon. She has directed music for many shows at theatres large and small throughout the prairies, and is a two-time recipient of the "Saskatoon and Area Theatre Award" for her work. As a pianist, Deborah has collaborated with many soloists and ensembles, served as Saskatchewan's official accompanist at the National Music Festival, and performed on CBC Radio Saskatchewan. She also enjoys adjudicating piano and voice at music festivals throughout the province, and working with drama students at the University of Saskatchewan and the Globe Theatre Conservatory in Regina. Deb has been singing in choirs ever since her Kindergarten years in Germany, participated in Provincial Honour Choirs in high school, and later joined the University of Saskatchewan Greystone Singers under Professor Robert Solem and the Saskatoon Chamber Singers, whom she also accompanied for many years. She conducts a unique amalgamated Lutheran/Anglican choir at her church.

 

Karla Ferguson learned to sing harmony with her family in Saskatchewan and hasn't stopped since. She studied voice at Brandon University, and received further training and inspiration from various provincial, national, and international youth choirs. Karla is proud to have been a founding member of two choirs, the Canadian Chamber Choir and the unconducted female chamber choir das Femmes in Brandon. After spending three years singing with the Elmer Iseler Singers, Karla is back in Manitoba where she works for the Winnipeg Folk Festival, sings with Canzona and the Winnipeg Singers, and is a travelling accordionist in the roots band, the Dust Poets. She counts among her choral mentors CCC Conductor Emeritus Iwan Edwards, Diane Loomer, Helmut Rilling, and her cousin Duff Warkentin.

 

Sandy Jasper is a graduate of Brandon University having majored in Music (Voice) and minored in both Theatre and Psychology. Throughout her youth (oh so long ago!) she progressed through the myriad of Manitoba Choral Association choral programs, culminating with her participation in the National Youth Choir in 1998. Sandy is proud to have been one of the inaugural members of the Canadian Chamber Choir and has been on every tour since the choir's
inception in 2001. Sandy has been the Chair of the CCC Board since 2006 so the administrative end of things keeps her hopping. Sandy works for the City of Brandon in the Parks & Cemetery office and also has a studio of private voice students. Her pride and joy is her inconceivably handsome German Shepherd named Barnum.

Naomi Russell'slove of the choral art is a product of her involvement with the programs of the Manitoba Choral Association. A member of the 1994 and 1996 National Youth Choirs, she keeps busy with two ensembles in Brandon Manitoba, with das Femmes, an unconducted 8-member women's choir, and as director of Women in Harmony, Brandon's ladies' barbershop group. Naomi is a registered nurse by trade and loves being Auntie to Cameron, Kayleigh and Ella. She is so proud to have been a part of all of the CCC projects since the very beginning.