Jim Lopez: Guided by family, craft, and music

by Oscar Pantaleon Jr.

	Machinist and musician Jim Lopez at the Desautels Concert Hall. “Striving to grow as a performer,” he says, while balancing a career in engineering and his passion for music. (Photo by Rollan Temporosa.)

A machinist by profession and a musician at heart, Jim Lopez balances the precision of engineering with the creativity of performance. Perseverance, passion, and a commitment to the people and pursuits that matter most underpin his early musical and vocational beginnings in the Philippines to building a career and raising a family in Winnipeg.

Family first

Jim’s love story with his wife Jean began, fittingly, with music. “I met Jean in a choir,” he beams. What started as a shared passion for singing soon grew into a lifelong partnership blessed with children.

Moving halfway across the world with a young family wasn’t easy, but it was a decision made with their children’s future in mind.

“Our goal is to ensure they grow up with Canadian opportunities while never losing the Filipino values and the bayanihan spirit we brought with us,” Jim explains.

While they miss the everyday presence of relatives back home, they have embraced life in Winnipeg. “Our family is active in our music ministry at Immaculate Conception Parish,” Jim shares. For them, music and faith go hand in hand.

A career built on precision

Jim relocated not only his family but also his trade. “My journey to Winnipeg took me to Japan first, where I trained in tool and die manufacturing at Fujitsu,” he says. Later, he returned to his alma mater, Don Bosco Technical College, to teach machining and share the valuable industry knowledge he had gained.

When Jim and his family arrived in Canada, the adjustment was difficult.

“The first five months were somewhat challenging and a little frustrating,” he recalls. Like many newcomers, he encountered the familiar barrier of “Canadian work experience.”

Eventually, he found his way back to his trade. Since 2012, Jim has worked with Cadorath Aerospace, a certified repair facility for Rolls Royce and Airbus Helicopter. Today, he oversees the company’s computer numerical control (CNC) machining operations.

A lifelong passion

Music has always been a defining part of Jim’s life. “I learned to play the keyboard through the generosity of Fr. Danny Dadule, SDB,” he says. While studying at Don Bosco Technical College, he played in a band for weekly school masses.

Soon after, he joined the Don Bosco Polyphonic Choir. “This is where my formal choral training started under the direction of Rizalino Altre and Godofredo and Stella Tuaño.” It was there that he also met Jean.

Music continued to shape his path when he joined the music ministry at St. Dominic Savio Parish.

“Singing under Atty. Creselda Baldonado and Ma. Rhina Palma-Cruz, a Philippine Madrigal Singers alumna, truly shaped my choral foundation.”

Bringing his music to Winnipeg, Jim plays for weddings and special events, oftentimes belting out duets with Jean. The couple shares their love for choral music with their children as they all take part in concerts of the Musica Singers and MY Band, which he directs.

“I also remain deeply involved in the local music scene,” Jim proudly declares. He collaborates with local groups, including On The Que and the ODT Filharmonic Ensemble, actively maintaining visibility in the city’s diverse music community.

Honouring the journey

Despite the milestones he has reached, Jim’s focus remains clear. “My primary aspiration is to provide a life of opportunity and security for my family, honouring the journey we began years ago.”

At the same time, he hopes to keep growing as a musician and a contributor to the arts community.

“Professionally, I aim to continue bridging my technical expertise in my trade with my passion for music, and be part of the rich, multicultural fabric of Manitoba’s arts scene.”

For Jim Lopez, the story continues, guided by family, craft, and the music that has always been part of his life.

Catch Jim Lopez leading MY Band with guests Musica Singers and Musica Kids on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., at Nashville’s, 826 Regent Ave. Visit www.musicasingersmb.ca for details.