About
Centric MusicFest and Primo Music Association
Centric MusicFest
Since its inaugural event in 2014, Centric MusicFest has become a permanent fixture in the City of Lethbridge’s flourishing art and music scene. Building upon the success of its founder, Jesse Plessis, the annual summer classical and art music festival grew under the stewardship of Executive and Artistic Director Ryan Kolodziej who was in the position through to the 10th Anniversary Festival. Our performances feature a combination of local and visiting world-class Canadian and international musicians from coast-to-coast-to-coast.
Participating artists are encouraged to collaborate in at least one of several concerts to foster professional and cultural connections between local musicians and those from visiting arts communities from around the world.
Primo Music Association
The parent organization responsible for Centric MusicFest and any other music events presented outside of the summer festival season, Primo emerged from Artistic and Executive Director Ryan Kolodziej’s strong desire to promote high quality classical and art music in his home town. Under the stewardship of Melanie Gattiker, Zain Solinski, Daniel Greeve, Maxime Boutin-Caron and Whitney Griffith, Primo achieved non-profit status under the Alberta Societies Act on January 31, 2020. Melanie, Zain, Daniel, Maxime and Whitney are all proud to have served on the organisation’s inaugural board, officially elected at the first Annual General Meeting in January 2019.
OUR PEOPLE
Lavinia Kell Parker, Executive and Artistic Director
Lavinia’s use of improvisation with traditional compositional elements has earned her the New Genre Award from the International Alliance of Women in Music, as well as top prizes in choral composition, including from the New York Treble Singers, Vancouver Bach Choir, Choral Canada, and the Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition.
Lavinia loves the creative aspect of customizing music that fits both her artistic vision, and which also carefully showcases the strengths of performers. Among her recent collaborations, she has especially enjoyed writing for the Allegra Chamber Orchestra, Penderecki String Quartet, Guitarist Iliana Matos, Clemson University carillonneur Linda Dzuris, as well as works for both elite and community choirs. Her choral works have been performed by choirs internationally and broadcast on CBC radio and PBS television.
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An educator of over 20 years, Lavinia has focused on bringing the joy of music to children and is the founder of Coulee Composers, a composition club for youth in southern Alberta. She is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and an Instructor at the University of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music.
Her music is published with ECS, Galaxy Music, CMC, and Cypress Publishing and can also be obtained by contacting the composer through her website.
Tanner Lapointe, Assistant Artistic Director
Tanner is a performer, educator, and conductor who holds both a Bachelor of Music (Vocal Performance) and a Bachelor of Education (Music Education). He has brought a wide range of characters to life from across opera and musical theatre, including from The Magic Flute, Carmen, The Barber of Seville, The Gondoliers, Candide, and Transformations, as well as numerous concert performances across Alberta and British Columbia.
As a concert soloist, he has been featured in concert works including Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Fauré’s Requiem, and selections from Bach’s Christmas Oratorio – his choral work engagements have been broadcast on CBC Radio, in both live and recorded formats.
Tanner is also one half of Tan & Jam, a vocal duo dedicated to presenting high-quality, community-focused concert experiences. In the 2024/2025 season, they presented 17 concert performances across Southern Alberta. The duo has partnered with organizations such as the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, Lethbridge Pridefest, University of Lethbridge, Concerts in Care Alberta, and more…
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Equally active as a conductor and educator, Tanner has led school, community, and chamber choirs and has served as a music director and assistant music director for theatrical productions throughout the region. He teaches private voice through the University of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music and serves as the Program Coordinator for the Share Your Voice! Musical Theatre Camp, where he encourages students to explore the relationship between personal identity, expression, and vocal artistry.
Tanner is thrilled to be joining the Centric Music Festival as Assistant Artistic Director and looks forward to contributing to Centric’s commitment to inspiring performances, innovative programming, and meaningful community engagement.
2024-2025 Board of Directors
Isaiah Chadney, Director at Large
Isaiah is a recent graduate of the University of Lethbridge, having completed his Bachelor of Music in Trumpet Performance under the instruction of Dr. Josh Davies.
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Passionate about music theory, history, and research, Isaiah is currently pursuing a Masters of Musicology degree at the University of Toronto in Ontario. Isaiah also currently serves as editorial assistant for the Intersections: Canadian Journal of Musicology under English-language editor Dr. Paul Sanden.
