Brian O’Kane
Brian O’Kane was recently appointed Head of Brass Studies at Canada’s prestigious Humber School of Creative and Performing Arts. A widely respected brass musician, Brian holds a master’s degree in jazz performance from the University of Toronto, and has played trumpet and flugelhorn with top domestic and international jazz artists, including the Kirk MacDonald Jazz Orchestra, Barbra Streisand, and Aretha Franklin. He is equally well known for his work with classical ensembles such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, and True North Brass. He has extensive experience as a pit musician and was a member of the Shaw Festival Orchestra from 2013 to 2016. Brian is also in demand as a clinician and adjudicator at colleges, universities, and music festivals.
Sponsored by: Humber College
Toronto, ON
Kelsley Grant
Chair, Instrumental Jazz
Trombonist, composer and arranger Kelsley Grant received his Bachelor of Music from McGill University and completed his graduate studies at the Manhattan School of Music. Shortly after leaving New York, he joined Maynard Fergusonʼs Big Bop Nouveau and toured the United States, Germany, Switzerland and England. Kelsley has performed with Aretha Franklin, Jackie Richardson, Frank Sinatra Jr., Michael Buble, Maria Schneider, Michel Legrand, Nicholas Payton, Sophie Milman, Ranee Lee, and Nikki Yanofsky. Kelsley has been twice nominated for trombonist of the year by the National Jazz Awards. The Jefferson-Grant Quintet won an Opus Award for their first recording and was nominated as Acoustic Ensemble of the Year by the National Jazz Awards.Kelsley has served as a faculty member at McGill University, University of Montreal, and University of Toronto. He is the musical director of the JAZZ.FM91 Youth Big Band. He has given master classes and clinics at universities across Canada and is currently the coordinator of Humber College’s introduction to commercial jazz music program.
Learn more about Kelsley at Kelsley Grant
Ernesto Cervini
Ernesto Cervini is a drum instructor at the University of Toronto and a guest lecturer at Humber College and York University. In addition to his performing career, he founded Orange Grove Publicity in 2014 and quickly became one of the most sought-after jazz publicists in Canada. Guitarist Alex Goodman, saxophonist Allison Au and bandleader/composer Chelsea McBride’s Socialist Night School are just some of the many highly respected artists represented by Orange Grove.
Learn more about Ernesto at Ernesto Cervini
Ernesto is sponsored by the University of Toronto.
Dr. Brainerd Blyden-Taylor
Brainerd Blyden-Taylor is the Founder, Artistic Director and conductor of The Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Canada’s first professional chamber choir dedicated to the creation and performance of Afrocentric music of all styles. Born in Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Blyden-Taylor immigrated to Canada in 1973. He founded The Chorale in 1998, in response to a musical void in Canada; there had never before been a professional ensemble dedicated to the dissemination of Afrocentric choral music. The response that The Chorale has received in Canada and the United States since its inception has certainly given credence to Mr. Blyden-Taylor’s vision.
Mr. Blyden-Taylor has conducted several university, youth and concert choirs, most notably completing a 25year tenure with The Orpheus Choir of Toronto. In addition he works frequently as a guest conductor, having appeared with organizations such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Hannaford Street Silver Band, Nova Scotia Youth Choir, Ontario Youth Choir, Central Manitoba Youth Choir and the New Brunswick Choral Federation Youth Sing. He has also worked as artistic director and advisor for the Algoma Festival Choir, the Nova Scotia Mass Choir and the Chatham-Kent Roots Festival.
Mr. Blyden-Taylor has served as a member of the teaching staff of the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto and the Faculty of Music, Queen’s University. He is a Master Teacher with the Toronto Board of Education, coaching teachers and students in conducting and choral technique, and was awarded an honourary Doctor of Laws degree from York University in Toronto for his contribution to education.
Mr. Blyden-Taylor is also in constant demand as a Clinician, Adjudicator and Lecturer both nationally and internationally, working extensively across Canada and the United States of America, as well as in Cuba and France. He has also been invited to deliver workshops in Japan, Turkey and Israel. In addition Mr. Blyden-Taylor is an active church musician, serving currently as Director of Music at All Saints Kingsway Anglican Church.
