Our Faculty
Dr Jakub Martinec
Co-Artistic Director and Founder
St. John’s, NLJakub Martinec is the director of choral studies at Memorial University. His research focuses on comparing European and North American perspectives of choral conducting, investigation and performance revival of early Czech choral literature, and investigating pedagogical practices for teaching adolescent male singers. As a renowned choral conductor, founding artistic director, and former conductor of the Czech Boys Choir, Jakub has performed with eminent orchestras, ensembles and musical personalities in some of the world’s most famous concert halls and cathedrals, including Meistersingerhalle, Nürnberg; Winspear Hall, Edmonton; the Pantheon and the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome; and regularly at the Rudolfinum Dvorak Hall and Smetana Hall, Prague.
Jennifer Beynon-Martinec
Co-Artistic Director and Founder
St. John’s, NLJennifer Beynon-Martinec, B. Mus., B. Ed., M. Mus., is a doctoral candidate in Interdisciplinary Studies in Music, Medicine, and Education at Memorial University. She has been a clinician, adjudicator, choral conductor, and vocal pedagogue for over fifteen years in both Canada and Europe, and has been a conductor and teacher with St. Michael’s Choir School, the Amabile Boys & Men's Choirs, the Bach Children’s Choir, and the Czech Boys Choir. Jennifer prepared soloists and/or conducted the Czech Boys Choir on four CDs and toured the United States, Canada, and Europe professionally. She taught choral conducting and choral pedagogy courses previously at Charles University in Prague, and currently is a sessional instructor in the Faculty of Education and the School of Music at Memorial University. Jennifer enjoys being active in the St. John’s community with her three children and husband, Jakub Martinec.
Branden Olsen
Executive Director and Conductor
Moncton, NB
Branden is the newest member of our team and works with the singers in our New Brunswick centres of Moncton, Sackville, and Saint John. He is a rising Canadian baritone, pedagogical clinician, and conductor of special promise. Born in Quispamsis, New Brunswick, Branden has performed as a singer and as a choral director for the last decade, winning awards and prizes for both conducting and vocal performance. He has performed in Canada and Europe in diverse operatic roles spanning the Baroque to Modern Day.
Olsen is excited by and thrives in new and challenging musical situations. Branden received his Bachelor of Music from Mount Allison University Sackville, N.B – 2017 with a focus on voice and conducting. He has recently finished his Masters of Music at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL in Voice Performance (Dr. Caroline Schiller) and Choral Conducting (Dr. Jakub Martinec).
Dr. David Chafe
Accompanist, Ear Training and Theory
St. John’s, NL
Chafe has enjoyed a career of more than two decades as a pianist and private music teacher in St. John’s. David earned his PhD in Sociology, Master of Music, Bachelor of Music (Honours), and Bachelor of Commerce all from Memorial University of Newfoundland.
He is in demand as a performer and an adjudicator, and has served on boards of numerous arts and community organizations, currently as Chair of the Board of Directors of VOWR.
He has recorded numerous award-winning solo and collaborative albums of Christian, classical, and Christmas music, and has been a pianist for several acclaimed choirs.
Dr. Jennifer Matthews
Accompanist, Vocal Coach
Corner Brook, NL
A former vocal coach at the City of New York University’s Hunter College and Ph.D. graduate from McGill University, Matthews returned to her hometown of Corner Brook after having lived, taught, and studied music in Canada as well as in the United States and Europe.
A pedagogue, vocal specialist, pianist, and conductor, she began her piano studies in her hometown of Corner Brook and completed a bachelor of music at Acadia University. Matthews’s master’s degree is from the University of Western Ontario, where she specialized in music performance and literature.
She now has a private voice and piano studio in Corner Brook and is a frequent performer and educator.
Wendy Woodland
Soprano and Choral Music Educator
Corner Brook, NL
Esther Ooosterbaum
Choral Music Educator
Stephenville, NL
Aiden Hartery
Choral Music Educator
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
Alana Hartery
Choral Music Educator
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
Shelby Marshall
Choral Music Educator
Saint John, NB
Charlene Woolfrey-Sauler
Training Choir
Atlantic Puffins and Pelicans
Clarenville, NL
Lisa Drover
Artistic Director - Training Choirs
Atlantic Puffins and Pelicans
St. John’s, NL
Michelle Rowe-Bennet
Training Choir
Atlantic Puffins and Pelicans
Clarenville, NL