Dr. Denis Jiron is currently principal trombone of the Jackson Symphony and Midland Symphony orchestras.  He has also held positions with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Riverside Philharmonic and the Hofer Symfoniker, and has been guest trombonist with the LA Opera, Sapporo Symphony, Philharmonie Luxembourg, Pacific Symphony, and Detroit Symphony orchestras. He has also appeared with many artists, including: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Queen Latifah, Kanye West, Andrea Bocelli, Sting, Gladys Night, Al McKay-Earth Wind and Fire Experience and many others. In 2004 he founded and directed the Afro-Cuban orchestra, Rumbankete, which released its first album in 2011. He has held adjunct trombone professor positions at California State University Los Angeles and California State University San Bernardino. Denis earned his BM degree from California State University Northridge and his MFA degree from California Institute of the Arts, as well as studying at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik Trossingen and later the Hochschule für Musik und Datsellende Kunst Mannheim. Dr. Jiron earned his DMA degree from Michigan State University as a University Distinguished Fellow. Denis Jiron is a Conn-Selmer (Vincent Bach) Performing Artist.

Denis is sponsored by Western University

Shelley Heron was a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s oboe section for almost 30 years. She participated in more than forty recordings with the DSO and the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings on the Chandos, Naxos and DSO Live labels and has toured the United States, Europe and Japan on numerous occasions. Shelley has extensive experience working with students of all ages and abilities in private lessons, master classes and sectionals. She has conducted classes at The Glenn Gould School of Music, Interlochen Arts Camp, Western Michigan University, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Detroit Symphony Civic Youth Ensembles and the Banff International Festival of Youth Orchestras and Wind Ensembles. In addition, Shelley co-founded and organized AVANTI Summer MusicFest, a week-long workshop for Metro Detroit students (13-18 yrs old) coached by Detroit Symphony musicians. For more than a decade she also collaborated with Sarnia high school music teachers resulting in over 400 students attending summer music camp.  Shelley received a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree from the University of Toronto and Master of Music from Western University.

Shelley is sponsored by Western University

A native of Newfoundland and Labrador, Maria Conkey is an inspiring and innovative conductor, clinician, and pedagogue. In addition to beginning her Doctorate of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) at the University of Toronto, she is the Artistic Director of the Oakville Choir for Children & Youth and the Outreach Co-ordinator at St. Michael’s Choir School. Maria is also the 2023-24 recipient of the Elmer Iseler National Graduate Fellowship in Choral Conducting, and a nominee for the 2023 Leslie Bell Prize for Choral Conducting. She has also received the Beryl Barnes Memorial Graduate Award and the Andreas Barban Memorial Scholarship. Past engagements include the Artistic Director of Young Voices Toronto, the Conductor of the award-winning senior choirs at St. Bonaventure’s College (NL), and the Choral Director at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist (NL). She has also worked with Shallaway – Newfoundland Youth in Chorus and several children’s, youth, and adult choirs, including the Alberta Youth Choir and the University of Alberta Madrigal Singers.

Learn more about Maria at Maria Conkey

Along with being one of the most called upon electric bass players in Canada, Rich Brown is a composer, producer, bandleader, educator and clinician, broadcaster, and voiceover artist. He has recorded three albums as a leader, including his critically acclaimed album of solo bass compositions ‘Between Heaviness & Here.’ Rich appears on a plethora of recordings ranging from Jazz to traditional Arabic and Asian music. Rich leads two groups—rinsethealgorithm and The Abeng —and was nominated for a Juno Award in 2016 for his latest album, ‘Abeng.’ As an educator, Rich Brown is well-known for his work as a faculty member with the popular online bass education website Scott’s Bass Lessons. He teaches at the University of Toronto. You can also hear Rich every Saturday as the host of his own show ‘New Origins’ on jazzcast.ca.

