Sammlung PP - George and Esther Wiebe fonds

George Wiebe was born in 1927 in Rosenort, Manitoba to father David Wiebe (1905-1989) and Margaretha “Greta” Ens (1905-1970). George Wiebe became an associate professor at Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg, Manitoba after receiving his master’s degree in music at the University Of Southern California School Of Music. In the summer of 1954-1955 Wiebe studied under Robert Shaw and Julius Herford at San Diego State College and soon after, in 1964 studied choral and orchestral conducting in Germany. In 1965 Wiebe conducted the Mennonite Oratorio Choir which often performed with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. As well as teaching at Canadian Mennonite Bible College and conducting nationally and internationally, Wiebe often arranged choral workshops with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Frank Shaw.

Esther Wiebe was born in 1932 to Peter and Anna Hiebert of Plum Coulee Manitoba. In 1953 she married George Wiebe. In 1954 Esther was hired as a music professor at Canadian Mennonite University along with her husband George Wiebe. Esther's spent much of her time teaching piano or accompanying various choral groups, often conducted by George Wiebe. Together Esther and George became an important force in church and community music-making in the Mennonite community and beyond. George and Esther Wiebe collaborated with Bill and Irmgard Baerg of Mennonite Brethren Bible College to create the Mennonite Oratorio Choir that bridged Mennonite denominations. Esther also composed and arranged numerous songs. Together Esther and George had 4 children, three of whom survived into adulthood.