Our Great Plains Voices Team
Our Directors
Josephine Moellenbeck
Director GPV Sprouts
Josephine feels incredibly privileged to join the Great Plains Voices team as the conductor of the Sprouts choir. An enthusiastic and lifelong choral singer, she is deeply passionate about fostering a love of music and promoting healthy vocal habits for life.
Josephine graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2015 and subsequently began teaching private voice lessons throughout the Westman region. Today, she works as a Grade 4 teacher in Brandon and regularly spends her summers adjudicating and conducting at various choir camps.
Her own musical journey began in kindergarten with Kodály training, sparking a lifelong dedication to choral music and vocal performance. She continues to active engagement in the choral community as a current member of Konektis.
Josephine is thrilled to introduce the youngest members of our community to the joy of singing, providing them with a wonderful foundation to become lifelong choristers and musicians.
Janelle Wilts
Director GPV Meridian
Janelle Wilts is thrilled to join Great Plains Voices as conductor of the GPV Meridian Choir. A passionate music educator and choral musician, Janelle brings energy, creativity, and a deep love of community music-making to the organization.
Janelle holds both a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from Brandon University, specializing in instrumental music education. Over the past 18 years, she has inspired young musicians through band, choir, and elementary music programs in both the Louis Riel and Brandon School Divisions. She currently teaches as a music specialist at École Harrison in Brandon, where she directs 5 choirs from gr. 1-8.
Interested in the connections between music and community, Janelle is a strong believer in lifelong music-making. Her past choral conducting experience includes the Brandon Conservatory Concert Choir, and the St. Augustine Community Voices Choir. Janelle sings with the acclaimed choir Konektis, most recently performing at the 2026 Podium Choral Conference in Victoria.
Janelle is excited to help lead the next generation of singers with Great Plains Voices, continuing a proud tradition of musical excellence in Westman.
Marla Fontaine
Director GPV Thrive
Marla Fontaine is a proud graduate of Brandon University, where she earned a
Bachelor of Music Specialist degree (Choral, Instrumental and General), a
Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Performance in Choral Conducting.
Throughout her career, she has taught music and choir to students of all ages,
both in Winnipeg and Brandon. Currently, Marla is the choral specialist at École secondaire Neelin High School, where she leads a concert choir, chamber choir, and vocal jazz ensemble, and teaches drama and musical theatre.
One of Marla’s biggest passions is working with people to create community and beauty through music. In her spare time, she co-conducts and sings in the adult choir, “Konektis”. She enjoys making music with her friends, through small group gigging and musical theatre productions. Marla has had many exciting opportunities as a guest conductor and has particularly enjoyed working with the Western, Eastern and Central Manitoba Youth Choirs as well as the Provincial Honour Choir (now MB Sings). She values music advocacy and professional development and is a past president of the Manitoba Music Educators’ Association. Marla is a lucky mom to her two adult children, Miles and Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys running, skiing, swimming, camping and traveling.
Marla had the opportunity to direct all three Brandon Conservatory Chorale youth choirs. She is honoured and excited to now be a part of the Great Plains Voices team where she will be conducting Great Plains Voices Thrive!
Deanna Ginn
Director GPV Deep Roots
Deanna Ginn is the founding conductor of Prairie Blend, a TTBB choral ensemble that is now in its 22nd season. Deanna is also proud to conduct Bel Canto, the Brandon Conservatory Chorale program’s adult SATB choir.
Deanna has worked extensively with choirs throughout the region – most notably the Trinity United Church choirs, those in the CPSings! Choral Music program at Crocus Plains, and the renowned Western Manitoba Youth Choir.
Throughout her career, Deanna has worked as a vocal performer and instructor, choral conductor and clinician, and sessional instructor at Brandon University in Music Education. She is also an Early Years literacy specialist and classroom educator. Deanna currently teaches at Maryland Park School in Brandon. She enjoys a busy life with her husband Kris Desjarlais and their children Gillian, Ben and Faye.
Our Accompanists
Davis Placatka
Accompanist GPV Sprouts & Meridian
Kate Gray
Accompanist GPV Thrive
Great Plains Voices 