Learn more about Rich at Rich Brown

Rich is sponsored by the University of Toronto

Karl Silveira is a Juno Nominated (Lemon Bucket Orkestra 2013) Trombonist from Toronto. He completed a Master of Music in Jazz Performance and Composition from the University of Toronto in 2019. Aside from his work as a freelance trombonist, Karl is a composer, educator and bandleader as well. Karl composes for and leads The Karl Silveira Quintet featuring Allison Au, Matt Newton, Dan Fortin and Nico Dann. He recently released his Debut album “A Porta Aperta” in April 2022. Karl is a devout educator and is an applied teacher in the Jazz Program at The University of Toronto where he has been teaching since 2019.

Learn more about Karl at Karl Silveira

Karl is sponsored by the University of Toronto

Rebecca Hennessy is an award-winning Canadian trumpeter, vocalist, composer and bandleader. She has jazz performance degrees from University of Toronto and Vancouver Island University. As a leader and co-leader, Rebecca has released eight albums to date and has toured Mexico, Panama, Sri Lanka, Europe, USA and extensively in Canada.  In June 2018, Rebecca was presented with the Toronto Arts Foundation Emerging Jazz Artist Award. In July 2016, Rebecca Hennessy’s FOG Brass Band was nominated for both the Montreal Jazz Festival’s Grand Prix de Jazz and the Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Halifax Jazz Festival. Rebecca co-leads Way North, which features herself on trumpet, Petr Cancura on tenor saxophone, Michael Herring on bass and Richie Barshay on drums. In 2016, Way North was invited to perform and teach workshops at Danilo Perez’s Jazz Festival in Panama. Rebecca is also a co-leader and composer of Toronto’s chamber-jazz quartet, Hobson’s Choice. Hobson’s Choice has been performing and recording since 2008 and has since released three independently funded EP’s and a full length album “Of The Waves” released on Barnyard Records with the support of the OAC. “Of The Waves” was rated 4/4 by Toronto’s Now Magazine.

Learn more about Rebecca at Rebecca Hennessy

Rebecca is sponsored by the University of Toronto

Born and raised in Saskatchewan, Cynthia Peyson Wahl holds a Bachelor of Music Education (University of Regina), a diploma in Contemporary Music, Jazz Voice (Grant MacEwan University), and a Master of Music Education (University of Toronto). For fourteen years she taught choir, vocal jazz, and musical theatre at Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and directed the jazz choir at Canadian Mennonite University. She currently teaches choir, orchestra, vocal jazz and musical theatre at Campbell Collegiate in Regina, Saskatchewan.  She teaches piano and voice at the Conservatory of Performing Arts at the University of Regina.  Cynthia is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards for choral excellence, and is published in two books – The Palgrave Handbook on Race and the Arts in Education, and Teaching Music Through Performance in Choir, vol. 5. She is also on faculty with the School for Music Vocations Jazz Choir camps and International Music Camp summer faculty. Cynthia enjoys a busy schedule as a clinician/workshop.

Learn more about Cynthia at Cynthia Peyson Wahl

Joe is an associate professor at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, where he teaches jazz composition, arranging and trumpet. Part of a musical family, Joe played the piano as a child and took up the trumpet in high school, going on to study classical trumpet at the University of Ottawa. His interest in jazz led him to Boston where he first studied at the Berklee School of Music, and then at the New England Conservatory of Music with George Russell and Jimmy Giuffre, receiving a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies. Since then, he has lived in the Montreal area, where he is an active performer, composer, arranger and bandleader. A prolific composer, Sullivan directs a jazz sextet and The Joe Sullivan Big Band, and has eight albums to his name as a leader, the most recent being Whiskey Jack Waltz with his small group, and Unfamiliar Surroundings with his big band.

Learn more about Joe at Joe Sullivan

Joe is sponsored by McGill University

Kent Sangster has been a prominent member of Canada’s jazz scene for over twenty-five years. Kent is a highly respected saxophonist, educator, bandleader, composer-arranger, and producer.  His “Obsessions Octet” has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Rochester International Jazz Festival and completed 2 extensive tours in Europe. The European tours included performances in UK, Hungary, The Czechoslovakia, Greece and Poland. He has released 7 recordings, 4 of which are with the Obsessions Octet. In addition to the Juno nomination, Kent is a Western Canadian Music Award winning artist. Kent holds an Assistant Professorship at MacEwan University, in the areas of Jazz composition, arranging, improvisation and performance. Kent is also the executive and artistic director of the Edmonton International Jazz festival.

