Cuban born, Antonio Llaca is an active choral conductor, teacher, and clinician.  In 2013, he finished his Master’s in Choral Conducting from Université de Sherbrooke (Montreal).  Since 2009, Antonio has conducted Coro Vivo Ottawa (CVO) and currently teaches choral, as well as instrumental conducting at the University of Carleton in Ottawa. He is conducts the choirs and orchestra at the Conservatoire de Musique de Gatineau, and is also a conductor with the Canadian Chinese Children’s choir of Canada (C5).  From 2007-2011, he was Choral Assistant to the Ottawa Festival Chorus at the National Arts Centre.

Antonio is an advocate for Canadian choral music, incorporating prominent Canadian content in his programming, as well as commissioning choral pieces for his concerts from local composers. Under his baton, in 2010, CVO premiered “Meditatus”, in North America, a work by Jan Gunnar Hoff, and in 2015, marking the 30^th anniversary of this ensemble, CVO premiered the Canadian work “Gold and Glory” commissioned from John Armstrong. Antonio has also brought to the Ottawa music scene the works of composers such as Esteban Salas (Cuba), José Angel Lamas (Venezuela), and Manuel de Zumaya (Mexico), among others.

Antonio is sponsored by Carleton University Music.

Jennifer Jolley is a West Texas-based composer of vocal, orchestral, wind ensemble, chamber, and electronic works. She joined the composition faculty of the Texas Tech School of Music in 2018 and has been a member of the composition faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp since 2015.  She has been composer-in-residence at Brevard College, University of Toledo, the Vermont Symphony, the Central Michigan University School of Music, and the Alba Music Festival in Italy. Most recently she was the Composer-in-Residence of the Women Composers Festival of Hartford in 2019.  She promotes composer advocacy and the performance of new works through her work on the Executive Council of the Institute for Composer Diversity.

​Jennifer’s work draws toward subjects that are political and even provocative.  Her partnership with writer Scott Woods, You Are Not Alone, evokes the fallout of the #MeToo Movement.  Her collaboration with librettist Kendall A, Prisoner of Conscience, has been described as “the ideal soundtrack and perhaps balm for our current ‘toxic’…times” by Frank J. Oteri of NewMusicBox. Her piece Blue Glacier Decoy, written as a musical response to the Olympic National Park, depicts the melting glaciers of the Pacific Northwest.  Jennifer’s works have been performed by ensembles worldwide, including the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Wind Symphony, Dulciana (Dublin, Ireland), Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra (New York, NY), and the SOLI Chamber Ensemble (Alba, Italy residency). 

Sarah Jeffrey is Principal Oboe of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. A regular soloist with the TSO, Sarah has also appeared as soloist with numerous orchestras across Canada, performing works by Bach, Mozart, Vaughan Williams, Marcello and Haydn. She is also an active recitalist and chamber musician, making frequent guest appearances with the Amici Chamber Ensemble, the ARC Ensemble, and Trio Arkel.  A devoted performer of new music, Ms. Jeffrey has commissioned several chamber works, including Chaconne for Oboe, Horn, and Piano by Erik Ross, and Rhapsody by Ronald Royer.

Sarah is on faculty at The Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory and the University of Toronto, and spends her summers at the Orford Arts Centre and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Sarah was a recipient of the Ontario Arts Council’s Chalmers Award for Creativity and Excellence in the Arts, and can be heard discussing the finer points of the oboe on CBC radio, both as a performer and as a guest on several podcasts.

Vanessa Fralick joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as Associate Principal Trombone in 2013. Prior to her current position, she played three seasons as Acting Associate Principal Trombone of the St. Louis Symphony. . She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, and won her first orchestral position with the San Antonio Symphony in 2009, while pursuing her master’s degree at The Juilliard School. She has performed with major orchestras in San Francisco, Montreal, Boston, Jacksonville, Utah, Malaysia, and played two summers in the prestigious Verbier Festival Orchestra in Switzerland.  Vanessa is on faculty at the University of Toronto, the National Music Camp of Canada, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, and is the brass coach of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Vanessa also performs frequently as a soloist, most recently as a guest artist at Trombonanza 2017 in Argentina, at the 2016 International Trombone Festival in New York City and at the 2015 American Trombone Workshop in Washington, D.C. She won first prize in several major competitions, including the 2012 Elora Festival Competition, the 2011 Montreal Symphony Concerto Competition and the 2010 Susan Slaughter International Solo Brass Competition, where she also performed as a guest artist at the International Women’s Brass Conference. In 2009, she won concerto competitions both at Juilliard and at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, California.

Mark Adam is a drummer/percussionist, educator, composer and producer from Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He is an Associate Professor of Improvisation, Percussion and Contemporary Music at Acadia University where he has taught since 2004.  He is the recipient of an Acadia Students’ Union Award for teaching excellence and was granted a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for his work in the community as an educator and contributor to the arts.  Mark has performed with Canadian jazz icons Phil Dwyer, Mike Murley, Dave Restivo, Heather Bambrick and Dave Restivo. He has played on award-winning recordings of country artists George Canyon and Dave Gunning and, as a classical musician, performed with the Calgary Philharmonic, New Works Calgary, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Toronto Wind Orchestra.

Mark’s score for Two Planks and a Passion’s production, Beowulf, was nominated for a 2012 Merritt Award and he won the 2015 ECMA for Classical Album of the Year with Juno award winning composer/flutist Derek Charke for their duet recording, Kitchen Party.  He produced the freshman releases of Laurenn Marchand (2016 Music Nova Scotia nominations for Solo Recording of the Year, Folk Recording of the Year and New Artist Recording of the Year), Carmen Braden (2020 ECMA nominee for classical recording of the year, 2017 WCMA nominee for Classical Composition of the Year), and multiple WCMA and Juno nominated artist Kim Barlow (Indie Folk/Pop).  Recently, Mark was a finalist for Producer of the Year for the 2020 East Coast Music Awards.

