artistic Team

Sarah Sommer is an active choral conductor, vocalist and music educator in Winnipeg. She holds a Bachelor of Music (2017), Bachelor of Education (2017) and Post Baccalaureate diploma in vocal performance (2022) from the University of Manitoba, and currently teaches music and drama at Technical-Vocational High School. Along with her role as co-artistic director of Chai, Sarah is also the co-founder and co-artistic director of NUOVOCE Chamber Choir. She has appeared as choir member and soloist with many local ensembles, including Canzona, Dead of Winter (Camerata Nova), the Winnipeg Singers, and the Shaarey Zedek Quartet. Sarah’s additional directing credits, past and present, include: the Etz Chayim Synagogue Choir, Kolot Community Voices, WSD and LRSD Divisional choirs, and assisting with the Winnipeg Girls’ & Boys’ Choirs. Sarah first joined Chai in 2008 as a singer, and later went on to become assistant vocal director (2011-2014) and vocal director (2014-2017), before her appointment to the position of co-artistic director (2022). Sarah is honoured to be able to contribute to Chai’s ongoing legacy in its 60th year, and looks forward to sharing the stage with both alumni and current Chai performers.

Jesse Popeski has been a member of the Chai Folk Ensemble since 2015, first as the
guitarist and music director, and now as co-artistic director.  Jesse has a BA in music
from the University of Manitoba and is a freelance guitarist performing in a variety of
styles, from jazz in local bars and restaurants to singing old favourites at care homes
through the Artists in Healthcare Manitoba program.  He is also a music educator,
teaching guitar to aspiring musicians of all ages at the Winnipeg Conservatory of
Music.  For Jesse, the most exciting part of a Chai concert is seeing new pieces come
to life onstage with the full ensemble of singers, instrumentalists, and dancers, and the variety and sophistication of the six new commissions for the 60th anniversary is sure to make for a meaningful and memorable performance.

David Vamos is a music educator,performer, and active member of the Winnipeg’s Jewish arts community. He holdsa Bachelor of Music (Performance) from the University of Manitoba, as well as aBachelor of Education from OISE/University of Toronto. Since 2012, David hasbeen on faculty at the Gray Academy of Jewish Education, holding theposition of music and drama specialist. He has been a cantorial soloistand synagogue musician at Temple Shalom since 2019. David has been a member ofthe Chai Folk Ensemble since 2002, and has served as the group’s artisticdirector for the past seven seasons. He credits Chai with giving him formativeexperiences that led to a career in the Jewish arts and will miss his fellowdirectors and performers very much.

Rachael Buchwald has spent most of her life dancing! Rachael’s formal training began with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Recreational Division’s Intensive Training Program from 2013-2017, where she completed her Advanced 1 Cecchetti examinations and studied ballet, pointe, and modern. She also danced in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Recreational Division’s Dance Ensemble Program from 2012-2017, performing jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop pieces. Rachael has received professional ballet training at the Colorado Ballet Academy’s Summer Training Program in 2014, and at the Goh Ballet Academy’s Ballet Academic Program from 2015-2016 in Vancouver. Rachael has been a dancer with the Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble since 2017. She has travelled with the group to Cuba, Israel and Ukraine. Rachael was appointed Rehearsal Director in 2022 and is thrilled to contribute to the group in her new role as Dance Director!

Marissa Bosowec began dancing with the Shelley Shearer School of Dance at the young age of 3. She has trained in many styles including jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop and musical theatre. Marissa has competed in various Provincial and National competitions throughout her years of training, and has been able to travel to various dance conventions throughout Canada. She began her teaching career at 18 with Shelley Shearer and has been able to work with many dancers of different ages and abilities since then. Her choreography has won various awards amongst many Winnipeg dance competitions. Marissa has been a dancer with the Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble since 2019 and has performed in the Israel Pavilion at Folklorama as well as at the yearly concerts. She is so happy to join the artistic team as Rehearsal Director and continue dancing with the Chai Folk Ensemble for many future performances.

Sheena started as a dancer with Chai in 2004 and has been involved with the organization ever since in several roles: board member, dance co-director, archivist, and volunteer. Originally drawn to Chai after seeing the beautiful blue and white costumes at an annual concert, Sheena is happy to come full circle and help the current dancers shine on stage. A life-long dancer and supporter of Winnipeg’s vibrant arts and culture community, she has worked at several not-for-profit organizations, including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, and she is the board chair of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers. Sheena holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Winnipeg and a master’s degree in information management from the University of Toronto and works in communications and knowledge management at Manitoba Hydro.