Esther Wiebe

Esther Anna Wiebe (nee Hiebert)
Born: March 18, 1932
Died: January 26, 2023

Esther pursued her musical studies in Winnipeg, including two years at Canadian Mennonite Bible College (CMBC), where she met George. They married in 1953, and were hired by CMBC to further develop the music program. Sabbaticals included studies in piano accompaniment with Gwendolyn Koldofsky in Los Angeles, piano and harpsichord studies in Detmold, Germany, and composition studies with Bernhard Heiden in Bloomington, Indiana. Esther achieved the highest provincial standing in her LMM diploma in piano performance from the Western Board of Music.

Esther taught music theory courses at CMBC, and helped administer its music program. She arranged and composed music for the College, the wider church, and the Faith and Life Male choir. For five decades, Esther and George collaborated in a remarkable partnership, training and performing with choirs in Canada and beyond, with Esther enriching performances with her musical and improvisatory skills at the piano.

Her life work influenced worship music in Mennonite churches. This ranged from useful arrangements of music used in congregational services, to major compositions for milestone events. These include folk operas The Bridge, and Crossroads, and cantatas for choir and orchestra: Maranatha, That They May Be One, Thy Kingdom Come, and The Abiding Place.

After retirement, Esther and George served in music in various Mennonite church contexts, including Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Springfield Heights Church in Winnipeg.