vicpianoBiography

I started my musical career as a self taught piano/organ player performing in community dance bands in the area surrounding Waskada, Manitoba. After just a couple years of studying piano and voice in my late teens, I began my formal music education at Brandon University and obtained a bachelor's degree in Music Education. I also hold a certificate in Commercial Art from Assiniboine Community College and a pre masters certificate in Education (drama) from the University of Manitoba. My professional career began teaching general and choral music and art in The St. James-Assiniboia School Division in Winnipeg, MB and over the years spanned grades 1 through 12.

June of 2005 marked the end of my 29 year career with The St. James-Assiniboia School Division - 13 years as a teacher, 14 years as Music Coordinator along with teaching choral music and art at Silver Heights Collegiate and directing the award winning St. James-Assiniboia Divisional Senior Chamber Choir, and 2 years as Coordinator of the Arts.

In "retirement" I continue to work with choirs as director (Rainbow Harmony Project), and as a clinician. Other community work includes board and committee positions with:

  • Manitoba Choral Association, Marketing and Communications
  • LAMBDA GLBT Business Chamber, Communications
  • West Broadway Development Corporation's Housing Stakeholders Committee
  • Balmoral Spence Neighbours Association, Communications
  • Outwords Magazine, website administrator

But, my favourite passion is developing websites along with marketing and anything I can do on my iMac, Macbook Air and iPad.

I live in downtown Winnipeg in a modernized Victorian home with my partner, Pieter Jongbloed.

I feel privileged to have had the opportunity throughout my career to encourage children and adults to develop their vocal skills in order to enjoy, with confidence, the art of making music through singing. – Vic