Camille Watts has been flutist and solo piccoloist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra since 1990, positions she held previously with the Atlanta and Denver Symphony Orchestras. In Toronto, Camille has performed as piccolo soloist with the TSO, and has also performed with the Canadian Opera Company, Soulpepper Theatre, Music Niagara, in many collaborations with HearHere Productions, and on many pop and classical recordings, film and TV soundtracks.

Camille is Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Music, where she teaches flute and piccolo, coaches chamber music, and leads seminars in the graduate program. She has also served as flute and piccolo faculty at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. As a massage therapist working with musicians, she joined a group of Toronto artists in creating the Artists’ Health Centre at Toronto Western Hospital, and served on the Foundation Board of Directors.

Jake Hanlon is an Assistant Professor of Music at Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish (Nova Scotia), and has been a member of the Faculty of Music since 2008. As a member of the Faculty, Hanlon teaches Jazz Guitar, Improvisation and Composition. He has performed with Canadian artists Paul Tynan, Mike Murley, Kirk MacDonald, Ethan Ardelli, Mike Rud, Dianne Nilani and David Braid, and international artists Dave Liebman, Chad Wackerman, Tim Haggans and Peter Erskine.

Jake graduated in 2003 from Saint Francis Xavier University (B.Mus w/Honours) and in 2008 from the University of North Texas (M.M Jazz Studies), where he was Graduate Teaching Fellow for Jazz Guitar. He is an alumnus of the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead composition residency in Washington DC (2007).  Jake earned two ECMA nominations for Jazz Recording of the Year for the albums Follow in 2012 and Autumn Song in 2015. Jake endorses Thomastik-Infeld Strings.

Jake is sponsored by St. Francis Xavier University

Selmer artist Drew Zaremba has a worldwide reputation as an award-winning writer, a passionate conductor, and fiery performer. In 2018, at the age of 27, Drew joined the faculty of the award-winning University of Northern Colorado (UNC) Jazz Studies Department to teach jazz composition and arranging. Drew’s honours include the $10,000 first prize in the 2015 Sherman/Barsanti Inspiration Award at the University of North Texas (UNT) and the 2018 Sammy Nestico Award for his original composition “Kangaroo Bruise Blues”.  He is a three-time Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer winner.

He has given clinics and guest artist performances in Melbourne, Brussels, Tokyo, London, Hannover, The Netherlands, at the Contemporary Music Institute in Zhuhai, China, and has taught at the UNC and UNT summer jazz camps.  He has released albums “Two Sides of the Same Coin” and “Hologram”, and recently, short, home-made multi-tracked videos in the style of Jacob Collier.

Christopher is best known as the most subscribed brass musician on YouTube. He’s a trombonist, arranger, and marketing consultant based outside of New York. He has been playing piano since he was 6 years old, trombone since he was 10, and he has been composing/arranging since he was 12. He has a Bachelor of Music for classical trombone performance from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Music in New York.  He is a Denis Wick (London) concert artist.  He is the Youth Workshop Director of the International Trombone Festival and a marketing consultant for the International Trombone Association.

Christopher is best known for his all-trombone arrangements of popular songs. His YouTube Channel has been gaining popularity since the spring of 2014 when, using a looping station to compose the song on the spot, his cover of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” went viral. His videos have amassed over 24 million views and a following of over 140,000 subscribers. In 2018, his collaboration with the International Trombone Festival of Bohemian Rhapsody went viral.  In April of 2014, Christopher independently released his first cover album, “Breakthrough”, which was followed by his Christmas album “Smiling’s My Favorite”. More recently, his original pop album “Half Man, Half Machine” mixes acoustic sounds with electronic instruments.

Christopher is sponsored by Denis Wick (London).

Anthony is a graduate of Mohawk College, has studied at the Banff Centre and the Lake Placid Center for the Arts, has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto specializing in Jazz Performance, has a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology from York University and is currently completing his Ph.D. He is on staff at York University and Mohawk College Jazz Studies Programs.

Anthony has been nominated twice for the Toronto Independent Music Award (TIMA) in the Best Jazz Category (Steve Koven Trio) and the Best Live Category (Paisley Jura).  He has been nominated for numerous JUNO Awards over the years as a member of several jazz, world and popular music categories. He received the 2004 Mohawk College Alumni of Distinction Award, the 2003 Grand Prix de Jazz General Motors-Festival International de Jazz de Montreal Award (Nancy Walker Quartet), and the 1995 Jazz Report Award for National Post Secondary School Musician of the Year. He has performed around the world, including Japan, Australia, China, Hong Kong, the United States, Mexico, Colombia, Bahamas, Barbados, Trinidad, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Luxembourg.

Anthony is sponsored by York University

Jazz bassist Artie Roth graduated from York University in 1992 with the Oscar Peterson Scholarship.  As a leader of his own group, Artie released “Parallels” in 2005, “Currently Experiencing” in 2013, and most recently “Discern” in 2015. Several of his compositions have been incorporated into the post-secondary educational repertoire/curriculum of numerous student Jazz Ensembles and composition courses at York University, The University of Toronto and Humber College.  Artie currently holds the position of Bass Instructor and Course director at York University, where he is presently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Musical Composition.

