The executive director of the Manitoba Choral Association is moving on.
Jenny Steinke-Magnus announced on March 14, that she will be stepping down for a position at another community organization.
“This was a major decision for me as I have loved working with MCA and the wider choral community these past few years,” said Steinke-Magnus in a statement.
Jenny spent nearly six years working with the Manitoba Choral Association, starting with MCA in 2019.
The lifelong choral singer and experienced arts administrator accomplished plenty in her short tenure with the organization.
During her time with MCA, Jenny grew the organization, launched innovative programs and events, established lasting community partnerships, redeveloped MCA's website and brand and digitized their lending library.
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jenny helped the MCA find creative ways to keep the music flowing including virtual meetups, virtual choir projects, a virtual ChoralFest and online panel discussions.
She spearheaded many exciting programs including the first-ever GATHER: Outdoor Choral Festival at the Lyric Theatre in 2022 and the BEYOND: Choral Symposium in 2023.
Her biggest accomplishment in 2024, was negotiating a partnership with the Winnipeg Arts Council for the Winnipeg 150: City of Song initiative which saw choirs celebrate the city's milestone with music and song.
“2024 was all about establishing partnerships with community organizations and choirs," said Jenny.
Up next, Jenny will join the Manitoba LGBT Chamber of Commerce as their program director. In this new role, Jenny will have the opportunity to serve members of Manitoba’s 2SLGBTQ+ and ally business community by establishing new programs, running networking and professional development events, redeveloping their website and enhancing membership benefits.
"The Manitoba choral community is truly unique, and MCA has left an indelible mark on me," said Jenny. “Through MCA I have found a place in this community and I will cherish the memories I have made with all of the members, conductors, singers, guest artists, musicians, and volunteers I have worked with over the years. I have made lifelong friendships that I know will endure long after I have left this role.”
A special farewell event has been planned to celebrate Jenny. The come-and-go party will take place on Thursday, March 27 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the MCA office.
Her last day with MCA will be March 28.