Lorena Kelly, President

President Dec 2021-Dec 2023
Vice-President 2014-2021

Lorena developed a passion for classical piano as a child, and enjoyed performing and competing in festivals. After high school she studied contemporary keyboards at Professional Musicians’ College, and began fronting her own pop band Arden Jones as singer/songwriter, and performing with bands in country, jazz, folk and pop including Desert Sky, The Micheals Trio, Melanie Laine, The Stephanie Thomson Band, Tracey James and others. Through these she released albums, charted in the U.S. Top 50 for radio airplay, made numerous national TV appearances and performed across Canada, in the U.S. and internationally. She also sat in on keyboards in numerous projects such as the CKRM Big Country Talent Show house band, Voices of the North house band, Steve Fox, Casey Stone, Wonderland, Terri-Anne Strongarm, musical theatre productions and many others. Through her day job at SaskMusic Lorena has helped promote the music of Saskatchewan, consulting with artists, coordinating conferences and events, running marketing campaigns, and overseeing non-profit operations, among other roles. She has sat on boards and committees including the Western Canadian Music Alliance, JUNO Host Committee, CCMA Host Committee, Creative Saskatchewan nominations committee, Sask. Festivals Committee, and many others in addition to launching Women in Music Saskatchewan.

Brian Sklar, Vice-President

Vice-President Dec 2021-2022 (completing the 2-year term vacated by Lorena Kelly moving into President)
MPTF Representative and president emeritus
President 2009-2021
Board member 1999-2009

Brian was born and raised in Prince Albert and has lived in Regina since 1993. A singer, songwriter, recording artist, studio musician, record and television producer and professional entertainer since 1969, he’s performed in 42 U.S. states, and 45 European tours including headlining the world’s largest country jamboree in Mirande, France. His credits include over 250 television shows, including producer and host of 139 episodes of CTV series Number One West; house band leader on CTV network series Funny Farm; producer and host of PolkaRama on Access and Shaw TV; two seasons producer and band leader of Stampede Jamboree, syndicated TV series shot in Calgary; organizer/producer of TV special featuring Walter Ostanek and Frankie Yankovic; over 50 telethons in Canada and the US, Tommy Hunter Show, Tim Daniels Show, Sun Country, Big Sky Country, and 30 albums, both as a solo artist and as a band leader. He was nominated for a Grammy in 2008. His board work includes co-founding the Calgary chapter of Dreams Take Flight; Sask. Country Music Association; Saskatchewan Recording Industry Association; Regina Aboriginal Kinsmen (KIN) Club; Spring Free From Racism Family Day; and Brighter Futures for Children.

Carmelle Pretzlaw, Secretary

Secretary Dec 2021-2024
Board member 2019-2021

Carmelle Pretzlaw is a section violinist with the Regina Symphony Orchestra who has also performed and recorded with Saskatchewan artists such as Poor Nameless Boy, Jason Plumb, Jeffery Straker, Belle Plaine, Wolf Willow, and Indigo Joseph. In addition, she regularly performs with and arranges music for the Pile of Bows String Quartet and Latinos en Regina Mariachi Band. Carmelle received her master’s in music in 2007 from the University of Regina where she studied with Eduard Minevich, and she currently teaches violin at Briercrest College and Briercrest Conservatory of the Performing Arts.

Alan Denike, Treasurer

Treasurer Dec 2021-2024
Secretary-Treasurer 2018-2021
Board member 2016-2018

Alan Denike was the Principal Bassoonist in the Regina Symphony Orchestra and the Regina Symphony Chamber Players from 1974-2017. He holds a Bachelor of Music Degree and a Performer’s Certificate in Bassoon Performance from the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, New York, and a Masters Degree in Conducting from the University of Regina. Since taking up the position of Music Director/Conductor with the South Saskatchewan Youth Orchestra (SSYO) in 1989, he has helped the orchestra grow from 45 to as many as 80 musicians and guided the orchestra in festivals in Canada, the U.S., Scotland, and Austria. The SSYO has produced three CDs and toured Saskatchewan in 1997 to celebrate its 20th Anniversary. In 2007, Alan was awarded the Arts Management Award from the City of Regina’s Mayor’s Arts and Business Awards and in 2015, was awarded the Orchestral Development Award from the Saskatchewan Orchestral Association. Alan has conducted the Regina Symphony Orchestra (RSO) on numerous occasions over the last 25 years. He has also conducted both the University of Regina Chamber Orchestra and University of Regina Band. Since 2015, Alan has often conducted the RSO Kids Concerts.

Joe Giesinger, Sergeant-at-Arms

Seargeant-at-Arms Dec 2020-2022
Seargeant-at-Arms Dec 2018-2020
and prior years

Joe started an interest in music at a very young age, having been born into a family of musicians from both parents’ sides. His dad’s entire family played instruments as well as most of his mothers’. Many whom had become very famous musicians and even produced several albums, at least one of which went gold (Betty and Her Brothers Five), Chris Gage – his stage name, actually Chris Giesinger performed as a pianist, with some of the biggest big band names in the industry. Joe grew up with many house parties turning into jam sessions. It was a yearly tradition for his grandparents and Great Aunt to host large New Years Day family gatherings where his uncles would assemble a “group”, set up in a space in the kitchen and play their music, enjoy a meal and drinks, then pack up and move on to another house. “Their drummer, my “adopted Uncle” Luke Vancha (not really an uncle but for a 2 1/2 year old, he was out of respect) used to set me on his knee and hold the drum sticks in my hands as they played. I was an instant hit with my family and looked forward to my performances each year.”

As years went by, Joe took a liking to the drums and beat on just about anything when he heard a song he liked. “We formed our first garage band in grade seven and by high school, I had picked up enough chops to join the school stage band, the Air Cadet marching band, later even teaching fundamentals to younger cadet hopefuls. Over the years I have shared the stage with many well-known performers, recording artists, the likes of Buddy Knox, Brian Sklar, Mel West, Brad Johner, Jack Semple, Rick Morgenstern and many more.” Joe has been a proud member of the Regina local since the late ’70s, serving many years as Sgt at Arms.

Dennis Ficor, Board Member

Board member, Dec 2021-2023
Board member, Dec 2019-2021

Dennis is a well-known accordionist who has spent a lifetime performing in many different bands around Saskatchewan.

Darlene Barss, Office Administrator (part-time)

Darlene came on board with RMA 446 in spring 2022 following the departure of office administrator Trudy Sklar. We thank Trudy for her many years of dedicated work.

Darlene handles day-to-day administrative duties such as processing memberships, answering questions and filing our correspondences with the Canadian Federation of Musicians head office.