Performer Bios

The Yorktones

The Yorktones are a singing group whose repertoire includes gospel, country, pop, rock, barbershop, doo-wop, spiritual, and anything else they find enjoyable. All songs are arranged specifically for the group. The group has been around since the 1950’s in one form or another but in the early 1990’s was restarted by four members of St. Andrew’s United Church choir. 

Jennifer Maier – Alto

Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Saskatchewan and works in marketing. She is an active member of the Yorkton Paperbag Players theatre group and sings in the Yorkton Community Choir.  She enjoys gardening and cooking and especially looks forward to camping every summer with her son Jameson. 

Tim Linsley – Tenor

Tim is a former band teacher and bison rancher and is currently co-treasurer for St. Andrew’s United Church in Yorkton. He first started singing with the Yorktones in 1993. He also sings in the St. Andrew’s church choir and the Yorkton Community Choir. Tim has Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Saskatchewan. Along with singing Tim enjoys playing the clarinet, saxophone and guitar, arranging music, camping and snowmobiling and spending time with his wife Kerry and their two boys, Andrew and Matthew.

Murray Stewart – Baritone, Piano

Murray Stewart is a retired music teacher and choir director who taught at Yorkdale Central School for 30 years. He began singing with the Yorktones in 1993. He enjoys golf in the summer and playing the piano as hobbies. The road between Yorkton and Calgary has become well- travelled as Nana and Papa try to keep up with their three grandchildren.

Martin Phillips – Bass

Martin is a retired teacher and farmer. During his teaching career he was an STF counsellor for 12 years and served as chairperson of the teachers local negotiating committee for the Yorkdale school division number 36 for many years. He was a part of the community theatre with Gloria Herauf and was part of the community theatre in Saltcoats for several years. He is past chairperson of the Yellowhead Nature Society.  Martin is also an amateur photographer.

Shani Apland – Piano

Shani has been involved in the music community of Yorkton as a piano and theory teacher, accompanist for students, Yorkton Community Theatre, Yorkton Community Choir, and Organist and Choir Director for St. Andrew’s United Church.

She received her Associate Piano Performance Degree under the mentorship of Lyle Gustin of Saskatoon. Shani is a founding member of the Yorkton Registered Music Teachers Association. In 2005, Shani was presented with the Lieutenant Governor’s Sask. Centennial Medal by the Lieutenant Governor to recognize her many contributions to the Arts. She received the Golden Note Award from the Sask. Choral Federation in 2007 and the Canada 150 Medal in 2017. Shani is currently in her 54^th year as the organist and choir director at St. Andrew’s United Church.

Shani is married to husband Greg and has 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

Kerry Linsley – Piano

Kerry is retired band teacher who taught in the Good Spirit School division for many years. Kerry sometimes plays piano for services at St. Andrew’s and sings in the St. Andrew’s church choir and the Yorkton Community Choir. Kerry has Bachelor of Music Education and Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Saskatchewan. Kerry enjoys camping and spending time with her family.

Christa Schmelinsky – Flute                                  

Christa is a teacher in Yorkton who began playing flute under the direction of Mrs. (Kerry) Linsley in 1997. Since then, Christa has played in various groups including the Yorkton community concert band and the U of R concert band.  She also enjoys playing with the St. Andrew’s choir. Christa has two daughters who keep her busy, but finds time to enjoy acting in, and directing drama productions, gardening and reading. 

Evia McDowell – Piano

Evia is currently a grade 12 student at the Yorkton Regional High School. During her senior year she kept herself very busy by being the captain of both the girls’ soccer and basketball teams at her school. She also competed at the Skills Saskatchewan competition for public speaking, where she was awarded second place. In the community she is a volunteer coach for many youth basketball programs. She also enjoys teaching piano and performing piano whenever she can! Evia is currently working towards her Associate level piano exam which will occur at the end of June. Next year she plans on attending the University of Regina to pursue a nursing degree. 

Parker Hollinger – Voice

Parker is a graduate of the Yorkton Regional High School and completed his first year of vocal training in the Bachelors of Music degree at the U of S. He is looking to work towards an application into Medical School at the University of Saskatchewan to become an ENT. He was a member of the Greystone Singers at the University of Saskatchewan, performing in two concerts during the school year, and in the next year with the Greystones he will be joining the executive committee to help with planning of future events and choir outreach. Parker started work over the Summer with the Yorkton Brick Mill Heritage Society, giving guided tours through one of the last buildings from Yorkton’s early history and helping the committee of volunteers to restore the site for future generations.

Laurel Teichroeb – Piano

Laurel Teichroeb grew up in Springside, Sask. where she began lessons at age 7,  studying  piano with the late Jean Laube.  Coming from a musically rich community, her earliest influences were church music and singing at school.  Through the encouragement of her church organist, she began to play and accompany at a young age and began teaching at age 15.  It has been her passion ever since with a desire to help students find the joy of music at whatever skill level they are at.  

Nefes Gurkan-Marshall – Voice

Nefes is a chemical engineering student (with a minor in music performance) at the University of Toronto. She came to Saskatchewan to do her Co-op year. She has been singing in choirs since the 2nd grade and was in an intensive vocal music program at De La Salle secondary school in Ottawa.