Artie has been recorded on over 50 CDs, including Rich Underhill’s 2003 JUNO award-winning Tales from the Blue Lounge and 2007 JUNO-nominated Kensington Suite, Sophie Milman’s JUNO-nominated debut CD, and Rockit 88’s 2004 JUNO-nominated Too Much Fun. Artie has toured extensively across Canada and the U.S., and his overseas engagements have included performances with The Flying Bulgar Klezmer Band in Germany (1996), The Steve Koven Trio in Mexico (2003) and Columbia (2005), The Shuffle Demons tour of Europe and Scandinavia (2007), Kollage in Barbados (2011) and Antigua (2013), and the Richard Underhill Quintet in Mexico (2012).

Artie is sponsored by York University

Mark Eisenman is one among a handful of the top ‘in-demand’ jazz pianists in Toronto. Born in New York City, he earned his degree in Fine Arts at York University.  Currently, he conducts jazz workshops at York as a part-time faculty member. His teaching has expanded to include “The Jazz Camp” and classes at Mohawk College in Hamilton.  Mark has performed in many different venues with numerous eminent Canadian and U.S. jazz artists including Art Farmer, Barney Kessel, Ed Bickert, Rob McConnell, Sam Noto, and Pat LaBarbera.

He has also had numerous radio appearances and is well represented on recordings, the latest of which is Mark’s debut recording as a leader, “The Chant”. He has toured Canada extensively with various groups. Mark received The Jazz Report’s 1999 Acoustic Pianist of the Year Award for musical excellence.

Mark is sponsored by York University

Kelly Jefferson has a Bachelor of Music degree from McGill University in Montreal and a Masters degree from Manhattan School of Music in New York City.  He is a faculty member at York University in Toronto.  Kelly has toured extensively in Canada, the United States, Japan, Thailand, Europe, South Korea and China, including a nine-month tour with legendary trumpeter Maynard Ferguson.  Mr. Jefferson has also adjudicated at music festivals across Canada and has given numerous workshops throughout Canada, the United States and China.

Learn more about Kelly at Kelly Jefferson

Tony Flynt is Principal Bass of the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto.  He has appeared as guest Principal with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Bard Music Festival, American Symphony Orchestra, and as a guest with the bass sections of the San Diego, Houston, and Boston Symphony Orchestras. Tony is a former member of the Grammy-nominated chamber orchestra, A Far Cry, and was a winner of the New England Conservatory’s Concerto Competition.

Tony was a fellow of Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect (formerly Ensemble ACJW/The Academy) where he taught and performed in New York City public schools, community centers, hospitals, and prisons, in addition to a chamber music residency at Carnegie Hall.  He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, and served as Co-Director of the esteemed Boston University Tanglewood Institute’s Double Bass Workshop.  He attended Rice University, graduating with degrees in Music and Hispanic and Classical Studies, cum laude.  Tony attended the New England Conservatory as an Edward Hyde Cox Presidential Scholar, where he received a Master’s degree with honors, and the Borromeo Quartet Guest Artist’s award.

Megan Hodge is an active freelancer on tenor and bass trombone, and has made Toronto her home for the past twelve years. She is on staff at the University of Toronto.  Originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Megan studied at the Glenn Gould School (Artist Diploma), McGill University (MMus) and the University of Alberta (BMus). She performs regularly with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Opera Company, The National Ballet Orchestra of Canada, the Hamilton Philharmonic, Hannaford Street Silver Band and is a founding member of the Toronto Brass Quintet.

She has held positions as Principal Trombone with the Kingston Symphony Orchestra and the Victoria Symphony (1 year position), trombonist in The Royal Canadian Artillery Band with the Canadian Armed Forces, and as the Director of Music for the regimental band of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. Megan is a member of the Toronto Brass Quintet, whose recent collaboration with cellist Cris Derksen’s Orchestral Pow Wow CD was nominated for a Juno.

David Pell, B.Mus., M.Mus. DMA (ABD) has been Principal Trombonist of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra since 2002 and Bass Trombonist of the National Ballet of Canada Orchestra since 2006. He has also been a member of the Winnipeg Symphony, the Victoria Symphony and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Touring Orchestra.  He is a member of Toronto’s Esprit Orchestra and performs regularly on trombone, bass trumpet and euphonium with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Canadian Opera Company and New Music Concerts. He has also performed with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, the Canadian Brass, and the Stockholm Chamber Brass.  David is Artistic Director of the renowned Hannaford Street Silver Band and is member of the True North Brass Quintet and the Canadian National Brass Project.

He is also on faculty at the University of Toronto, and at the Glenn Gould Professional School of the Royal Conservatory of Music.

Jehanbakhsh (John) Jasavala holds music degrees from University of Michigan, (M.M.), York University (B.FA), a Diploma in Jazz Studies from Humber College, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor.  Jehanbakhsh is currently an award winning lecturer, chamber ensembles coach and instructor of trombone at Western, Don Wright Faculty of Music. Jehanbakhsh was the recipient of the University of Western Ontario Student Society Teaching Award in 2002 and in 2003, the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award for Part–time Faculty at the University of Windsor.  Jehanbakhsh has twice been nominated for teaching awards at the University of Toronto, 2014 and 2015.  He has held the position of Principal Trombone with both the Windsor and Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestras, and has performed as a freelance musician with several orchestras in Ontario and Michigan, including Orchestra London, and The Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

Jehanbakhsh has also been active as an instructor at Eastern Music Camp in Newfoundland and Interprovincial Music Camp in Ontario as well as MusiCamp Alberta.  Jehanbakhsh is an active adjudicator and clinician in both jazz and classical music, including several appearances at  festivals including the Brandon Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Corner Brook Music Festival, Windsor/Grand Falls, St. John’s NL, London Music Festival and Grey County Music Festival.