Toronto, ON
Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt
Dr. Hilary Apfelstadt is Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Conducting at the University of Toronto where she was named the inaugural Faculty Teaching Excellence Award winner in 2013. She holds the Elmer Iseler Chair in Conducting. She is also Artistic Director of Exultate Chamber Singers, a semi-professional ensemble in Toronto. Raised in Nova Scotia, she earned degrees from the University of Toronto, the University of Illinois, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds an ARCT in piano performance. She has conducted choirs at divisional and national conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and conducted the University of Toronto MacMillan Singers at Podium, the national conference of Choral Canada. She has led choral festivals in Europe, and at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York. In 2009, she conducted the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a live broadcast of “Music and the Spoken Word.” She has directed all-state choruses in more than 35 states and conducted both the 2011 Ontario Youth Choir and the 2014 National Youth Choir of Canada. A frequent conference presenter, she often does conducting masterclasses and has participated in several university conducting residencies.
Dr. Apfelstadt is a prolific author, having published multiple articles in professional journals, as well as chapters in two books: Wisdom, Wit and Will: Women Choral Conductors on their Art (GIA, 2009) and Conducting Women’s Choirs: Strategies for Success (GIA, 2012). She is a contributing author to Teaching Music in Performance Through Choir, volume 4 (GIA, 2017) and is co-editing volume 5 (to be published in 2019). A member of the Editorial Board for the ACDA Choral Journal, she also write s a regular choral column for The Canadian Music Educator. Her book on Canadian composer Ruth Watson Henderson, entitled I Didn’t Want It to be Boring, was released by Prism Publishers in the fall of 2017.
Toronto, ON
Dr. Tony Leong
Chair, Orchestra/Strings
Educator and conductor, Dr. Tony Nam-Hai Leong completed his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. An advocate for well-being and social change through accessible and lifelong music-making, community engagement is central to his work. Dr. Leong serves as MusicFest Canada’s Chairman of the Orchestra/Strings Division; Executive Member of the Canadian Music Educators’ Association; Past-President and member of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association Board of Directors; co-founding director of the Ontario Strings Association; Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician; and past Board Member of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada. With a passion for public and post-secondary education, Dr. Leong is an assistant professor, teaching stream at the University of Toronto Scarborough; an instructor at Queen’s University; and Head of the Arts Department at Sir Oliver Mowat C.I.. His research includes the intersections of string music education, technology, adolescents, and community music.
Learn more about Tony at Dr. Tony Nam-Hai Leong – Biography (tonyleong.ca)
James Sparks
James Sparks (Jim) is adjunct professor at the UBC School of Music (conducting), lecturer in Arts Education at SFU, senior advisor for choral music for Music Mentors International, and former director of vocal music at the Langley Fine Arts School (LFAS) in Langley British Columbia. With an undergraduate degree in piano and voice (University of British Columbia), a Masters Degree in choral conducting (University of Arizona), and a PhD in philosophy (Simon Fraser University), Jim has continued his teaching in school, university, and community contexts for over three decades.
In his roles as researcher, conductor, and singing leader, Jim connects active research with music learning, music performance, and professional music leadership. With support from the Canada Council, the Canadian Music Educators Association, the AIRS collaborative initiative and Simon Fraser University, Jim has pursued collaborative singing research with several choral leaders in the world: Alina Orraca, Havana, Cuba (Schola Cantorum Coralina); Joseph Muyale Inzai, (National Boys Choir of Kenya); renowned Ukrainian choral conductor, Anatoliy Avdievski in Kiev, Ukraine (Veriovka Choir); Wes Janzen, (Kiev Symphony Orchestra and Chorus); and Helle Hoyer in Aarhus, Denmark (Aarhus Pigakor Choir). Jim is the recipient of the Profession Music Educator Award from the BC Music Educators Association, the 2009 recipient of the Willan Award from the BC Choral Federation and Simon Fraser University President’s PhD Award for 2014. Jim is in demand as an adjudicator, lecturer, and guest conductor and has continued his international research and conducting engagements in Europe, Kenya, Cuba, and Brazil.
Langley, BC
Colleen Allen
Colleen Allen is one of Canada’s most in-demand musicians for live concerts and recording sessions. Based in Toronto, the acclaimed and versatile multi-instrumentalist has performed all over Canada, the U.S. and Europe with world class jazz and pop artists including Molly Johnson, David Clayton-Thomas, Holly Cole, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Rik Emmett, Marc Jordan, Andrew Craig and Jackie Richardson, to name a few. She works frequently with Brian Barlow’s Big Band, Cirque du Soleil, is a resident artist at Soulpepper Theatre, and a member of Manteca, Canada’s premier fusion jazz big band. She has been in the house band of the Toronto Blues Society’s Women’s Blues Revue since its inception in 1986. Colleen is a beloved mentor and teacher of music for 15 years now at Humber College and a regular adjudicator/clinician for musicfest, and the TD jazz education festival in Picton.
