Artist Bios | flipsideopera

Judith Oatway, voice

Soprano, Judith Oatway, has a passion for singing displayed in her commitment to performance and instruction. Her performances have been described as 'polished and dramatic' (Opera Composer Blog). Judith is a voice instructor at the Canadian Mennonite University & University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She also maintains a busy studio at the Community School of Music & Arts at CMU and is a co-founder of the Summer Music Academy in Winnipeg. Judith holds a Masters in Literature and Music Performance from the University of Western Ontario. She is a founding member and Artistic Director of Flipside Opera, an independent arts organization based in Winnipeg. Recent performance include with Millennium Library Skywalk Series, Manitoba Underground Opera, Little Opera Company, Kitchener Opera, Halifax Summer Opera, and Winnipeg Guitar Society. Recent performances include La Ciesca, Gianni Schicchi; Zwei Dame, Die Zauberflöte; and Mother, Hansel & Gretel.

Lisa Rumpel, piano

Praised for her "fierce artistry” and “poetic” pianism, “powerhouse” Winnipeg-based pianist Lisa Rumpel is an active member of Manitoba’s arts scene. Since completing her Master of Music (Collaborative Piano) at the University of Manitoba in 2015 under the tutelage of Dr. Laura Loewen and Dr. Judy Kehler-Siebert, Lisa has built her reputation as a coach, teacher, and pianist for musicians of all experience levels. Lisa’s vibrant and varied freelance career has included performances with organizations like Flipside Opera & Art Song Collective, The Little Opera Company, Manitoba Underground Opera, Manitoba Opera, Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers (Looking Glass, 2023), Brandon Chamber Players, Agassiz Chamber Music Festival, Women’s Musical Club of Winnipeg, Virtuosi Concerts, and the Edmonton Recital Society. As an alumna of the Franz Schubert Institute, Vancouver International Song Institute, and Opera NUOVA, Lisa has been privileged to learn from renowned musicians from across the world.

Leanne Zacharias, cello

Cellist Leanne Zacharias’ interdisciplinary practice spans genres and geographies. Her unique Music for Spaces initiative has been presented in the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, LandMarks2017, the International Cello Festival, Austin’s New Music Coop, Winnipeg Design Festival, Open Ears Festival, the WSO New Music Festival, SappyFest, Churchill Northern Studies Centre, FastForwardAustin, Mexico, Iceland and Germany. From the National Arts Centre to the Andy Warhol Museum to Yukon Arts Centre, she performs and records widely including with the Australian Art Orchestra, Houston Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, Nicole Lizee’s SaskPower, percussionist Ben Reimer, visual artist Shary Boyle and songwriters John K. Samson and longtime collaborator, Christine Fellows. On faculty at Brandon University, she’s a popular adjudicator and lecturer, appearing at NYC’s Parsons School of Design, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Banff’s Research In Culture workshop and co-directing Wheat City Nuit Blanche, A Wild Studio (Canadian National Parks) and Hybrid Intensive San Francisco.

Proximus 5

The “exquisite,” “spine-tingling” unaccompanied voices of Proximus 5 sing timeless, deeply moving a cappella music from across the ages. Their favourite genres include folk, contemporary covers, and contemplative classics, often featuring new arrangements by the group.

After singing together in other ensembles for many years, they came together during the pandemic to keep some musical proximity ("proximus!"). Their performances celebrate the power of music to connect one another and soothe the soul. In their inaugural year, they performed three concerts to sold-out audiences in Winnipeg; this year, they’ve taken their show on the road to the US Midwest and are delighted to be performing in Montreal for Podium.

Proximus 5 is Scott Reimer, James Magnus-Johnston, Paul Bruch-Wiens, Dan Rochegood, and Jereme Wall.