Jehanbakhsh is sponsored by the Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University

Steven Woomert joined the Toronto Symphony Orchestra as Associate Principal Trumpet in 2014. He has appeared as the Acting Principal Trumpet of the Canadian Opera Company Orchestra and has performed with the Barbados Classical Pops All Star Orchestra, New World Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Born in Toronto, Steven began his musical studies at age five on violin and added trumpet studies at age 11. He completed his Bachelor of Music degree at Northwestern University, where he was a member of the school’s entry that won First Prize in the Ensemble Division at the 2012 National Trumpet Competition. Steven continued his studies at The Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory in Toronto. In 2013, he was the winner of the International Trumpet Guild Orchestral Excerpts Competition. Steven has participated in many summer festivals, including the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, National Academy Orchestra, Banff Festival Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute, National Repertory Orchestra, and Spoleto Festival USA.  Steven and his father Barton have commissioned and recorded a CD of brand new music for two trumpets and piano, entitled Tandem.

Trumpeter Aaron Hodgson has been praised for his “exquisite musicianship and assured composure” (International Trumpet Guild) and his “outstanding lyrical trumpet playing” (Hartford Courant). A prize-winner in the Ellsworth Smith and OSM Standard Life competitions, Aaron has been broadcast nationally as a soloist by CBC Radio and featured as a concerto soloist with l’Orchestre de la Francophonie at Canada’s National Arts Centre. His orchestral performances include appearances with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and the Calgary Philharmonic. He can be heard on Naxos and Analekta records as principal trumpet for recordings of Bach’s Magnificat, Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique and the complete symphonies of Beethoven and Brahms.

Committed to expanding the trumpet’s capabilities and audiences, Aaron is a founding member of the Reveille Trumpet Collective (reveilletrumpet.org). Reveille has presented engaging, multimedia performances at the Banff Centre and the Sound Symposium Festival, and contributed to the commissioning of many new solo and chamber works for trumpet. Aaron is also a member of Reverb Brass, a quintet dedicated to exciting performances of contemporary works. After several years at Memorial University of Newfoundland, in 2012 Aaron joined the faculty of the Don Wright School of Music, Western University. Aaron holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from Yale University.

Aaron is sponsored by the Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University

Kitbielle Pasagui is a Filipino soprano who moved to Canada in early 2012. She joined Kokopelli at the end of 2011-2012 season and is now a member of Òran and Nuf Sed (from the TIME Association), but she continues to work with Kokopelli in the capacity of assistant conductor. Kitbielle was a vocal performance major from the University of the Philippines, College of Music, and has been singing in choirs since she was six years old. Kitbielle is an alumna of and soloist with the world renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers.

James MacDonald earned his BA from Queen’s University and his M. Mus from Western University, where he completed his master’s thesis ‘Virtuosi and the horn repertoire.’ His teachers included Eugene Rittich in Toronto (1970-1), Frantisek Solc at the Janáček Academy of Music, Brno, Czechoslovakia, and Barry Tuckwell in London. He also studied in 1978 with Wilhelm Lansky-Otto in Stockholm, Sweden.

In 1974, James began teaching part-time at York University.  He joined the Boss Brass in 1972. He has been a member of the CJRT Orchestra, the Kingston Symphony, the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra and Sinfonia, the National Ballet of Canada orchestra, the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, and the Windsor Symphony Orchestra. He also has played in the Hannaford Street Silver Band and the Brigham Phillips Big Band, and since 2001 has been a member of the Rex Hotel Jazz Orchestra.

James is sponsored by York University

Multi-instrumentalist Keith Hartshorn-Walton relocated to Ottawa in 2015 and has established himself in the City’s Jazz scene, specializing in Tuba, Sousaphone, Electric and Acoustic Bass. Originally from Winnipeg, Keith toured extensively with the Foothills Brass Quintet.  He has performed with Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Quinsin Nachoff, as well as orchestras in Edmonton, Calgary, Oshawa and Kingston.  He is a Tuba (classical & jazz) Performance Instructor at Carleton University.

Keith is also part of two monthly jazz series with Tariq Amery and Garrett Warner at Ottawa’s Art House Café and also has hosted the monthly Jazz in Barrhaven series at Anabia Cupcakery.   In addition, Keith is music director and organist at Wall Street United Church in Brockville. He received his Doctorate of Music from McGill University in 2010, and has studied with Dennis Miller (McGill) and Mark Tetreault (University of Toronto).

Keith is sponsored by Carleton University Music.

Shauna Barker started playing the clarinet at the age of 11 and immediately fell in love with the instrument. As a youth, she played in the Delta Youth Orchestra, the Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from McGill University and a Masters degree from DePaul University in Chicago.  She has performed with several ensembles such as the Thirteen Strings, Les Violons Du Roy, L’Ensemble Prisme, L’Orchestre Symphonique de Gatineau, and has appeared as a soloist with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, the Deep River Symphony Orchestra, the Pembroke Orchestra and the Parkdale Orchestra. For over 12 years, Ms. Barker has served as Principal Clarinet in the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and as regular extra musician with the National Arts Centre Orchestra. She performs with many chamber ensembles, namely the Ayorama Quintet, the Bel Canto Quintet (both ensembles also belonging to the National Arts Centre Orchestra’s Music in the Schools program), and the Harmonious Pigs Trio.

Shauna is on faculty at Carleton University as Performance Instructor and is clarinetist in the Carleton-OSO ensemble in residence, and is also Coordinator of the Winds Sector. A sought after educator, Ms. Barker is also the Senior Winds Coach and Conductor at the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy.

Shauna is sponsored by Carleton University Music.

