A Flicker of Light on a Winter's Night

Naomi Woo, conductor
Micah Aangeli Buenafe (MTYP), Nina
Nathan Malolos (MTYP), Jeremy
Chloe Catalla (MTYP), Anika
Theresa Thomson (MTYP), director
Michael Cutler, Rehearsal accompanist for MTYP
Bluestem, choir, Rob Monson, director
Platypus Theatre, Peter Duschenes, director
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

In Partnership with Manitoba Theatre for Young People

Performed from Nashville to North Bay, A Flicker of Light on a Winter’s Night is a highlight of any family or pops series. In this heart-warming and entertaining holiday concert, Platypus Theatre partners with local child actors and choristers, and gives them a starring role in this original script.

Through the magic of music, a mysterious stranger helps three disgruntled children discover the true spirit of the holidays by weaving a tale about our best-loved traditions from Christmas trees to dreidles, from Santa Claus to Scrooge. With a mixture of popular favorites, traditional music and plenty of sing-a-longs, this family holiday concert is sure to lift even the biggest Grinch into the holiday spirit. The performance lasts approximately 55 minutes and is recommended for ages 5 and up.

A Flicker of Light on a Winter’s Night was a commission of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.

Naomi Woo, conductor

Naomi Woo is a prominent young Canadian conductor and pianist, recognized by CBC Radio, ARTV, and Flare magazine as a rising star on the Canadian classical music scene. The current Assistant Conductor and Community Ambassador of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Naomi is frequently in demand as a guest conductor across Canada. In 2021-2022, she will make debut appearances with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra, Regina Symphony Orchestra and Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and will also conduct rehearsals of the Orchestre Métropolitain, having been chosen by Yannick Nezet-Seguin for the orchestra’s inaugural conducting academy.

Micah Aangeli Buenafe (MTYP), Nina

Fourteen year old Micah is thrilled to be a part of WSO’s A Flicker of Light on a Winter’s Night. A passionate singer and pianist, Micah is a frequent performer at the Winnipeg Music Festival. She was awarded the Ladies Orange Benevolent Trophy and the Winnipeg Music Festival Scholarship for Voice for 2022. Micah also received the Gold Medal for Excellence for voice from both The Royal Conservatory of Music and Conservatory Canada. She has performed at WST’s Seussical Jr and MTYP Theatre School’s Shrek Jr. She will be performing in the upcoming production of SpongeBob the Musical and MTYP Theatre School’s Urinetown. Micah would like to express her gratitude to her family and music teachers for all their encouragement and support.

Nathan Malolos (MTYP), Jeremy

Nathan is beyond grateful and excited to perform with the WSO and MTYP. Previous performance includes; Roch Carrier in The Hockey Sweater a Musical, The Wizard of Oz, Mabuhay: Filipinos Singing for Their Lives (Rainbow Stage); Eric in Matilda the Musical (Royal MTC). Upcoming: lead role in Billy Elliot the Musical (Neptune). Nathan is a competitive dancer at Marquis Dance Academy and has won many overall top awards, judges choice awards and scholarships at several dance competitions and conventions Nathan loves to draw, paint, play ukulele, create and edit videos when not dancing. Special thanks to Joy Lazo, Katrina German at JMTC, all his dance teachers, the cast and crew, his family, relatives and friends for all their support and encouragement.

Chloe Catalla (MTYP), Anika

Chloe is an actress and singer who has been involved with The Royal Winnipeg Ballet school and Manitoba Theatre for Young People theatre school, as well as shows at St. Mary’s Academy. Aside from performing, Chloe writes and releases her own music under the name “Francesca Ysobel”, which can be found on any streaming platform.

Theresa Thomson (MTYP), director

Theresa is the Theatre School Assistant Director at Manitoba Theatre for Young People. In her 23 years at MTYP she has directed, produced, choreographed and/or created countless shows and events. Outside of her work with MTYP, Theresa is also an actor, director, instructor and make up artist. She is delighted to team up with Erica again, to be a part of the beautiful, inclusive and joyful show and to get to direct MTYP’s actors who are true flickers of light!

Erica Hastings (MTYP), Assistant director and vocal coach

Erica is a Winnipeg based Theatre Educator, Director, Singer and Actor. Erica received her formal theatre training at the University of Winnipeg in the Honours Acting program. Erica has the pleasure of teaching musical theatre and acting at MTYP for the past 8 years and is Co-Directing this year’s Young Company. Erica is thrilled to have worked on this heartwarming project and is amazed by these young performer’s talent and skill.

