DORIS (MILLS) LEWIS MEMORIAL TROPHY

Mr. B.E. Lewis donated the Doris (Mills) Lewis Memorial Trophy to the Winnipeg Music Festival in 1970.  This trophy is awarded for the most outstanding performance of an Oratorio Aria or J.S. Bach Aria by a Grade A or Honours Level vocalist.

Doris Irene Mills was born in Fort William, Ontario in 1907.  She inherited her passionate love for good music from her family and received early teaching in piano and theory in Fort William and in Oakville.  When the family moved to Manitoba, Doris enrolled as a student at Brandon College, studying with Ruth Morgan for voice and Dr. W.L. Wright for piano and theory.  While serving as contralto soloist at St. Paul’s United Church in Brandon, Doris studied pipe organ and received guidance and inspiration in religious music and oratorio from the director of music, Harry Thornborough.  She led an active musical life in Brandon as a concert and radio recitalist and as junior choir leader at St. Paul’s.

In Winnipeg, Doris continued her preparation for Royal Conservatory examinations, studying with Gladys Whitehead, J. Roberto Wood and Stanley Hoban.  She was awarded dual Royal Conservatory degrees in vocal performance and teaching.  After her marriage she enjoyed post-graduate consultation and studies with eminent British adjudicator, John Goss.  Doris was a member of the Westminster United Church Choir, the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir, the Metropolitan Choir and the CBC Choristers.  She belonged to the Registered Music Teachers’ Association of Manitoba, teaching voice at the Bornoff School of Music and privately in Winnipeg for 10 years.  She died on December 29, 1966.

 

Year Winner Year Winner
1970 Henrietta Cornies 1991 Mark Bartel & Peter Wiens
1971 Frances Seaton 1992 Karis R. Wiebe
1972 John Nelson 1993 Karen Smith
1973 Elizabeth Neufeld 1994 Marni Enns & Terence Mierau
1974 Heather Wilberforce 1995 Melinda Enns
1975 Lynne Moncrief-Ewert & D. Mark Watson 1996 Marni Enns
1976 Hilda Driedger 1997 Marni Enns
1977 John Bartlette 1998 Susan Gilmore Bailey
1978 Margot Sim 1999 Carolyn Boyes
1979 Heidi Geddert 2000 Marni Enns
1980 Robert Shannon 2001 Nikki Einfeld
1981 Heidi Geddert 2002 Melanie Mason
1982 Victor Engbrecht 2003 Matt Pauls
1983 Ruth Beenken 2004 Andriana Chuchman
1984 Tracy Dahl 2005 John Van Benthem
1985 Phillip L. Ens 2006 Tannis Collins
1986 Peter Wiens 2007 Jennifer Sproule
1987 Valdine Anderson 2008 Chris Enns
1988 Wendy Ewert 2009 Aran Matsuda
1989 Deborah Reimer 2010 Rosanna Murphy
1990 Pamela Johnson 2011 Aaron Hutton