As a life-long music fan, Isaiah displays a passion for promoting all aspects of music and art through his community involvement and volunteerism. Isaiah has been a regular member of the Lethbridge Community Band Society since 2017 and has previously volunteered at a range of Lethbridge Symphony and Centric MusicFest events. Isaiah is also currently a board member of the parent organization responsible for the Mosaic Music Festival (formerly the Lethbridge Jazz Society), where he helps to promote and bring various styles of jazz and other world music to the city.
As a regular volunteer and attendee of events by the PMA in the past, Isaiah is both thankful and excited to join the Board of Directors in their mission of bringing high-quality classical music to the city.”
John-Paul Ksiazek, President
John-Paul teaches music lessons and is the organist at McKillop United Church. A gifted and enthusiastic teacher, John-Paul teaches piano, organ, music theory, and coaches and accompanies a wide range of singers and instrumentalists. He also performs regularly, most recently performing Beethoven’s “Emperor” Concerto with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra this past May, and Schumann’s Piano Quintet with the MSQ Quartet in November.
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John-Paul has a Master of Music degree from the University of Alberta and a D.É.S.S. from the University of Montréal, and he was an artist-in-residence at The Banff Centre. When not engaged in his musical pursuits, John-Paul is an avid gardener, hiker, and fly fisherman. He also enjoys building things and squeezes in woodworking when time allows.
Barbara Darby, Secretary/Treasurer and Director at Large
Barbara Darby has returned to her hometown of Lethbridge after studying and working for many years in Ontario and Nova Scotia. She is a lawyer by trade and enjoys creative writing and hiking and walking in the local landscapes. She is an amateur cellist; some have described her playing as resembling that of the song of a bluejay, enthuasiastic but grating.
Natasha Renners, Director at Large
Natasha Reners is a pianist and educator with a Bachelor of Music from the University of Lethbridge and a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Literature from Western University. She works as a collaborative pianist for students at the University of Lethbridge and teaches a small private studio from her home.
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Natasha is passionate about making classical music accessible and meaningful in her community. She is thrilled to support the Primo Music Association’s mission of bringing world-class classical music to Lethbridge. When she’s not at the piano, Natasha enjoys exploring the coulees and mountains with her husband, son, and their golden doodle pup.
Isaac Risling, Director at Large
Isaac Risling is a pianist born and raised in Southern Alberta, passionate about music education, leadership, and collaboration. Isaac has performed throughout southern Alberta and B.C., both as a soloist and collaborator. He is completing his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Lethbridge, where, throughout his studies, he has assisted with voice and instrumental recitals, and is the active collaborative pianist for The University of Lethbridge Singers’ Choir, as well as the pianist for three of the University of Lethbridge Music Conservatory’s choirs.
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Isaac encourages success with students and choirs he collaborates with, who he has assisted in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Edmonton, and Alberta Provincial festivals. He has shared his musical passions and talents with many ensembles, including Global Drums, University of Lethbridge Jazz Ensemble, University of Lethbridge Wind Orchestra, and, most recently, with Kantorei Music’s concert “Luminous Night of The Soul,” sharing the stage with contemporary composer and pianist Ola Gjeilo.
Aside from piano, Isaac enjoys tutoring theory students and serving as a junior conductor with the choirs he plays for. He recently premiered his first String Quartet, “eternal longing” in February of 2025, and is working on more choral compositions with hopes to bring his work to Lethbridge. You may also have seen Isaac in musical theatre productions in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, notably in Footloose and Full Monty (LMT) and in Titanic, Young Frankenstein, and The Last Five Years (MHMT). Isaac is so excited to assist in bringing exquisite music life to its fullest in Lethbridge with his fellow Primo Board members.
Michelle Thibodeau, Director at Large
Michelle is originally from the province of Québec and studied medicine at the University of Sherbrooke. She works as a hospitalist at Chinook Regional Hospital. She also works at the University of Lethbridge clinic, where she teaches residents. Michelle does not have any musical background but likes new challenges and being involved in the community. She enjoyes the mountains, skiing, hiking and trail running with her playful golden doodle.
Our Festival
Since its inaugural event in 2014, Centric MusicFest has become a permanent fixture in the City of Lethbridge's flourishing art and music scene. Building upon the success of its founder, Jesse Plessis, the annual summer classical and art music festival has grown under the stewardship of Artistic Director Ryan Kolodziej to feature a combination of local and visiting world-class Canadian and international musicians from coast-to-coast-to-coast. Read more...
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