Bluestem, choir

Bluestem launched in September 2018 under the direction of Geung Kroeker-Lee as a place for singers in grades 9-12 who are passionate about music-making. Currently led by artistic director Rob Monson, the choir strives to continue in Prairie Voices Inc.’s strong choral tradition of energy, movement, and excellence.

Bluestem will participate in three concerts as a part of this year’s PVI season. Two in conjunction with PVI family choirs Prairie Voices and Horizon, as well as a performance with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. To end the season, they will wrap up with a full concert of their own. Join the enthusiasm and excitement of these young choristers as we celebrate the continued success and growth of Bluestem. New members are welcome during select points throughout the season.

Members: Mia Agren, Sam Agren, Adam Dyck, Aren Dexter-Nickel, Isaac Hildebrandt, Emillia Mathews, Kyla Nelson, Max Seney, Henry Sigurdson, Hawksley Smith, Charlton Turcotte

Rob Monson, Bluestem director

Rob Monson currently teaches choral and instrumental music at Glenlawn Collegiate and is very excited to be working with the singers of Bluestem. Over the past 25 years he has had the privilege to sing and direct with many choirs and bands throughout the province. He has conducted workshops for the Central, Eastern and Western Manitoba Choral Associations, as well as numerous school divisions across Manitoba. As a tuba player, Rob has performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Winnipeg Wind Ensemble and the Winnipeg Brass Quintet.

Rob is passionate about making music and how it brings people together.

Platypus Theatre

Since 1989, almost one million young audience members have been introduced to classical music through Platypus Theatre. After more than 650 performances with more than 75 orchestras worldwide, Platypus has established itself as one of North America’s premiere music education theatre companies. Original and engaging storylines are presented in an intelligent and interactive way, with music always taking the lead role.

Children laugh, sing and empathize with the characters while learning musical concepts, styles, and much more. In 2006, one of Platypus’ most cherished productions How the Gimquat Found her Song was produced for TV and went on to win several awards including Best Children’s Program at the prestigious Banff World Television Festival. In 1991, Platypus was the subject of a nationally broadcast documentary on CTV, followed by a PBS full-performance broadcast in 2000. During its 25th anniversary year, Platypus premiered its eighth original production, Presto, Mambo!, in partnership with four orchestras across Canada. Other Platypus Productions include Emily Saves the Orchestra, Rhythm in your Rubbish, Bach to the Future, Charlotte and the MusicMaker, Flicker of Light on a Winter’s Night, and Peter and the Wolf.

Peter Duschenes, Artistic Director and Writer

Thousands of young classical music fans have Peter to thank for introducing them to symphonic music. He cofounded the Platypus Theatre touring company in 1989 to make orchestral music accessible for youth, and more than half a million concert-goers have benefitted from
his creativity. As an award-winning playwright, Peter’s writing credits include – among others – all eight Platypus productions, the television adaptation of How the Gimquat Found Her Song which won Best Children’s Program at the prestigious Banff World Television Festival in 2008. In addition to his roles in Platypus shows, he has also acted and directed with companies

across Canada and the United States. When Peter isn’t busy helping the Gimquat find her song, he and his wife Sarah are helping their children, Magda and Theo, find their socks.

Wendy Rockburn, Platypus Theatre Stage Manager

Want to know who and what goes where and when and how? Wendy’s the one who has it well under control. Since 2005, Wendy has expertly juggled all of the details for Platypus Theatre productions, from monster’s heads to lighting cues. Not only does she manage the Platypus touring company’s stage, but she also works with theatres all over Eastern and Central Canada. And as often as possible, she jets off to far places to photograph the world, most recently in the far reaches of Mongolia. Wendy has also been known to skydive over the desert in Namibia or outrace a gaucho in Argentina. Her favorite part about Platypus shows is watching the kids follow every turn

in the story in rapt attention. And the climax of the Gimquat still makes her cry, even after all of these years. No wonder we’re wild about Wendy!

Trevor P. Wagler, Platypus Theatre Arranger

Canadian composer & arranger Trevor P. Wagler first discovered he had an affinity for arranging music when he was a teenager, and was asked to transcribe Top 40 songs for his high school band. Having played piano since the age of eight, and French horn since his grade seven music class, music seemed to be a natural career choice.

