​​SJASD Children's Concert Choir Director

Christina Swart

Christina Swart has been teaching elementary music in SJASD for 16 years. She has also taught Middle Years choral. She currently teaches Kindergarten to Grade 5 music at Lakewood School and is certified as an Orff Specialist. Christina enjoys directing her school choirs, winter concerts, and musicals. Christina directed the SJASD Junior Divisional Choir for a one-year term and received the John B. Somerset Shield in the Winnipeg Music Festival for most outstanding performance by a Youth Community Choir.

Christina graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education. She studied as a voice major with a minor in choral music. Christina sang in the University of Manitoba Singers under the direction of Henry Engbrecht and Elroy Friesen. She received her Post-Baccalaureate in Education from the University of Manitoba. Christina also plays the piano and flute. She has been a member of The Winnipeg Singers and Manitoba Opera Chorus.

Growing up in St. James Assiniboia, Christina's love for music started at a young age. She is a proud alumna of the SJASD Divisional Choir family. She sang in the SJASD Children's, Junior, and Senior Divisional Choirs and performed in the Divisional Musicals. She graduated from Silver Heights Collegiate and participated in all the school choirs, bands, and musicals. She credits her many choral directors, band teachers, and music teachers for inspiring her to become a music teacher and Choral director.

Aside from teaching, Christina loves being outdoors in nature with her three children Christian, Anna, and Mary, and her Bernese Mountain dog.  

SJASD Junior Concert Choir Director

Heather Neufeld

Heather Neufeld graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education. Her main instrument of study was the piano and she majored in Choral and minored in Band. As an accompanist, Heather played for the Winnipeg Girls' Choir, the Irish Association and various churches and schoolC)s throughout Winnipeg. She has performed with many choral groups, including the University Singers, ECCO, and numerous church choirs and small ensembles. Heather was the Director of the Winnipeg Girls' Choir for ten years, as well as the Acting Choral Clinician throughout the province.

Heather has taught music in various elementary, middle and high schools throughout the St. James-Assiniboia School Division. Her choirs have received Gold standings as well as recommendations to the National Music Festival. In 2023, Heather was the recipient of the Michael J. Proudfoot Award, recognizing a conductor exemplifying a passion for excellence in choral work. She is currently the Director of the Choirs and Musical Theatre program at Westwood Collegiate and also directs the award-winning St. James-Assiniboia Divisional Junior Concert Choir. Aside from teaching, Heather enjoys spending time with her husband, Tim, and her four children.  

SJASD Senior Concert Choir Director

Avonlea Armstrong-Green 

Avonlea Armstrong-Green has been teaching music in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division in Winnipeg for 20 years, having taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. She currently teaches Concert Choir, Vocal Jazz, Musical Theatre, and Family Studies at Sturgeon Heights Collegiate, and directs the award-winning St. James-Assiniboia Senior Divisional Choir. She holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education (A.D) from Brandon University, graduating with the gold medal in Music Education, as well as an Associate degree in piano performance from the Royal Conservatory of Music. She holds a Post-Baccalaureate in Education from the University of Manitoba and is certified as an Orff specialist. Most recently, she obtained a Masters in Choral Conducting from the University of Manitoba, graduating with the gold medal in her program. In 2025, 2023 and 2013, Avonlea was the recipient of the Michael J. Proudfoot Award, recognizing a conductor exemplifying a passion for excellence in choral work. In the summer, she enjoys teaching the choral component of the Orff certification program at the U of M. She is active as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor throughout the province and enjoys building relationships and sharing her love for choral music with students of all ages. Aside from teaching, Avonlea sings and plays piano in her church band, and loves spending time with her husband, Joel and sons, Crosby and Rylan.​