Kent is sponsored by Grant MacEwan University

Tara Davidson is a JUNO Award-winning alto and soprano saxophonist who has performed around the world at such prestigious venues as New York City’s Carnegie Hall, the acclaimed North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands, the JZ Jazz Club in Shanghai, China, and The Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C.  As a bandleader, Davidson has produced seven recordings since 2004 and performed on approximately forty recordings as a side musician. Five of her seven recordings as a leader or co-leader (Carn Davidson 9) have been nominated by the JUNO Awards for “Jazz Album of the Year”. In 2020, Davidson won a JUNO Award for Jazz Album of the Year: Group as a member of Ernesto Cervini’s Turboprop. Tara also enjoys a diverse freelance career as a woodwind player (saxophones, clarinet, and flute). She has worked with musical theatre companies such as the Stratford Festival, the Musical Stage Company, and Drayton Entertainment, and with such symphonies as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the National Ballet Orchestra. ​Tara is an active educator on faculty at the University of Toronto and York University.

Learn more about Tara at Tara Davidson

Josh Rager is a pianist, arranger, composer, and teacher based in Montreal. In 2005, he was nominated for the Prix du Festival at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. In 2007, he played at Carnegie Hall with Nikki Yanofsky, and also appeared on her Juno-nominated release “Ella… Of Thee I Swing”. He also received a commission from the European Broadcasting Union in 2009 to compose a jazz suite for two pianos entitled “Menuet and Duo”, which was recorded by CBC at its premiere at Montreal’s Pollack Hall and broadcast internationally.   Josh is an assistant professor in jazz studies at Concordia University, and his most recent CD, “Dreams and Other Stories” features new original music for his quintet. He has performed and recorded with Ingrid Jensen, Walt Weiskopf, Donny McCaslin, Joe Morello, Pat LaBarbera, Kevin Dean, Ranee Lee, and Dawn Tyler Watson.

Learn more about Josh at Josh Rager

Josh is sponsored by Concordia University

Originally from Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Dr. Dylan Rook Maddix is Assistant Professor of Instrumental Conducting and Community Engagement at Memorial University in St. John’s, NL, where he conducts the Memorial University Wind Ensemble and teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting. Prior to this appointment, he served as Professor of Music and head of wind and brass studies at Cambrian College in Sudbury, Ontario, where he conducted the wind ensemble, taught music theory, wind/brass methods, and pedagogy courses. He also served on the conducting faculty of Laurentian University. Maddix received his Bachelor of Music from Mount Allison University, a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Toronto, and completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Conducting at Arizona State University.

Originaire de Summerside à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard, le Dr Dylan Rook Maddix est professeur adjoint de direction d’orchestre et d’engagement communautaire à l’Université Memorial de St. John’s, Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador. Il y dirige l’orchestre à vents et enseigne la direction d’orchestre au premier cycle et au cycle supérieur.  Avant de gagner ce poste, M. Maddix a été professeur de musique et responsable du département d’instruments à vents, volet cuivres,  au Cambrian College de Sudbury, où il a dirigé l’ensemble à vent, enseigné la théorie, les méthodes de vents et de cuivres en plus de cours de pédagogie. Il a également siégé à la faculté de direction d’orchestre de l’Université Laurentienne.  Maddix détient son baccalauréat en musique de l’Université Mount Allison, une maîtrise en interprétation de la trompette de l’Université de Toronto et a complété son doctorat en arts musicaux, direction d’orchestre, à l’Arizona State University.

