COLLABORATIVE PIANIST/ACCOMPANIST

Anna Schwartz

Karis Wiebe Studios is delighted to welcome Anna Schwartz as one of our studio accompanists for various recitals, concerts, exams and auditions. Anna’s love for making music led her to the studios, where she combines her knowledge and passion to help, engage and uplift students.

Anna Schwartz (she/her) is a 23-year-old pianist, composer, and conductor based in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  She completed a Bachelor of Music at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) in spring of 2023, where for her graduating class she was elected Valedictorian and was the recipient of a President’s Medal.  Anna studied piano with Shirley Elias during her time at CMU, and her previous piano teachers include Joe Belanger and Loren Hiebert.  She also studied composition with Neil Weisensel, and in February 2022, she conducted the premiere of her own opera, "Eleanor in New York", written during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Additionally, her original composition “Prairie Sunrise” has been performed by the Mennonite Community Orchestra and the Winnipeg Pops Orchestra.  Anna has completed examinations through the Royal Conservatory of Music for ARCT Keyboard Harmony, Grade X Voice, and ARCT Piano Performance, earning a provincial Gold Medal for her voice exam mark of 92.  She has also had the privilege of being assistant conductor for several choirs in Winnipeg, including Summerchör, the Faith and Life Women’s Chorus, and Incantatem.  Anna recently earned first place playing piano in the Verna Mae Janzen Music Competition at CMU, and she was honoured to play part of a concerto with the Mennonite Community Orchestra in their 2022-23 season.

Anna is excited to be on board at Karis Wiebe Studios and looks forward to collaborating and making music with students.

Lisa Rumpel

Karis Wiebe Studios is pleased to have Lisa Rumpel on board as our recital and concert accompanist. Praised for her "fierce artistry” and “poetic” pianism, Winnipeg-based “powerhouse” pianist and coach Lisa Rumpel is an active member of Manitoba’s arts scene. Lisa’s diverse career has included performances with Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective, The Little Opera Company, Manitoba Underground Opera, Manitoba Opera, Brandon Chamber Players, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers, Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg, and others.

Since completing her Master of Music (Collaborative Piano) at the University of Manitoba in 2015 under the tutelage of Dr. Laura Loewen and Dr. Judy Kehler-Siebert, Lisa has built her reputation as a piano accompanist and coach for musicians of all experience levels. 

Lisa works as an administrator and board member with Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective and The Little Opera Company, fulfilling her love of creating programming, connecting with performers, discovering repertoire, and finding ways to relate audiences to classical music. As a piano teacher and vocal coach, Lisa aims to cater to each individual’s unique learning needs and goals, in order to make music fun and accessible to all.