Canadian clarinetist Jana Starling is a nationally and internationally active performer and teacher. She has performed with the Arizona Opera Company, the Paraguayan National Symphony, the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra. She has been programmed numerous times at the International Clarinet Association’s ClarinetFest®, given recitals and masterclasses at the Belgian Clarinet Academy, Sichuan Conservatory of Music in China, and has been a guest artist and adjudicator at various festivals in the United States and Canada. She has also teaches frequently at the International Music Camp (Peace Gardens, CAN/USA), the Interprovincial Music Camp (ON), and the co-founder of the Lift Clarinet Academy, an innovative summer program in Colorado.  Jana’s debut CD Inflexion earned a 2007 East Coast Music Award nomination for “Classical Recording of the Year”.

Jana received her BMus in music education from Brandon University and her MMus and DMA in clarinet performance from Arizona State University.

Jana is sponsored by Carleton University Music.

Ben is the principal bassoonist of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the Kingston Symphony Orchestra, a regular extra with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, second bassoon of the Ontario Philharmonic Orchestra and a faculty member at Carleton University.

Ben received his Bachelor and Master’s Degrees in Music Performance at McGill University, with a specialization in Chamber Music, in 1997. Also that year, he joined the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra and the Bel Canto Wind Quintet. He is the bassoonist of the Ayorama Wind Quintet, The Ottawa Symphony Wind Quintet, l’Ensemble Prisme, and the Harmonious Pigs Reed trio. He performs regularly with Thirteen Strings, The Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, Music and Beyond and many other groups in the Ottawa area.

Ben is sponsored by Carleton University Music.

Oboist Susan Butler (Morris) has been a member of the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra since 1979: as English Hornist from 1979 to 1984 and as Principal Oboist from 1984 to the present.  Susan’s busy career as a freelance musician frequently includes performances with ensembles such as the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Thirteen Strings, l’Ensemble Prisme, and the Ottawa Choral Society.  As a chamber musician, Susan plays in The Harmonious Pigs Reed Trio with fellow OSO principal musicians Shauna Barker and Ben Glossop, and from 2004 to 2019 she was oboist of the Bel Canto Wind Quintet. Susan graduated from the University of Ottawa in 1980 with a Bachelor of Music degree in Oboe Performance. Her post-graduate studies were with the Orchestral Training Program of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.

Susan is a dedicated teacher, working at Carleton University, in her private studio in Deep River, and having worked at the Kincardine Summer Music Festival from 1993 to 2002, the Ottawa Youth Orchestra Academy from 1999 to 2015, and Deep River’s Summermusic day-camp from 1993 to the present.

Susan is sponsored by Carleton University Music.

Named one of 2020’s “Rising Stars” by BBC Music Magazine, flutist ​Lara Deutsch​ was the recipient of the $125,000 Prix Goyer for 2019-2020. Lara was also a first prize winner of the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal’s 2014 Manulife Competition, at which she was awarded a total of seven prizes. She was the Grand Prize Winner of both the National Arts Centre Orchestra Bursary Competition (2014) and the Canadian Music Competition (2010), as well as a laureate of the Concours Prix d’Europe (2016).  She is member of the teaching faculty at Carleton University.

Lara performs regularly with the NAC Orchestra, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, she has performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra, the McGill Symphony Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. Lara’s recent performance highlights include recitals for the National Arts Centre (NAC) & Facebook’s #CanadaPerforms initiative, CBC Radio’s CBC/McGill Series, the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal’s Virée Classique, Ottawa’s Music & Beyond Festival, and the Allegra Chamber Music series, of which she was Artist-in-Residence for the 2019-2020 season.​ ​Lara performs on a 14k gold Haynes flute, generously loaned by Canimex Inc. of Drummondville, Québec. She is incredibly grateful for the support of Mécénat Musica, the Canada Council for the Arts, and FACTOR in her ongoing projects.

Lara is sponsored by Carleton University Music.

Jocelyn is one of the best known and sought-after lead trumpeters in Canada. He has gained international recognition and respect within the music industry for his lead playing, well-rounded technical abilities and musicality. Born in Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada, he started playing the trumpet at the age of 10. Jocelyn studied at Vanier College in Montreal, followed by McGill University to get his master’s degree in Performance.  Jocelyn has accompanied many international artists on stage, such as Michel Legrand, Kenny Wheeler, Maria Schneider, Gino Vannelli, Patti Labelle, Céline Dion, Aretha Franklin, Deep Purple, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Lou Rawls, Bobby Vinton, Kenny Rogers, Lionel Richie, Petula Clark and Frankie Valli.

Today, Jocelyn teaches trumpet at three respected colleges in the Montreal area and McGill University. He continues to be an active member in major Montreal big bands like the Orchestre National de Jazz de Montreal, the Joe Sullivan Big Bad, the Vic Vogel Big Band, Christine Jensen Big Band, Uzeb and Altsys Jazz Orchestra.  Jocelyn’s nearest and dearest projects include his Maynard Ferguson Tribute entitled “MF Project”, as well as his brass band “Funkxie Groove” composed of top-notch Montreal musicians.

Jocelyn is sponsored by Conn-Selmer, Inc.

Dr. Scott Campbell has performed as a saxophone soloist in Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, and throughout the United States. Has appeared with various ensembles, most notably the Dallas Pops Orchestra, Plano Symphony, Odysseus Chamber Orchestra and the Allen Philharmonic and performed with musicians such as The O’Jays, Martina McBride, and Ben Folds. Along with numerous solo recitals, Scott has given world-premiere performances at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biannual conference.

Scott has served on the faculty of Southwestern Adventist University and Mountain View College. His students have been accepted into the prestigious Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, Peabody Conservatory, the New School, University of North Texas, Berklee College of Music, and Interlochen Arts Academy.

