DAVID KLASSEN: Executive Director
David Klassen comes to the Steinbach Arts Council with nearly 2 decades of experience as a university educator and professional musician. He holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Manitoba, and a Master of Music Degree from the University of Minnesota.
David has taught at several universities in Manitoba, most notably the Marcel A. Desautels Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba. Throughout his teaching career, his students have been accepted to undergraduate and graduate music programs in both Canada and the United States including University of Victoria, University of Alberta, University of Manitoba, University of Toronto, University of Ottawa, McGill, Boston Conservatory, and the New York Film Institute.
As a soloist, he has been called “Charismatic and Enthralling” (Opera Canada), “Rich” (Minneapolis Star Tribune & Winnipeg Free Press), and “A Vocal Powerhouse” (CBC). He has been engaged by many professional organizations, including the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Saskatoon Opera, and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra singing Rossini’s Largo al Factotum for a Canada Day audience of thirty thousand.
David has been recognized as a “visionary” (The Carillon) in his home city of Steinbach, and has been acknowledged numerous times as one of the region’s greatest contributors to the arts. His passion lies in providing opportunities for young people, especially those interested in developing their skills through the arts. In 2015, David was nominated for CBC’s “Manitoba Future 40” award for his work throughout the province.
While working at the Steinbach Arts Council as the Executive Director, David continues to direct, perform, teach, and adjudicate across much of western Canada. He also oversees the dedicated piano practice of his two children, Anika and Ezra, and envies their musical skills together with his wife, Tara.
SYDNEY REMPEL: Development Coordinator
Sydney has been part of the Steinbach area her whole life and has been working with the Steinbach Arts Council since 2017. Although she is not musically or artistically gifted herself, her time at the arts council has given her an appreciation of art and music. She enjoys being part of the community through sports, such as spikeball, ultimate frisbee, and hockey, and volunteering at her church. She is currently pursuing an Environmental Studies degree at the University of Manitoba. She is passionate about the environment and shares her reduce and reuse habits with the SAC office. Her other passions include reading, ice cream, and Netflix.
TARA SCHELLENBERG: Performing Arts Coordinator
Tara Schellenberg has a love of performing arts and a passion for arts administration. After obtaining her Bachelor of Commerce degree from the U of M, Tara spent years working in VFX and film production management at Frantic Films, Prime Focus, and Buffalo Gal Pictures. Tara is thrilled to be giving back to the arts community in her hometown of Steinbach. When she’s not serving in her role at the Steinbach Arts Council, you can find her teaching piano, singing in various vocal ensembles around town, running after her kids, or crocheting with a cat on her lap.
CASSANDRA KORNELSEN: MANAGER OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Cassandra Kornelsen comes to the Steinbach Arts Council with nearly 15 years of community programming experience as a university and college graduate. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of Manitoba, Professional Facilitator Certificate from University of Winnipeg and a Culinary Arts Certificate from Red River Community College. Cassandra returns to the Steinbach Arts Council with over 6 years of previous programming experience at the center to further serve the community.
Cassandra’s passion lies in providing creative opportunities for all ages, especially those interested in expressing art through Culinary Arts. She has provided numerous Culinary Classes within the community along with creating exquisite cakes, desserts, and catering for various events. She attended Cake Love 2011 where she participated in high level cake design and development workshops in Vancouver, BC.
While working at the Steinbach Arts Council as Manager of Community Programs, Cassandra enjoys living in Woodridge, MB with her husband and spending time with her 4 stepchildren. She is passionate about flower and vegetable gardening, canning preservatives, raising chickens, landscaping, exploring farm-to-table concepts and creating new recipes.
Jemil David: Office and Facility Coordinator
Jemil has always shown his love for crafts since he was 6 years old. He never stopped sketching insects and that’s when his parents discovered that he inherited their talent in art. He has been doing art for the past 22 years. He has never shown fear to explore new ways to create masterpieces. He took Digital Art, Graphic Design, and Advanced Graphic Design back in his senior year. He also represented Steinbach Regional Secondary School and competed in Skills Manitoba for Graphic Arts and Design in 2019. During his free time, he likes to spend time with his family or watch tutorial videos to help improve his skills in watercolor and acrylic painting.
Jemil loves communicating with people because he believes that it helps him build his confidence and improve his speaking skills. He grew up very shy, but now he is no longer afraid to face the public. He is very friendly and always makes sure that he gives his best to assist customers and his workmates when they need assistance.
Camila Funes-Giesbrecht: Assistant Arts Instructor Coordinator
Cami’s love for the arts flourished since she was a little girl growing up in Honduras. Her father, who was a music director for a non-profit organization that worked with homeless and underprivileged youth, taught her that the arts can have a deep and meaningful impact on people’s lives. From music, literature, theatre, and dance, Cami has always kept the arts close to her heart. In 2008, Cami and her parents migrated to Canada, where Cami’s love for the arts continued to expand in her new home. In school, Cami loved to partake in her school’s choir, drama, and dance clubs. She has always loved learning and taking on any opportunity to help or teach others.
Naturally, Cami decided to become a teacher, she attended the University of Winnipeg’s Faculty of Education. During her final years at university, Cami moved to Steinbach with her husband Gavin. Cami knew she wanted to find a job opportunity that fit with her career goal, and in the summer of 2022, she took on the Summer Arts Day Camp director position with the Steinbach Arts Council. Cami worked as a director with SADC for two years, in that time Cami realized that she found the place she truly belonged, so she followed her father’s footsteps and decided to begin her role helping coordinate programs, after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the U of W in 2023.
One of Cami’s biggest passions is helping others; and while she is not making change in a classroom, Cami knows she is able to make change in her new community with the power of the arts helping run all the amazing programs The Steinbach Arts Council has to offer. Outside of her job, Cami loves spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, painting, and enjoying the short warm weather with her husband and their two dogs; Molly and Moose.
ANGELICA SAN JUAN: Communication and Outreach Coordinator
Angelica has been living in Steinbach for the last six years, and before that, was raised in a metropolitan city in the Philippines where she studied Communication Arts at the University of the Philippines. She continued her lifelong dream of having a career in the communications and media industry and went to learn Interactive Media Arts in ACC Brandon. When she was younger, she loved writing little novels and eventually explored other forms of story-telling. She considers herself a jack of all trades as she has learnt skills in different media aspects such as filmmaking, photography, graphic and web design, and social media.
During her college years, Angelica independently worked with companies and people like the Brandon Wheat Kings, Manitoba directors and filmmakers, and local small businesses under different roles.
Outside of Steinbach Arts Council, Angelica is a dedicated mom and is a big advocate of gentle parenting and Montessori practices. In her free time she likes to play cozy Nintendo games, watch Netflix, and try different restaurants in the city.
COMMITTEES
Performing Arts Committee
David Klassen
Tara Schellenberg
Karen Peters
Pearl Barz
Alex Nikkel
Southeast Visual Arts Committee
June Snider
Melanie Penner
Kayla Hiebert
Dawn Schmitt
Arlene Enns