Camp Staff

Music camp staff are passionate about music, leadership, and creativity. They can't wait to meet this summer's co-hort of campers! 

Staff Applications for summer 2025 are closed.

Mykayla Turner

Director Mykayla Turner

Mykayla Turner is a former music student and Student Council President of Conrad Grebel University College. She recently earned a Master of Sacred Music degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Currently, she works as a worship coordinator for a Mennonite congregation in rural Ontario. She is excited to apply her skills in a new context as director of Ontario Mennonite Music Camp! Mykayla is eager to introduce campers to music from a variety of sources in a supportive, community-oriented environment.

Get to know the team!

OMMC Staff Biographies

Ben Thiessen

Ben Thiessen

Ben Thiessen is a 4th year student at Wilfrid Laurier University studying Economics and Political Science, and he is super excited to be working at OMMC this year! He attended music camp from 2014 - 2016 and is looking forward to creating the same memorable experience for this year's campers! As the Rec director, Ben is planning a host of games and activities for all the times the campers aren't making music. Ben has played music nearly his whole life, playing piano for 17 years and achieving his grade 10 RCM in 2017. He picked up the trumpet in Grade 6 to play in his school band, and has loved it ever since! When he isn't playing music, Ben enjoys indoor rock climbing, reading sci-fi novels, and watching movies. Ben is pumped to work with the other OMMC staff to build an awesome two weeks of camp!

Oliver Lingertat

Oliver Lingertat

Oliver Lingertat is a recent graduate from the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ in Computing and Financial Management. He has held musical leadership and instruction roles as the concertmaster of the Kawartha Youth Orchestra, section leader in the orchestra@uwaterloo, and as a beginners violin instructor. He has also performed with the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, University of À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ Chamber Choir, and in the pit band or cast of several student musicals. Oliver is looking forward to sharing his love of music with campers this summer!

Kate Strathdee

Kate Strathdee

Kate is excited to be returning to OMMC this summer! She is a soprano vocalist, violinist, and a member of Menno Singers. Kate completed a Bachelor of Global and International Studies at Carleton University and has worked at summer camps, in public service and elementary schools. She is in her second year of the Master of Theological Studies program at Grebel this fall, in addition to working at an elementary school. Kate can’t wait to meet new campers, sing and play beautiful music, and make lifelong memories!

Isabel Song

Isabel Song

Isabel Song is a 4th year student at the University of À¶Ý®ÊÓÆµ, studying Honours Science & Music!  Isabel adores any chance to be a part of anything musical- finding time for choral singing, composition, conducting, and on occasion picking up a guitar or saxophone- but especially for playing the piano. From accompanying the University’s Chapel Choir and leading worship at her church, to studying piano performance, teaching at Southampton Summer Music and being the rehearsal pianist for two musicals, Isabel has a love for the instrument she’s so excited to share this summer as the piano instructor! A long-time summer camp counsellor and music enthusiast through and through, Isabel cannot wait for OMMC! 

Helena Cheu

Helena Cheu

Helena Cheu holds a BA in piano performance from Laurentian University. Despite enjoying playing keys and music directing for various productions in Kingston and Sudbury, she also has a love for the community and the joy of choral singing. As soon as pandemic restrictions allowed, she enjoyed a two-year fellowship with Cantabile Choirs as an alto section leader for their youth choir, teaching vocal parts and leading warm-ups as needed. She is currently singing soprano in the Ottawa Mennonite Church choir and teaching voice and piano at the Bird and the Bean music studio while she completes her MMus in composition at the University of Ottawa.  

Kira Andres

Kira Andres

Kira is a multidisciplinary artist in the process of completing a BFA in Dance at York University. With grounding in the mennonite church values, Kira explores faith through the arts, with a heavy focus on dance and the performing arts. They follow the belief that a diversity of experiences and communities are essential for the growth of all artists, and are extremely excited to share their talents and perspective with the OMMC community.