After high school, Trevor received a Bachelor’s degree in music composition and a Master’s degree in French horn performance. Since then, Trevor has donned many hats in the musical community, meeting an increasing demand for new compositions and arrangements, as well as performing regularly with several Canadian orchestras as a freelance French horn player, all while running a successful arts academy (Renaissance School of the Arts) and a music publishing company (Flamingo Soup Music Publishing). He currently teaches orchestration at Wilfrid Laurier University, and is the conductor of several local ensembles. On Sundays, he’s also the organist at his church. Trevor studied composition with Canadian composers Peter Hatch, Glenn Buhr and Melissa Hui. A self-taught arranger, the consistently high quality and creative flair of his orchestral arrangements have earned him a reputation as “Canada’s next Howard Cable.” His work has been performed throughout Canada and the world by many world-class orchestras, largely due to the
wide-reaching appeal of Platypus Theatre’s productions.

Trevor has also written arrangements for the Canadian Chamber Ensemble, Licorice Allsorts clarinet quartet, the UWO Convocation Brass and Canadian trumpet sensation Guy Few. His arrangements can periodically be heard nation-wide on CBC radio. Trevor resides in scenic Waterloo, Ontario with his wife, flutist Wendy Wagler, and their daughter Nina.

Platypus Theatre’s
A FLICKER OF LIGHT ON A CHRISTMAS NIGHT

Created by Christopher Sharpe and Peter Duschenes
Musical Direction: Daniel Warren and Trevor Wagler

Performers:
Peter Duschenes, Micah Aangeli Buenafe, Nathan Malolos, Chloe Catalla, Mia Agren, Sam Agren, Adam Dyck, Aren Dexter-Nickel, Isaac Hildebrandt, Emillia Mathews, Kyla Nelson, Max Seney, Henry Sigurdson, Hawksley Smith, Charlton Turcotte

Stage managers:
Wendy Rockburn + Sheena Sanderson

Musician Nucleus

FIRST VIOLINS
Karl Stobbe, Associate Concertmaster
Tara Fensom
Hong Tian Jia
Mary Lawton
Sonia Lazar
Julie Savard
Jun Shao
Jeremy Buzash (guest)
Rebecca Weger (guest)

SECOND VIOLINS
Chris Anstey, Principal
Elation Pauls, Assistant Principal
Karen Bauch
Kristina Bauch,
Elizabeth Dyer
Bokyung Hwang*
Rodica Jeffrey
Momoko Matsumura **
Susan McCallum
Jane Radomski
Takayo Noguchi (guest)

VIOLAS
Elise Lavallée, Acting Principal
Dmytro Kreshchenskyi, Acting Assistant Principal **
Marie-Elyse Badeau

Laszlo Baroczi
Greg Hay
Michael Scholz

CELLOS
Emma Quackenbush, Acting Assistant Principal
Grace An **
Arlene Dahl
Samuel Nadurak **
Alyssa Ramsay
Sean Taubner

BASSES
Meredith Johnson, Principal
James McMillan
Daniel Perry
Eric Timperman
Emily Krajewski (guest)

FLUTES
Jan Kocman, Principal
Supported by Gordon & Audrey Fogg
Alex Conway

OBOES
Robin MacMillan
Kelsey Nordstrom (guest)

CLARINETS
Micah Heilbrunn, Principal
E-Chen Hsu (guest)

BASSOONS
Kathryn Brooks, Principal *
Mark Kreshchenskyi, Acting Principal **
Elizabeth Mee **

HORNS
Ken MacDonald, Associate Principal
The Hilda Schelberger Memorial Chair
Aiden Kleer
Michiko Singh

TRUMPETS
Paul Jeffrey, Associate Principal
Isaac Pulford
The Patty Kirk Memorial Chair

TROMBONES
Keith Dyrda
Isabelle Lavoie**
Jason Kehler (guest)

TIMPANI
Andrew Nazer (guest)

TUBA
Justin Hickmott (guest)

PERCUSSION
Ben Reimer (guest)
Victoria Sparks (guest)

HARP
Richard Turner, Principal
Endowed by W.H. & S.E. Loewen

PERSONNEL MANAGER
Isaac Pulford

MUSIC LIBRARIAN
Michaela Kleer

ASSISTANT LIBRARIAN
Aiden Kleer

* On Leave
** 1 year appointment