Colleen’s first CD “Colleen Allen” displays her talents as instrumentalist, arranger, bandleader and producer. Her sophomore release “Flashlight” features bassist George Koller, guitarist Rob Piltch and Snarky Puppy drummer Larnell Lewis.
Toronto, ON
Kim Vrieling
Production Director
Elaine McLeod
Elaine McLeod began her cello studies in Winnipeg, and pursued further studies at Queens University and UWO, supplemented by summers at the Banff School of Fine Arts and the National Youth Orchestra. She holds a Bachelor of Music Performance from Queens University, a Masters of Music performance and Literature from UWO and a Bachelor of Education Fine Arts with a specialization in Music from York University.
She has recently retired from teaching Strings in the TDSB. As part of her commitment to excellence in school string playing, Elaine teaches and adjudicates at a variety of workshops, festivals and symposia. She enjoys all aspects of cello playing, and performs chamber and orchestral music.
Elaine plays with the Mississauga Symphony and is an avid chamber musician. She also enjoys swimming, yoga and literature. Elaine and husband Norm have four adult children: Alex and Rory began their studies with Etobicoke Suzuki Music and now play viola professionally. Alex is the Academic Manager and Parkdale Centre Director for Sistema Toronto. Daughter Brynne sings with the Semperopera in Dresden, Germany. Cameron is in Prince George BC studying Environmental Engineering.
Dan Brennan
Dan is often called on by local jazz musicians and choirs to play acoustic and electric bass for their groups in performance and recordings. Dan’s percussive bass playing style is very complimentary to the sound of the New Vibes Jazz Quartet, a group he co-founded in 1990 and already boasts two other percussionists. While Dan is classically trained, he grew up playing everything from rock to R&B, classical to jazz. Dan continues to play with the Waterloo Chamber Players as well as the NVJQ. He has recently retired from teaching the strings program at Waterloo Collegiate, where he got many local musicians off to a great start in their musical careers.
Wendy Grasdahl
Wendy Grasdahl is a conductor, trumpet performer, educator and adjudicator. Her professional work encompasses teaching at university and college levels across Canada, military band work and private instruction.
As an officer in the Canadian Naval Reserve, Wendy has conducted military bands in Alberta, B.C., Ontario and Nova Scotia. She is in demand as a clinician and guest conductor for school programs, as well as summer music programs, including 12 years at the International Music Camp at the Peace Garden on the Manitoba/U.S. border where she received the Distinguished Service Award for conducting and promoting band in North America. Wendy received the Faculty Association Excellence in Teaching Award from the University of P.E.I., the City of Edmonton Salute to Excellence Citation Award in Arts & Culture in 2014 and in 2019 the Alberta Band Association awarded her the “Vondis Miller Legacy” Award.
Having appeared as a trumpet soloist and in professional ensembles across Canada, Wendy is a founding member of the brass quintet “Five of a Kind”, and has played Solo Cornet with the Mill Creek Colliery Brass Band. She is the founder, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of Festival City Winds Music Society which is now in its 25th season. Wendy currently teaches trumpet and is Director of Bands at Concordia University of Edmonton, and teaches Instrumental Conducting at The King’s University, Edmonton. She has adjudicated festivals at local, regional, and national levels in 8 provinces to date.
Ms. Grasdahl holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music History from the University of Alberta, a Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Calgary, and a graduate level Fine Arts Diploma in Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble Conducting and Literature from the University of Calgary.
Alain Cazes
Alain Cazes is a Professor at McGill University, where he conducts the Wind Orchestra and teaches conducting. He has been director of the Orchestre Métropolitain Choir and is curently Musical Director of the Montreal Pop Orchestra. He is also principal tuba of the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montréal under Yanick Nézet-Séguin.
Learn more about Alain at Alain Cazes
Dr. Jeff Reynolds
Jeffrey Reynolds teaches trumpet and conducting at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, as well as conducting the Wind Symphony. He holds a Ph.D. in the philosophy of music education and a M.M. in trumpet performance. Dr. Reynolds has performed and recorded as a trumpeter with the Calgary Philharmonic, Victoria Symphony, Hamilton Philharmonic, Hannaford Street Silver Band, the Stratford Festival Ensemble and the Orchestra of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, as well as many other orchestral, chamber and solo performances.
