Marla Fontaine is a proud graduate of Brandon University, where she earned a Bachelor of Music Specialist degree (Choral, Instrumental and General), a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Performance in Choral Conducting.  Throughout her career, she has taught music and choir to students of all ages, both in Winnipeg and Brandon.  Currently, Marla is the choral specialist at École secondaire Neelin High School, where she leads a concert choir, a vocal jazz ensemble, upper, lower, and mixed-voices chamber choirs, and teaches drama and musical theatre. 

One of Marla’s biggest passions is working with people to create community and beauty through music.  In her spare time, she co-conducts and sings in the adult choir, Konektis, and directs Great Plains Voices Thrive, a community youth choir.  Marla has had many exciting opportunities as a guest conductor and has particularly enjoyed working with the Western, Eastern and Central Manitoba Youth Choirs as well as the Provincial Honour Choir (now MB Sings).  She directed the Brandon Conservatory Chorale Youth Choirs for seven years.  She enjoys making music through small group gigging and musical theatre productions. Marla values music advocacy and professional development and is a past president of the Manitoba Music Educators’ Association.  She is thrilled to have the opportunity to direct the Brandon University Concert Choir this semester, and to collaborate with her mentor, Dr. Andrée Dagenais.