Scott received his doctorate degree in saxophone performance from the University of North Texas where he served as Teaching Fellow of saxophone and taught a large studio of saxophone students.  Currently, he serves as Woodwind Category Manager for Conn-Selmer, Inc.

Scott is sponsored by Conn-Selmer, Inc.

Jason has performed with many diverse groups including Opera Cleveland, the Blossom Festival Band, Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic, Firelands Symphony and Ashland Symphony. He also has an extensive background in jazz, having performed with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra and recorded with Sam River’s Rivbea Orchestra and the Grammy nominated Dan McMillion Groovin’ High Jazz Orchestra. He has performed at several European jazz festivals, including Montreux, Switzerland, Umbria, Italy, and Veinne, France.

Jason was a finalist in the Larry Wiehe solo competition, sponsored by the International Trombone Association and a first prize winner in the Tuesday Musical Competition in Akron, OH. He was also guest soloist with Cleveland Chamber Winds, performing Jean Fracaix’s Concerto for Trombone and Winds. Jason received a Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Bachelor of Music in jazz performance from the University of South Florida.  Currently, he is Brass Category Manager at Conn-Selmer, Inc.

Jason is sponsored by Conn-Selmer, Inc.

Kevin Brunkhorst is Chair of the Music Department at St. Francis Xavier University.

He attended the University of North Texas 1983-87 (Bachelor of Music, Composition) and 2001-04 (Master of Music, Jazz Studies), where he was a member of the renowned One O’Clock Lab Band (1986, 2002-2004). He started at St. FX in 2004, teaching jazz guitar, jazz composition, and music technology.  In subsequent years, he also taught courses in music theory, modern jazz history, history of popular music, and the Beatles.  He also leads the Guitar Ensemble, in which guitarists learn a very high standard of performance and reading skills. He has released four CDs as a leader or co-leader (on Armored Records), produced recordings for several others, and written about 100 charts for guitar ensemble, many of which are published by UNC Jazz Press.

Kevin is sponsored by St. Francis Xavier University

Award-winning bassist Paul Rushka has engaged audiences throughout North America, Europe and Asia with his sonorous tone, assured confident pulse, and eloquent soloing since 1997. Active as a performer, jazz composer, arranger, and educator, Paul holds a Doctor of Music degree from McGill University.

Learn more about Paul at Paul Rushka

Paul is sponsored by St. Francis Xavier University

Kenji Omae is a Canadian Jazz saxophonist based in Nova Scotia, Canada.  He has been described as “a super-articulate virtuoso” (Peter Hum-The Ottawa Citizen) and “may be the most exciting tenor saxophonist to emerge in Canada in recent years” (Stuart Broomer-The WholeNote).  He has released three albums of original music as a leader; “Story Time” (2015), “Not So Deep” (2011), “Here For Now” (2007).  In addition to his own recordings, he is featured as a sideman on over thirty jazz CD’s.  From 2003-2017, he was based in Seoul as a full time instructor of saxophone (Dong-Ah Institute Of Media And Arts and Paek-Che Art College). He was an active contributor to the music scene of Seoul through his frequent performances and extensive teaching. In 2007, he won the first prize in the Jarasum International Jazz Festival competition.

Kenji has a Master of Arts Degree in Jazz Performance from CUNY/Queen’s College in New York.  He is currently on faculty at Saint Francis Xavier University where he maintains a Saxophone studio and teaches classes that include Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Harmony, and Jazz History.

Kenji is sponsored by St. Francis Xavier University

Montreal-born guitarist Adam Cicchillitti  a doctoral candidate at McGill University, studying with celebrated guitarist Jérôme Ducharme. Adam has received awards in national and international competitions, has performed extensively in Canada and the United States and regularly commissions composers for new guitar works. He is the founder of the guitar school at Ottawa Suzuki Strings.

There were several media accolades in 2017 and 2018 for Adam, Classical Guitar Magazine called him “a superb Canadian guitarist” and CBC Music included him on its list of Canada’s top thirty most promising young musicians in classical music, describing him as an “ardent ambassador for classical guitar.” His critically-acclaimed debut album with Analekta was financed by the Canada Council for the Arts and MusicAction, and he will release another album of brand new Canadian works with the same label in 2019.  Cicchillitti’s compositions and arrangements are published by renowned editor les Productions d’Oz

Experienced Musician, Band Director, and Arranger with a demonstrated history of working in the music industry. Skilled in Original Music, Electronic Music, Marching Arts, and Public Speaking. Strong arts and design professional with a Bachelors of Music focusing in Music Education.

Stephen frequently appears as soloist with many concertos in the standard repertoire as well as concertos written especially for him by Canadian composers such as Kelly-Marie Murphy (Blood Upon the Body, Ice Upon the Soul, 2006 premiere with Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony) and Glenn Buhr (Violin Concerto, 2000 premiere with Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony).  Stephen is a founding member of Trio Laurier, formed in 2007 with cellist Paul Pulford and pianist Leslie De’Ath, and is a regular participant in diverse chamber groups and festival events nationally and internationally with many of Canada’s finest musicians.  He is also a frequent performer with Toronto’s acclaimed the Art of Time Ensemble and Soundstreams, with which Stephen completed a tour in May 2012 to Taiwan and China, performing works by Tan Dun and R. Murray Schafer.

As an arranger, Stephen has arranged music for the Emperor Quartet (over 20 arrangements of show tunes and popular songs), Quartetto Gelato (Octosca) and the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony (Canadian and Italian national anthems).

