Accompanist Heather Klassen
Heather Klassen studied piano and chamber music at the Banff Centre for the Arts, and has a Bachelor of Music Degree in Piano Performance (with Distinction) from the University of Alberta.

Ms. Klassen worked for the Edmonton Opera Company for 3 years as rehearsal pianist for main stage productions, and had the privilege of working with internationally renowned conductors and singers. In addition, she was the touring pianist for Edmonton Opera's community and school tours.

Ms. Klassen spent five years in Toronto working as a freelance pianist and chamber musician, while also studying harp with Judy Loman of the Toronto Symphony. She earned an MBA degree in Arts Administration from York University in Toronto, before moving to Banff where she worked in administration for the Banff Centre for 6 years. She also continued to work as a pianist, with engagements at the Banff Springs Hotel, Chateau Lake Louise, Kananaskis Lodge and Rimrock Hotel.

Ms. Klassen had the opportunity to teach overseas at a university in Central Java, Indonesia for 4 years. Since returning to Canada in 2005, she has worked in not-for-profit management, as well as choral accompanying , freelance accompanying and vocal coaching. In the summer of 2009, she spent 3 months in the Yukon as pianist/musical director for a musical theatre production of Rendezvous, performing for Holland America cruise ship passengers on inland bus tours of the Yukon and Alaska.

She has been the pianist for the Bow Valley Chorus since 2006, and is also currently working as accompanist for the Performing Arts program at Central Memorial High School in Calgary.

Executive Director Variety Night! Concerts
Karen J Minish  

Karen J Minish is a versatile artist who has performed with major Canadian theatre and opera companies and in major centres in the United States (Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Kansas City and New York) and as far north as the Yukon. She has toured extensively in opera-in-the-schools programs for Manitoba Opera, Vancouver Opera and Opera Theatre of Alberta. Selected career highlights include: Josephine Strong in Urinetown; Maria Picariello in Filumena; the title role in Carmen and Suor Angelica; Mrs. Maurrant in Street Scene; the Witch in Hansel and Gretel; the Witch in Into the Woods; Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music; the Devil in A Soldier's Tale; Lillian in The Y2K Black Death Oratorio; Villa-Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras conducted by Aldo Parisot for the Banff Centre's Cello Fest; the Opera Singer in the major motion picture The Claim and her American concert debut at Merkin Concert Hall in New York city. Selected oratorio credits include soprano soloist for: Mozart's Requiem, Great Mass in C Minor and Vespers; Rutter's Requiem, The Reluctant Dragon, Magnificat and Mass of the Children; Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Handel's Messiah; Faure's Requiem and Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. Ms. Minish performs in concert with classical guitarist John Goulart and their collaborative CD Malaguena won an Alberta Recording Industry Award (ARIA) for Best Specialty Artist. She has also begun to add directing credits to her resume having assistant directed La Traviata and Carmen for Edmonton Opera. Karen has also produced/directed Suor Angelica for Canmore artsPeak Festival and is currently executive director of Bow Valley Chorus' annual Variety Night! concerts that feature the wildly popular mini-musical, abridged/choreographed and directed by her. Past productions include: Da Zounds of Musik, Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease, The Music Man, The Pajama Game and Guys and Dolls. Ms. Minish is also the director/soprano of The Castle Carolers, a caroling quartet who has been the resident carolers of The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for 14 years and are a much sought after quartet for other organizations and hotels in the Bow Valley and Calgary. Upcoming engagements for Ms. Minish include singing the role of Herlinda in a new opera, The Waiting Room by Mexican composer Lorena Orozco and the role of Woman 1 in the Sondheim revue Putting It Together at the Cornerstone Theatre in Canmore.