Wes Elias

Wes’ musical journeys have taken him from his Mennonite roots in rural Saskatchewan, through educational experiences at Canadian Mennonite Bible College (now Canadian Mennonite University) and the University of Toronto, where he studied organ with Douglas Bodle. Other organ teachers include Winnifred Sim, Peter Letkeman and Lawrence Ritchey. He has held organist and music director positions in churches in Toronto (Bellefair United, now Beach United), Port Hope, Ontario (St. Paul’s Presbyterian) and Winnipeg (Broadway First Baptist, Crestview United) before coming to St. Andrew’s as organist in 2009. He is active as a private music teacher, Royal Conservatory of Music Examiner and as an accompanist and performer on both organ and piano. Wes is married to Bertha Hoeppner Elias, also a music teacher. They are the parents of two grown sons, Evan and Graham.

Katy Harmer

Katy Harmer (she/her) is a choral conductor, educator, singer, and administrator based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Katy is currently the Artistic Director for Margaret’s Choir, Music Director at St. Andrew’s River Heights, co-founder of the Winnipeg Beer Choir, and founder of Winnipeg Upper Voices. She was the Assistant Director of Prairie Voices from 2017-2021, and also leads choral workshops. She recently completed a Master of Music at the University of Manitoba, studying with Dr. Elroy Friesen. A lifelong choral musician originally from Toronto, Katy has also lived and made music in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. She believes that music, and especially choral music, is the best way to build community, and she loves collaborating and making new connections. Katy also enjoys her work on a vegetable farm in East St. Paul, knitting, and playing Ultimate Frisbee.