Stephen was just awarded the Queen’s Jubilee Medal, a nomination submitted by the National Yourth Orchestra, where he is a faculty member.  Stephen is also on the faculty of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Toronto’s Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music, and is a frequent mentor for Hamilton’s National Academy Orchestra.  He has taught at the Banff Centre for the Arts, was an instructor at the University of Manitoba, and has maintained an active private studio.

Paul is a Full Professor of music at St. Francis Xavier University, where he teaches jazz trumpet, jazz history, and arranging. He has also served on the faculties of San Jose State University, Chabot College, Nova Scotia Honor Jazz Program, and University of North Texas Summer Trumpet Workshop and is a past co-director of the Acadia Summer Jazz Workshop. Paul received his Masters in jazz studies from University of North Texas where he was a teaching fellow in jazz improvisation, large jazz ensembles and a member of the Grammy-nominated One O’Clock Lab Band.

As a jazz recording artist, Paul has appeared on over sixty recordings, as a trumpet player, composer, arranger, and/or producer along side such musicians as Lynn Seaton, Marcus Wolfe, Stockton Helbing, David Braid, Aaron Lington, Joel Fountain, Bobby Selvaggio, Kenny Werner, Kenny Wheeler, Dan Haerle, Ben Street, and Jamey Haddad. His recordings as a leader have won numerous ECMA awards. He co-leads the “BiCoastal Collective”, with Grammy winning saxophonist Aaron Lington. The ensemble is dedicated to performing new jazz composition across North America.  Paul has released ten recordings as a leader/co-leader on the Origin/OA2, Armored, and NohJoh labels.

Paul is an Edwards Trumpet and Flugelhorn Artist, and is sponsored by St. Francis Xavier University

Canadian saxophonist Mike Tremblay has more than 30 years in the music industry as a woodwind specialist, and educator.

He is an associate performance faculty member at Carleton University where he teaches saxophone, ensembles, jazz improvising, and is the co-founder and director of the annual Carleton University Jazz Camp. He adjudicates for Musicfest Canada and the Kiwanis music Festival. Mike also founded and directs the annual Ottawa Saxophone Camp. Mike frequently performs with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and many other ensembles around the Ottawa Area, including the Cosmos Saxophone Quartet.

Mike frequently performs with he National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Ottawa Jazz Orchestra, the Cosmos Saxophone Quartet, and many other groups around the National Capital region.  Some of his performance credits include: Natalie Cole, Alanis Morrissette, Lou Rawls, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Mark Ferguson, John Geggie, Dave Young and Terry Clarke.

Mike is sponsored by Carleton University Music.

Erica Phare-Bergh obtained her M. Mus. in Choral Conducting from McGill University. A native of Montreal, Phare-Bergh formerly conducted the Vanier College Choirs and the McGill Conservatory Choirs. In Calgary, she directed the William Aberhart High School Choirs, Westwinds Green Choir, and the Savridi Singers. She is in demand as an adjudicator, workshop leader and presenter (ChoralFest, MCA, Podium, MusicFest, BCCF) and was the guest conductor for the 10^th Anniversary of the CBC-McGill Youth Gala. In 2008, she spearheaded the Montreal première of Oratorio Terezin, a large-scale work involving 270 performers at Place-des-Art. She and her husband, Rick, live in Victoria, BC. Together, they write children’s books (A Song with Every Story Series) in which Erica incorporates both original songs and classical music into children’s stories. She has numerous arrangements published with Cypress Choral Music and currently directs three Voices in Motion Choirs – multigenerational research choirs for people with Alzheimer’s, their caregivers and high school students.

Website: www.ericapharebergh.com (under construction)

Music: http://cypresschoral.com/Composers/Phare.html

In 1983 he was nominated for a GENIE Award  for his original soundtrack for the movie “Les Doux Aveux “. Marois moved to British Columbia in 1988. Just recently retired, Réjean Marois taught at Capilano University for the Jazz Studies Program for thirty years. He conducted vocal ensembles, jazz ensembles and taught improvisation and instrumental/vocal arranging.

Furthermore, Réjean has been involved for the last 20 years as arranger/ conductor for the Cap Jazz Series concerts featuring renowned jazz artists from around the world. In May 2012, he received an Award for Excellence In Empowering Learning from Capilano University.       Réjean is an Associate Composer to the Canadian Music Centre, a member of the Canadian League of Composers and a member of the Society Of Composers Inc. His is also on the board of directors for Vancouver Pro Musica.

His compositions and arrangements has been performed in Canada, U.S.A and in Europe; he has been in demand throughout Canada and the U.S. as a clinician, adjudicator, conductor, music advisor and arranger. His vocal adaptation of Maria Schneider’s  “Winter Morning Walks “       will be soon published on www.mariaschneider.com.

For fourteen years, he was the artistic coordinator of the Jazz Singing Workshop at Domaine Forget, St. Irénée in the magnificent Charlevoix region of Québec. Born and raised in the province of Québec, he worked as a composer, arranger, trombonist, publisher, educator and performed all across North America and Europe.

Lorne Lofsky is an internationally recognized jazz guitarist. Born and raised in Toronto, he has been playing professionally for the last 42 years. He has played/toured or recorded with a who’s who of the jazz world, includingOscar Peterson, Ed Bickert, Rob McConnell, Chet Baker, Joey DeFrancesco, Pepper Adams, Ray Brown, Neils Henning Orsted  Pederson,Rosemary Clooney, Kirk MacDonald, Dave Holland, and many other respected members of the international jazz community.

In addition, he has been a faculty member at York University’s Fine Arts/Music Program since 1978 and also teaches at the Humber College Community Music Program. Lorne is a mainstay of the Toronto jazz scene and performs extensively in the Greater Toronto Area. He has also given clinics/concerts at St. FX University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and McGill University in Montreal.