Learn more about Dylan at Dr. Dylan Maddix

Dr. Gina Ryan is a professor at the department of music at the University of Quebec in Montreal. As a composer and percussionist, she has performed her works in Canada, the United States, Thailand, Mexico, France, Japan, and China. As an active YouTuber, she has published over 80 videos on her channel, including performances and tutorials. Dr. Ryan is regularly invited to give workshops and masterclasses and to serve as an adjudicator both in Canada and abroad.  She has has been published in a range of journals and magazines, including International Journal of Music Education, Psychology of Music, Research Studies in Music Education, Percussive Notes, and Canadian Music Educator.

Gina Ryan est professeure au département de musique de l’Université du Québec à Montréal. En tant que compositrice et percussionniste, elle a interprété ses œuvres au Canada, aux États-Unis, en Thaïlande, au Mexique, en France, au Japon et en Chine. YouTubeuse active, elle a publié plus de 80 vidéos sur sa chaîne, notamment des performances et des tutoriels. Le Dr Ryan est invitée régulièrement à donner des ateliers et des classes de maître ainsi qu’à siéger à titre de membre du jury au Canada et à l’étranger. Gina a été publiée dans diverses revues et magazines, notamment le International Journal of Music Education, Psychology of Music, Research Studies in Music Education, Percussive Notes, and Canadian Music Educator.

Learn more about Gina at Gina Ryan

Dr. Lake earned his Doctorate of Musical Arts in Instrumental Conducting from The University of North Carolina. As a graduate student, he was the principal and guest conductor of many ensembles. He is presently the newly appointed Director of Concert Bands at the Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music at George Mason University for the upcoming academic year. In this role, he will conduct the George Mason University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. He will also teach conducting and wind literature classes. He is a collaborating author for two books on teaching instrumental music and stories of pandemic teaching and transformative change. Dr. William Lake is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and has presented many seminars about inclusive practices in music education and performance.​

Le Dr Lake a obtenu son doctorat en direction instrumentale de l’Université de la Caroline du Nord. En tant qu’étudiant diplômé, il a été chef principal et chef invité de nombreux ensembles. Pour la prochaine  année universitaire, il sera le nouveau directeur des orchestres d’harmonie de la Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music de l’Université George Mason où il y dirigera l’orchestre symphonique à vents et l’orchestre d’harmonie. Il y donnera également des cours de direction et de répertoire pour orchestre à vents. Il est auteur collaborateur de deux livres. Le Dr William Lake est un ardent défenseur de la diversité, de l’équité et de l’inclusion et a présenté de nombreux séminaires sur les pratiques inclusives dans l’éducation et l’interprétation musicales.​

Learn more about William at Dr. William Lake

Mark Caswell is recently retired after a lifetime career of teaching music at Markham District High School, home to several concert bands, jazz ensembles, choirs and chamber music ensembles, consistently earning Gold awards when attending Nationals at Musicfest Canada. Their senior tour bands travelled to more than twelve countries across North America and Europe. Mark is a founding member of the Ontario Band Association, serving as President as well as continuing his role as Festival coordinator for the Provincial Band Festival for more than 20 years. He has also been an active adjudicator, conductor and clinician across the province for many years.He has published many articles and  led workshops on student leadership at the OMEA conferences. Mark was recently presented with the Canadian Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

Mark Caswell a récemment pris sa retraite après une carrière en enseignement de la musique à la Markham District High School, où évoluent plusieurs orchestres d’harmonie, d’ensembles de jazz, de chorales et d’ensembles de musique de chambre remportant régulièrement le niveau or aux Finales Nationales de Musicfest Canada. Leurs ensembles seniors ont voyagé dans plus de douze pays en Amérique du Nord et en Europe. Mark est un membre fondateur de l’Ontario Band Association où il a servi à titre de président et où il continue son rôle de coordonnateur du festival provincial de musique depuis plus de 20 ans. Il est également un juge, un chef d’orchestre et un clinicien en demande dans toute la province depuis plusieurs années. Mark a publié de nombreux articles et animé des ateliers sur le leadership étudiant lors des conférences de l’OMEA. Il a récemment reçu la Médaille du souverain canadien pour les bénévoles à Rideau Hall, Ottawa.