Learn more about Jeffrey at Jeff Reynolds
Sommer Forrester
Dr. Sommer Forrester serves as an Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Education at the University of Massachusetts Boston. She teaches undergraduate music education courses in instrumental music and conducting, advises undergraduate music majors, conducts the UMass Boston Orchestra, and oversees all aspects of the Music Teacher Licensure Program. A former classroom teacher, Forrester taught instrumental music for eight years in three different countries: Kuwait, Israel, and Canada.
Learn more about Sommer at Sommer Forrester
Mary Schneider
Mary Schneider is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Eastern Michigan University, where she conducts the Wind Symphony, teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in conducting and music education, directs the Music Now Contemporary Music Festival, and oversees and guides all aspects of EMU’s comprehensive band program. Prior to her appointment to EMU in the fall of 2008, Dr. Schneider served for three years as the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Minnesota. She holds a doctor of musical arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She has also earned degrees in horn performance and music education from the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Connecticut.
Active nationally and internationally as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, Dr. Schneider brings a diverse background to the podium and to her students in the classroom. Schneider’s career teaching experience includes many years as a public school music educator in northern New Jersey, where she also maintained a busy performing schedule as a hornist. An elected member of the American Bandmasters Association, Dr. Schneider is currently Vice-President of the North Central Division of the College Band Directors National Association, and has served two terms as President of the Mid-American Conference Band Directors Association. Additionally, she maintains professional affiliations with the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, National Band Association, and the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association.
Jacqueline Dawson
Jacqueline Dawson received undergraduate degrees in music and music education from Memorial University of Newfoundland and holds a masters degree in conducting from the University of Manitoba. She has attended the Conductor’s Art Symposium at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, The Art of Wind Band Teaching at the University of Minnesota and completed the Canadian Wind Conductor’s Development Program in Winnipeg. Jacquie is currently Assistant Professor and Director of Bands at the University of Manitoba Desautels Faculty of Music where she conducts the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, coaches chamber ensembles and teaches courses in music education. She also serves as Faculty Advisor for music education student teachers. Prior to this appointment Jacquie taught in public school for twenty years, primarily at Vincent Massey Collegiate in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Learn more about Jacquie at Jacquie Dawson
Matthew Chalmers
Matthew Chalmers holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from Humber college, a school he attended since he was 3 as part of the Humber College’s Community Music program. Matthew also performed at MusicFest for many years and was the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships including Zildjian Outstanding Young Drummer four times, the Music Industries Association of Canada (MIAC) scholarship, as well as the inaugural Lou Williamson Scholarship for Outstanding Drumset Player. In May of 2011, The Hnatyshyn Foundation awarded Matthew with the Oscar Peterson $10,000 Grand for Jazz Performance.
While continuing to play throughout Canada and US, Matthew is now an active film composer, writing for two network television shows as well as movies for the Lifetime network.
Ron DiLauro
Adjudicator/Clinician
For close to 40 years, Ron Di Lauro has been one of Québec’s most in-demand trumpet players: from jazz to classical, from pop to world music, Throughout his career, he has accompanied renowned artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Phil Woods, Zoot Sims, John Scofield, Aretha Franklin, Tony Bennett, Michel Legrand, Oliver Jones and Vic Vogel, to name but a few.
As a soloist, he has performed with the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, the Orchestre Métropolitain du Grand Montréal and the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Laval, and Sinfonia de Lanaudière. He has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, Broadway musicals, film soundtracks and in advertising jingles, as well as on over 300 recordings, most notably with Cirque du Soleil.
Music festivals and cultural organizations regularly call upon him to act as a jury member. As an Associate Professor at Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Music, and Lecturer at McGill University’s Schulich School of Music, he directs Big Band, Chamber Jazz Orchestra, as well as teaching jazz trumpet. He was the recipient of the Oscar Peterson Prize at the 2014 Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Outremont, QC
Dr. Colleen Richardson
Adjudicator/Clinician
Dr. Colleen Richardson is Coordinator of Bands, directs the Wind Ensemble, and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting and instrumental music education at Western University in London, Ontario. In collaboration with Dr. Kevin Watson, she administrates the Western Young Winds program, which is a community band for students in grades six to nine, and supervises the undergraduate music education majors selected to rehearse and conduct the ensemble. Prior to her appointment at Western, Dr. Richardson was an Assistant Professor of Music Education and the Wind Ensemble Director at Converse College in South Carolina.
