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Criselda Mierau
Founding Artistic Director
Artistic Director
Criselda Mierau is an accomplished pianist, singer, actress, and choral conductor. She has performed with Tommy Banks, Da Camera Singers, and Edmonton Opera Chorus and conducted award winning performers like Johnny Collins JR, Nora Bumanis, Charlie Austin and PJ Perry. She was also a choral administrator for the 2001 World Track & Field Championships Opening Ceremonies in Edmonton.
A talented accompanist, Criselda has played for auditions, festivals and stage productions, as well as workshops and reading sessions for Lydia Adams, Mac Huff, Linda Spevacek and Marc Hafso. She accompanied the Alberta Honour Children’s Choir under the direction of Linda Beaupre.
Criselda enjoys her work with non-auditioned community groups to the extent that she considers it a life-long passion. Under her 31 years at the helm of the St Albert Singers Guild, the choirs thrived and produced 5 recordings, too many concerts to count and embarked on numerous tours within Canada and Europe.
Acting Out Musical Theatre started in 2008 with Criselda as the original founding director. Many revue-style shows and full-out musical theatre productions later, AOMT continues to enjoy much success under her watchful and playful eye.
Verla Carter (Manager)
Admin, graphic design, general manager, assistant to the executive director
Returning to work alongside Criselda Mierau allows Verla to use her administrative skills (honed over many years) and her love of music to collaborate on these two new exciting choirs.
Bart Oleksy (Techie Guy)
Technology Manager, assistant to general manager and executive director
As a computer geek from an early age, Bart loves to tinker with technology and help AOMT and Criselda wherever he can. This includes website work, QR codes, social media setup, and learning new ways to implement Criselda's vision.
A long-time NAIT instructor in the Digital Media & IT program, 'Barto' also fervently cheers for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Oilers.
Katya Mierau
Writing, Choreography, assistant to the artistic director
Katya grew up singing and dancing and acting from the age of 5 - or perhaps it was really from birth, given that she grew up in a household full of music!
As a teen, she joined AOMT initially as a performer only, but added the position of choreographer and assistant director just a few years later. Now, she's added to her resume as co-writer of The Hammet Hawk!
This group has afforded her unique opportunities to dig up her long-buried dance skills and to better develop her voice in singing, in writing, and in leadership, for which she will be forever grateful.
Working with her mother Criselda in different ways through the years has been an incredible learning experience and she truly could ask for no better mentor or writing partner.
Katya is thrilled to be a part of AOMT in any and all capacities and is excitedly anticipating the future of the group as it branches out into more genres and styles, letting her stretch her creative muscles to further heights.
Roger Thiessen
Assistant Conductor
Laurie McDonald
Stage Manager and more
Laurie McDonald
Stage Manager, Head of running crew, Safety advisor
Laurie (she/her) is a St Albert-based children’s librarian, stage manager and self-appointed safety gal (accident forecaster/safety squad leader/accident avoider/safety enforcer/danger eliminator/safety ranger).
Originally from Manitoba, she’s a lifelong lover of reading, music and the theatre. Laurie has enjoyed working with AOMT for over a decade and is looking forward to what Criselda has planned for us in the future!
Deborah Hamel
Sets, Props, Costumes and stage advice
BIO - coming soon
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS
- Keat Machtemes (Accompanist)
- Spencer Schafers (Voice Part Specialist and assistant to the Artistic Director)
- Taylor Fawcett (Vocal Coach)