Steve Haines is an active double bass player who has played extensively with Chad Eby, Wycliffe Gordon, Joel Frahm, Ralph Bowen, Joe Chambers, Joey Calderazzo and Fred Wesley; and has recorded with Jason & Branford Marsalis, Peter Bernstein, and Jimmy Cobb, among others. His recent March 29 release Steve Haines and the Third Floor Orchestra: Becca Stevens, Chad Eby, and Joey Calderazzo features his compositions and arrangements in the singer-songerwriter genre for symphony orchestra which is available online.  He teaches at the Miles Davis Program in Jazz Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and is very grateful for the performing opportunities and clinics he received at MusicFest during his years as a student at J.S. Woodworth S.S. in Ottawa.

Frank Gnandt has been apart of the music world for many years as a professional music, vocal and keyboard instructor, and choral director. In the choral realm he has conducted groups in both traditional choral and jazz styles. His groups have been apart of a myriad of choral festivals and conferences performing for such prestigious venues as the Vatican, Carnegie Hall, and the Sapporro Concert Hall. His choral groups have toured across North America and to Europe and Japan with the focus of sharing the joy of excellent choral music. He has been the recipient of the Excellence In Teaching Award from the Alberta Government and the Mathieson Trophy for Most Outstanding High School Choral Group in Canada! His groups have been requested as guest performers for such events as the Candian Rocky Mountain Music Festival, Musicfest Canada, Association of Canadian Choral Conductors and the International Association of Jazz Educators.

Frank is past Director of the Lethbridge Collegiate Institute and Chinook High School Chamber and Jazz Choirs. He is presently director of Caritas Chamber Choir and continues instruction in classical and jazz voice and piano in his private studio. He is frequently requested as choral evaluator and workshop facilitator. He is the past Chairman of the Choral Division of Musicfest Canada, and a past member of the Alberta Choral Federation.

Philip Hornsey is a graduate of McGill University where he studied with Pierre Béluse and D’Arcy Gray and the University of Montreal where he studied with Julien Grégoire and Robert Leroux. He has also benefited from studies with Louis Charbonneau, David Kent, Alexander Lepak, Michel Udow and Fujimoto Yoshikazu. In Montreal he plays with a variety of ensembles, including the SMCQ, Bradyworks, and the Sixtrum percussion ensemble. As a freelancer he has worked with the Orchestre Métropolitain, I Musici de Montréal and the Nouvel Ensemble Moderne, among others. His musical adventures have taken him across Canada, the United States, Asia and Europe. He has participated in numerous recordings for the National Film Board, the Canadian Broadcasting Company as well as many commercial projects. He has worked in dance with Van Grimde Corps Secrets and Système D and in theatre with Marcelle Hudon.

Mark Ferguson is an Ottawa based pianist, trombonist, composer, arranger, producer, and music educator. He has performed with many of the world’s great artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Gil Evans, Nelson Riddle, Dionne Warwick, Natalie Cole, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdink, Rosemary Clooney, Carol Channing, Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass, Holly Cole, Manteca, The Funk Brothers and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

As a composer, his credits include the CBC television series Life & Times, Cottage Country, and On the Road Again. Mark’s original compositions are featured in Treehouse Television’s series Toy Castle, advertising jingles for radio and T.V. and in the recordings of various artists.  Mark has written musical arrangements for a wide range of groups including the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the RCMP Band, the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces, the HMCS Stadacona Band, the Winnipeg and Edmonton Armed Forces Bands, and his own Latin-jazz ensemble Los Gringos.  He is a professor at Carleton University’s department of music and directs the Carleton Jazz Ensemble.

Mark is sponsored by Carleton University Music.

Jamie Holmes has been an active member in the Ottawa music scene for the past 5 years. with over 15 years of experience as a drummer, Jamie has gained a vast amount of knowledge and experience playing in most styles of music ranging from jazz, Latin and funk to rock, pop and hip-hop. During his school years studying music performance at Carleton University, Jamie was able to hone in on his musicality even deeper while being taught by and eventually working with some of the city’s top players. While you may find Jamie performing locally with just about any musician in the area, he is most commonly heard with his jazz group The HML Trio, performing funky hip-hop fusion with his power quartet The Chocolate Hot Pockets or filling up the dance floor with renowned blues and rock and roll artist JW Jones. To date, music has taken Jamie all over North America, over to Europe and as far as away as Australia and the South Pacific Islands. On top of playing in small combos as well as large ensembles, Jamie is also very comfortable working in the studio as a session player, working on musical productions, working on cruise ships, composing his own music and teaching. Jamie’s philosophy on teaching is that it needs to be equal parts fun and education. “If the student isn’t enjoying what they are learning, there will be no incentive for them to work hard or practice.” While he does have a teaching plan for
learning the drums, he also realizes that each student is different and has their own sets of strengths and weaknesses and each lesson must be specifically tailored to the individual in order to achieve the best results.

Sponsored by Ludwig

Edward Lister is a U.K born trumpeter, composer & educator who has been playing professionally since the age of 15. Edward graduated with a 2:1 BA Hons degree in Jazz performance & composition studies from Leeds College of Music (U.K). Edward has been based out of Ottawa, Canada since 2011 and currently runs 7 of his own ensembles as well as performing in a further 15. To date, Edward has recorded on over 30 albums in the Ottawa / Ontario region. Edward also owns and operates an entertainment agency called ‘London Gentleman Records’ which represents and works with local Ottawa talent. Edward has toured the globe and shared the stage with some of the best.

Sponsored by Ludwig