Learn more about Mark at Mark Caswell.

Michele Jacot is a musician with an active schedule. She performs regularly in symphony orchestras and pit orchestras,including Mirvish Productions and the Shaw Festival. She plays in chamber ensembles and as a soloist in addition to conducting, adjudicating and teaching privately.  Besides being in demand for her skills as a clarinettist, Michele is equally at home as a saxophonist and flutist. Michele has been the Artistic Director of Toronto’s Wychwood Clarinet Choir since its inception in 2009.  She is proud to be a Yamaha Canada Spotlight Artist, and an Artist at Vandoren, Paris, France.

Michele Jacot est une musicienne à l’horaire chargé. Elle se produit régulièrement dans des orchestres symphoniques et des orchestres de fosse, notamment pour Mirvish Productions et le Shaw Festival. Elle joue aussi pour des ensembles de musique de chambre et comme soliste en plus de diriger, de siéger au sein de jurys lors de festivals et d’enseigner en privé. En grande demande pour ses compétences de clarinettiste, Michele est également à l’aise comme saxophoniste et flûtiste.  Elle est la directrice artistique du Chœur de clarinettes Wychwood de Toronto depuis sa création en 2009. Elle est fière d’être artiste vedette pour Yamaha Canada, et artiste  chez Vandoren, Paris, France.

Learn more about Michele at Michele Jacot

Cathrie Yuen is a Vancouver based choral conductor who serves as the the Associate Conductor of the Vancouver Bach Symphonic Choir and the Cantabile Choir, and is a Sessional Instructor at the Trinity Western University music department, and the Artistic Director of the MGV Lyra men’s choir. She was selected as a Conducting Fellow for the Vancouver Chamber Choir’s Conducting Symposium and was also among the finalists at the 2019 World Choral Conducting Competition. Cathrie holds a Master’s Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of British Columbia and obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Trinity Western University.

Learn more about Cathrie at Cathrie Yuen

Dr. Pingyi Song serves as Associate Director of Choral Activities at Stetson University, FL. and previously served as the Director of Choral Activities at Coker University, S.C. Her most recent research study “Gender Issues and Introduction to Choral Literature by Eastern Asian Female Composers” was invited to present at National and International Conferences such as 2024 SRCS (Symposium on Research in Choral Singing), 2023 ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), 2023 NCCO (National Collegiate Choral Organization), and the 2023 ACMI (Asian Classical Music Initiative) Conferences. Dr. Song also serves as a National Board Member and International Student and Faculty Affinity Group Leader for NCCO, Chair of World Music & Cultures and a Board member of South Carolina ACDA. Pingyi holds a Choral Summer School Certificate from Oxford University, U.K., a D.M.A. Degree in Choral Conducting and a Post-Bachelorette Certificate in Music Education from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, and Master and Bachelor degrees from West Virginia University, Mansfield University of Pennsylvania, and Guangzhou University, China.

Learn more about Pingyi at Dr. Pingyi Song

Megan Collings teaches music at Central Peel Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario where she is the head of the Arts Department and responsible for the Regional Strings program. She is the Executive Director of the Ontario Vocal Festival and a Regional Coordinator for the Concert and Chamber Festival West.  Megan believes that music can create an equitable, inclusive and diverse community where student ownership can lead to student empowerment.

Darryl Ferguson received a Bachelor of Music (Applied Trumpet) from Brandon University, a Master’s of Music (Trumpet Performance) from the University of South Florida, and a Bachelor of Education (After Degree) from the University of Manitoba. He currently teaches at Acadia Junior High School in Winnipeg, MB, where he directs four concert bands and a jazz ensemble.  In 2021, Darryl was awarded the Manitoba Band Association’s Award of Distinction in recognition of his outstanding contribution to music education in Manitoba. In 2018, Darryl was awarded the Fort Richmond MLA Community Hero Certificate for his service in the community. Darryl is involved in many Manitoba Band Association  initiatives, including serving as the MBA representative for the Tempo Music Conference, chairperson for the Manitoba provincial Junior and Intermediate Honour Bands, chairperson for the MBA Jazz Festival, and co-chair of the MBA’s Solo Challenge.

