artistic Team

Jesse Popeski has been a member of the Chai Folk Ensemble since 2015, first as the
guitarist and music director, and now as co-artistic director.  Jesse has a BA in music
from the University of Manitoba and is a freelance guitarist performing in a variety of
styles, from jazz in local bars and restaurants to singing old favourites at care homes
through the Artists in Healthcare Manitoba program.  He is also a music educator,
teaching guitar to aspiring musicians of all ages at the Winnipeg Conservatory of
Music.  For Jesse, the most exciting part of a Chai concert is seeing new pieces come
to life onstage with the full ensemble of singers, instrumentalists, and dancers, and the variety and sophistication of the six new commissions for the 60th anniversary is sure to make for a meaningful and memorable performance.

Braden Ganetsky has been playing bass since age 10 and singing since age 11, and it wasn't too many years until he joined Chai doing both of these. Braden joined the Chai singers in 2013 as a tenor, and he joined the Chai band in 2015 as the bassist, where he sings from the orchestra pit. To this day, Braden is grateful to have Chai as his main artistic outlet, to continue singing and playing bass, and to bring his passion for music to the Chai singers as the vocal director. Outside of Chai, Braden also sings under Sarah Sommer's direction in the NUOVOCE Chamber Choir. In his professional life, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Manitoba, and currently works as a Professional Engineer in software.

Rachael Buchwald has spent most of her life dancing! Rachael’s formal training began with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Recreational Division’s Intensive Training Program from 2013-2017, where she completed her Advanced 1 Cecchetti examinations and studied ballet, pointe, and modern. She also danced in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School’s Recreational Division’s Dance Ensemble Program from 2012-2017, performing jazz, contemporary, and hip-hop pieces. Rachael has received professional ballet training at the Colorado Ballet Academy’s Summer Training Program in 2014, and at the Goh Ballet Academy’s Ballet Academic Program from 2015-2016 in Vancouver. Rachael has been a dancer with the Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble since 2017. She has travelled with the group to Cuba, Israel and Ukraine. Rachael was appointed Rehearsal Director in 2022 and is thrilled to contribute to the group in her new role as Dance Director!

Zahra's love of dance began at the age of three and has remained a constant throughout her life. She began her training at Kids Etc. Youth Movement Co., where she studied ballet, jazz and tap, while also beginning her journey in Israeli folk dance at the Lisa Cohen School of Dance. She later continued her Israeli dance training at the Robyn Braha School of Dance, where she also had the opportunity to teach. Alongside her Israeli folk dance training, Zahra spent a year studying at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to further develop her technical dance experience.In 2019, Zahra joined the Sarah Sommer Chai Folk Ensemble, a moment that felt like a dream come true. Her love for the ensemble began years earlier, when she first watched Chai perform at Shalom Square during Folklorama at just six years old. She was immediately captivated by the dancers and their performances, so much so that she went home and began teaching herself the choreography by watching videos of the ensemble on YouTube. With both of her parents having been singers in the group, Chai has always held a particularly special place in Zahra's heart. She feels deeply connected to the ensemble's history and legacy and is passionate about contributing to its present and future.What makes Chai so special to Zahra is its unique ability to bring together live music, singing and dance to celebrate and share Jewish and Israeli culture, traditions and values. She believes that the performing arts are a powerful way to educate, connect and bring communities together, offering audiences a meaningful opportunity to experience Jewish and Israeli culture through music and movement. Above all, she believes it is the people who make Chai what it is, from the singers, musicians and dancers to the incredible audiences whose continued support makes every performance so meaningful.Zahra is excited to step into her role as Assistant to the Dance Director and to dedicate more of her time to supporting the dancers, contributing to the artistic development of the ensemble and helping foster the welcoming, passionate community that makes Chai so extraordinary.Outside of dance, Zahra is in her fourth year at the University of Winnipeg, pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Sociology. She hopes to attend law school in the future and pursue a career in family law. A strong passion for community involvement, education and bringing people together has always been central to who she is, both on and off the stage.

Sheena started as a dancer with Chai in 2004 and has been involved with the organization ever since in several roles: board member, dance co-director, archivist, and volunteer. Originally drawn to Chai after seeing the beautiful blue and white costumes at an annual concert, Sheena is happy to come full circle and help the current dancers shine on stage. A life-long dancer and supporter of Winnipeg’s vibrant arts and culture community, she has worked at several not-for-profit organizations, including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada, and she is the board chair of Winnipeg’s Contemporary Dancers. Sheena holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Winnipeg and a master’s degree in information management from the University of Toronto and works in communications and knowledge management at Manitoba Hydro.

Chava Rosemblit has been the Stage Manager for the Chai Folk Ensemble since Folklorama 2010. Known for her calm problem-solving skills and ability to keep productions running smoothly, she manages everything backstage — from coordinating performers to making sure every show goes off without a hitch, no matter the theatre or country. Chava also serves as a translator for the group in Hebrew and Spanish when traveling, helping the ensemble navigate international performances with ease. Outside the stage, she works as a Supply Chain Specialist and holds a degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management — skills that come in handy when managing both global supply chains and busy backstage environments.