Learn more about Colleen at Colleen Richardson
Frank Lee
Vice Chair, Choral/Vocal Jazz
Frank Lee is the choral director at Carson Graham Secondary School. He spent the previous seventeen years as the choral and instrumental director at Seycove Secondary School in North Vancouver. Mr. Lee is has also been on Faculty at Douglas College directing the Chorus. His past ensemble was honoured with the distinction of Youth Choir of the World at the International Choral Festival, Kathaumixw, in 2007. In 2009 his Chorale was named top choir at the Canadian National Choral Festival and had their solo debut concert in 2011 at Carnegie Hall. His award winning vocal jazz ensemble, Jazz in the Box, has been featured in Western Canada and Washington State.
Frank received his undergraduate music degree from the University of Victoria studying trombone with Ian McDougall. He has recently finished his graduate studies in choral conducting, under Dr. Graeme Langager, at the University of British Columbia. He is sought after as a clinician across Canada and Washington State. Frank has served as the chair for the BCMEA Honour Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Kiwanis Vocal Jazz Festival and is currently on the Canadian Rocky Mountain Music Festival Advisory Committee.
Pratik Gandhi
Vice-Chair, Concert Band
Pratik Ghandi received a B.Mus. in music education and an M.Mus. in conducting from the University of Western Ontario. He is currently a doctoral student at York University in Toronto, researching issues of equity and representation among wind band composers in Canada. His article, “Composer Representation in Canadian Wind Band Festival Lists”, was published in the Fall 2020 issue of Canadian Winds. For more information, please visit www.pratikgandhi.ca .
Learn more about Pratik at Pratik Gandhi, Conductor
Christine Hansen
Adjudicator/Clinician
Christine Hansen retired after 33 years as an Intermediate and High School music teacher. As head of Department at Canterbury High School in Ottawa, Christine helped initiate and administer the specialty music portion of the successful Eastern Ontario Programme of the Arts at Canterbury. After her retirement from secondary school teaching, Christine taught Intermediate and Senior Music courses in the University of Ottawa Education Faculty. She continues to guest lecture at the University, adjudicate at Music Festivals and conduct workshops and clinics with Concert Bands.
Christine, an Ottawa native, obtained her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and her Master of Music Education at State University, Potsdam, New York. She is an affiliate of member of C.M.E.A.,O.M.E.A.,C.B.D.A.,O.B.A. and Phi Beta Mu.
Currently Christine performs on French Horn with the National Capital Concert Band and the Manotick Brass Ensemble in Ottawa.
Kevin Hamlin
Adjudicator/Clinician
Kevin was Arts Department Leader and Music Department Head at Collingwood Collegiate for 29 years, building one of the largest and most diverse programs in the province of Ontario. In 2015, Kevin was Awarded Keith Mann Outstanding Band Director by MusicFest Canada , along with the Collingwood Arts Award. In 2016 , he was awarded the Order of Collingwood. Kevin has been a presenter at Ontario Music Educators’ Association conferences on a wide range of topics. Chosen as Yamaha Music Canada’s first Educator-In-Residence, Kevin works across the country adjudicating band festivals, providing Board wide workshops, and individual school-based clinics.
Learn more about Kevin at Kevin Hamlin
Kevin is sponsored by Yamaha Canada Music
Jennifer Bell
Saxophonist, clarinetist, flutist and conductor Jennifer Bell has been active on the Montréal scene since 1985. Jennifer is the co-founder of the groups Streetnix, (FIJM 1987-2017) and Altsys Jazz Orchestra, with whom she has performed hundreds of concerts throughout North America and Europe. Jennifer Bell is also a clinician and adjudicator throughout North America and has taught at the McGill Conservatory since 1985.