​Learn more about Darryl at Darryl Ferguson

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Violist Christine Vlajk has performed extensively in North and South America, Europe, much of China, Hong Kong and New Zealand. Originally from Denver, Colorado, Vlajk has Bachelor degrees in Viola Performance (B.M.) and Music Education (B.M.E.) from the University of Colorado in Boulder and a Masters degree in Viola Performance (M.M.) from the University of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.  She has been guest soloist with the West Virginia Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Peterborough Symphony and the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony Orchestra.

Learn more about Christine at Christine Vlajk

Christine is sponsored by Laurier University

A native of Toronto, violinist Jeremy Bell earned a B. Mus degree from the University of Toronto, and from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he received his Masters and Doctor of Music.  Dr. Bell is a recipient of numerous grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council for the Arts and is a prize winner of the Eckhardt Grammatté National competition and the Conseil Québécois’ Prix Opus. He has studied with David Zafer, George Neikrug, Joyce Robbins, Metro Kozak and with members of the Orford, Juilliard, Tokyo, and Orion string quartets. Joining the Penderecki String Quartet in 1999, Dr. Bell is Artist in Residence at Wilfrid Laurier University where he teaches violin and chamber music.

Learn more about Jeremy at Jeremy Bell

Jeremy is sponsored by Laurier University

Canadian flautist Stephen Tam is equally comfortable as soloist, chamber musician or orchestral player, performing repertoire ranging from the baroque to the contemporary.  First-Prize Winner of the 32nd CBC/Radio-Canada National Competition for Young Performers, Stephen has appeared as concerto soloist in recent seasons with the Canadian Sinfonietta, the Ontario Philharmonic and Counterpoint Community Orchestra. Past concerto engagements included collaborations with the Calgary Philharmonic, the Banff Festival Orchestra and the Toronto Senior Strings.

Learn more about Stephen at Stephen Tam

Stephen is sponsored by Western University

Bob Denney was the Head of Fine Arts and Technology at John McCrae S.S in Ottawa. The JMSS Guitar Ensemble was awarded the Canadian Music Educators’ Association Wilfred Harvey Small Ensemble of the Year award in 2007. Bob served for 9 years as the Canadian Representative and Lead Instructor for Teaching Guitar Workshops Canada, where he instructed guitar pedagogy and technique to music educators. Bob continues to promote guitar education as a guest lecturer at the University of Ottawa Faculty of Education.

Dr. Janet Song Kim serves as the Director of Wind Bands at the University of Connecticut where they are the director and conductor of the UConn Wind Ensemble, while teaching private lessons in conducting, instrumental pedagogy and literature. Kim is an active guest conductor and clinician who works with schools, honour bands, music camps, and also leads clinics in the United States, Canada, and South Korea.  Janet earned their doctorate in conducting from The Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California.  They also led a fully virtual ensemble through the pandemic. 

Le Dr Janet Song Kim est directrice des orchestres d’harmonie de l’Université du Connecticut. Dans ce rôle, elle est professeure adjointe de musique, directrice et chef d’orchestre de l’UConn Wind Ensemble.  De plus, le Dr Kim donne des cours privés de direction d’orchestre, de pédagogie et de littérature instrumentale. Chef d’orchestre invité et clinicienne en demande, le Dr Kim travaille dans les écoles, dirige des groupes honorifiques, participe à des camps musicaux et donne des cliniques aux États-Unis, au Canada aussi bien qu’en Corée du Sud. Kim a obtenu son doctorat en direction d’orchestre à la Herb Alpert School of Music de l’Université de la Californie.  Janet a aussi dirigé un ensemble entièrement virtuel pendant la pandémie.

Learn more about Janet at Janet Kim