Summer Camps Instructor

Madly Friesen

Karis Wiebe Studios is thrilled to welcome Madly Friesen to our summer camps program. Madly brings play and energy to every singing experience, and enjoys building communities through song! She brings a wealth of experience to the podium,

having led choirs of all ages and skill levels throughout her career.

Madly holds a Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Toronto, where her coursework explored gender and music education, alongside choral pedagogy and research methods. She also holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Canadian Mennonite University and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Manitoba, in which she further honed her skills in choral conducting, vocal techniques, repertoire, and instructional methods. In 2020, Madly was awarded the CMU president’s medal in recognition of her qualities of scholarship, leadership, and service.

Madly’s has conducted choirs from across the province. She currently serves as choral conductor for Hippocratic High Notes, Winnipeg’s first treble doctor’s choir, and has previously conducted the Southern Manitoba Choral Society, Wolseley School Choir, Grant Park Senior Concert Choir, and the Grant Park Trebles in concert shared with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir. As a conductor, Madly leads rehearsals, selects repertoire, and collaborates with accompanists and performers to develop community and deliver engaging choral experiences. Madly has also held assistant conductor positions with the Faith and Life Women’s Chorus, Canadian Mennonite University Singers, Manitoba Provincial Honour Choirs, and the Canadian Mennonite University Women’s Chorus.

Madly aims to continually develop her conducting skills, and has been a successful auditionee for various conducting masterclasses, including the Amadeus Choir Conductor’s Workshop with Dr. Kathleen Allan, and the student chapter conducting masterclass with Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt.

Friesen's dedication to choral music is further evidenced by her role on the editorial board of Anacrusis, Choral Canada’s national journal. Madly serves as the Voices: Columns editor, writing and editing articles of ground-breaking efforts toward inclusion and equity being made in Canada’s choral music scene.

Beyond conducting, Friesen is a skilled pianist and music educator. She has experience working with soloists and ensembles in various capacities, including accompanying the

Canadian Mennonite University Choirs, instrumental soloists, singers, and musical and operetta productions. Currently, Madly is a performing arts teacher at Wolseley School. With her passion for choral music, combined with her educational background and

experience, Madeleine Friesen is a skilled and inspiring conductor who fosters a love of singing and choral artistry in choirs of all ages.

"With lots of play and patience, with heart and laughter, choirs can take the notes on the page and turn them into something that moves people, something that connects us all. That is the magic of singing together."

 -Madly