DARRYL & CHERYL FERGUSON
Cheryl Ferguson is the Director of Bands and Instrumental Conducting in the Faculty of Media, Arts, and Performance at the University of Regina. Her responsibilities include conducting the University of Regina Wind Ensemble, the University of Regina Concert Band, and teaching courses in Instrumental Conducting and Brass Techniques.
Cheryl has a diverse history in music education, having taught music at all levels. Prior to her appointment at the University of Regina, Cheryl was Director of Bands at Canadian Mennonite University in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She initiated the band program at CMU in 2016 and was instrumental in significant personnel and musical growth in the ensemble for nine years. Cheryl was also the Director of Bands at Fort Richmond Collegiate for 20 years, leading Symphonic Bands, Wind Ensembles and Jazz Ensembles at the institution to over 50 Gold Medal performances at MusicFest Canada. Cheryl’s guest conducting opportunities have included honour bands, community band workshops, summer band camps, jazz camps and invitational ensembles.
Cheryl Ferguson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance (French Horn) and a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Mary (Bismarck, ND). She has also done graduate work at Southern Oregon University and has earned a Master of Curriculum Studies (Music Education) at Acadia University (Nova Scotia).
Cheryl has received the Manitoba Band Association Award of Distinction, the I. Keith Mann Outstanding Band Director Award, the Community Hero Award (Manitoba Legislative Assembly), the George Douglas Award of Excellence, the Don Green Award of Excellence, the Manitoba Band Association Excellence in Jazz Education Award, and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal. Cheryl also has a widely viewed TED Talk on “Motivating People to Excellence.”
Cheryl serves as French horn instructor at Canadian Mennonite University, and maintains a private studio of private French horn students. She continues to perform with the Winnipeg Wind Ensemble and the Ferguson Family Brass Quartet. She has conducted the Adult Advanced Band at International Music Camp for several years.
Darryl Ferguson is a music educator based in Regina, SK. He received a Bachelor of Music (Applied Trumpet) from Brandon University, a Master of Music (Trumpet Performance) from the University of South Florida, and a Bachelor of Education (After Degree) from the University of Manitoba.
He taught at Acadia Junior High School in Winnipeg, MB for eighteen years. During his tenure at Acadia, the school’s band program consistently received recognition for outstanding performance at festivals across western Canada and the northern United States. During these years, the school’s elective band program consistently saw high student enrolment, with students participating in one or more of the school’s grade level bands, wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, or chamber groups. He taught music education courses and trumpet lessons as a sessional instructor at Canadian Mennonite University and served as the conductor of the Rupertsland Brass Band for over ten years. Darryl has served as the musical director for the Winnipeg Youth Wind Ensemble and is a co-director of the Soho Sound Canadian Junior Honour Band through MusicFest Canada, an initiative for outstanding young musicians from across Canada.
Darryl is a frequent adjudicator at local and regional festivals across Western Canada. He has guest conducted many honour bands, including the Manitoba Junior and Intermediate Honour Bands, the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra Honour Band, Canadian Association of Mennonite Schools Junior Honour Band, the Manitoba Provincial Junior Honour Jazz Band, as well as local and regional honour bands.
Darryl was awarded the Manitoba Band Association’s Award of Distinction in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music education in Manitoba. Darryl was awarded the Fort Richmond MLA Community Hero Certificate for his service in the community, and he received the University of Manitoba Award for Significant Contribution to Excellence in Teaching. Darryl is a clinician with the Yamaha True North Master Educator program.