Dr. Andrew Scott
Clinician
Dr. Andrew Scott’s professional work has impacted many aspects of the music industry. As a guitarist/arranger and composer, Andrew has amassed a considerable discography and gigography performing and/or recording with a diverse roster of groups and players that includes Gene DiNovi, Jim Clayton, Four80East, Jackie Richardson, Bernie Senensky, Archie Alleyne, Mike Downes and Marc Jordan. Andrew is the recipient of the, Toronto Independent Music, Canadian Urban Music, and four Canadian “Smooth” Jazz Awards. Andrew’s compositions have been heard in such films and television shows as Pretend We’re Kissing, Cubicle Warriors, Old Stock, Pop Switch, Mothers and Daughters, CBC’s The Border. As a scholar, Andrew, who earned his PhD in 2006, has lectured at universities and for conferences across North America. He has been published in the New Grove Dictionary of Jazz and many other journals. As a culmination of these diverse interests and experiences, Andrew is Acting Dean of the School of Creative and Performing Arts at Humber’s where he oversees the Music Business and Music Marketing areas and acts in the capacity of Humber Music’s Academic Advisor. Andrew, an advocate for interdisciplinary applied research and work that lies at the nexus of Music and Business, is currently serving as the Acting Director (2014/2015 academic year) for Humber College’s Bachelor of Music Degree.
Sponsored by: Humber College
- Location: Etobicoke, ON
Jason Logue
Adjudicator
Trumpeter Jason Logue has grown to be one of Canada’s finest musicians and composers. He has performed or recorded with such jazz artists as Sam Rivers, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Dave Brubek, Phil Nimmons, Dave Grusin, Louis Belson, Kenny Wheeler, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Guido Basso, Jim McNeeley and Rob McConnell.
Jason is currently on the Faculty at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario and The University of Toronto.
Learn more about Jason at Jason Logue
Jason is sponsored by the University of Toronto.
Gordon Foote
Adjudicator
Gordon Foote recently accepted a position at the University of Toronto as a Professor in the Jazz Studies Program of the Faculty of Music. The most important element of this portfolio will be to direct the University of Toronto Jazz Orchestra (UTJO). Previous to that, Gordon spent 26 years as a Professor in the Jazz Studies Program at the Schulich School of Music of McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec. He served as Dean (interim), Associate Dean (Academic and Student Affairs), Chair of the Department of Performance, Director of Graduate Studies and Chair of the Jazz Area, as well as 6 years as a professor at St. FX University in Nova Scotia. Gordon is one of the pioneers of jazz education in Canada, being instrumental in the development and implementation of the first undergraduate and graduate university jazz studies programs in the country.
As a saxophonist and clinician for Conn-Selmer, Gordon has performed in Canada, Europe and the United States.Professor is in demand as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and jazz educator/performer in Canada, Musicfest Canada being a long standing event.
Sponsored by: Conn-Selmer
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Dennis Beck
Adjudicator
Dennis Beck earned two undergraduate degrees from Western University, and completed a graduate program in conducting from the University of Calgary. In addition to teaching experience at the junior and senior high school levels, he has been a sessional lecturer for the Faculty of Education of the University of Toronto, conducted at Alberta College Conservatory in Edmonton for several years, and has been a faculty member at the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University in London, Ontario, where he was conductor of the Symphonic Band and taught music education and conducting.
Learn more about Dennis at Adjudicators – Celebration Youth Music Festival (CYMF) (google.com)
Andy Morris
Director
As owner of Woodshed Percussion, Andy Morris has been a freelance musician in the Toronto area for over 20 years. Because of his extensive experience in the music business, he is able to offer sound advice on choosing the right instrument for a group or individual.
Andy is sponsored by Woodshed Percussion
Stephen Wick
Concert Artist/Clinician/Adjudicator
Stephen Wick is the CEO of Denis Wick (London) Products Ltd. He earned his Bachelor of Music (Honours) at the University of Surrey (Guildford, England) in 1976. Stephen plays tuba in the Anima Eterna Brugge orchestra, based in Bruges, Belgium. He was a member of the Oslo Philharmonic, and has performed with leading orchestras from Berlin, Hamburg, Paris, Milan, Helsinki and Amsterdam. He teaches serpent, ophicleide and tuba at the Royal Academy of Music, and at The Purcell School in Bushey, England, the oldest specialist music school in the UK.
In the jazz field, he has played in bands led by such greats as John Dankworth and Kenny Wheeler. He has played tuba on hundreds of film scores, from John Huston’s ‘The Man who would be King’ in 1975 to modern films such as Alien, Rambo, Batman, Gladiator and Star Wars. He has also recorded with Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Frank Zappa and Led Zeppelin.
Brenda Uchimaru
Adjudicator
Retired, after 37 years in music education, Brenda has worked as an instrumental and vocal teacher, department head and consultant. Her career path was with the Hamilton, Waterloo and York region boards, and several years of teaching the vocal additional qualification courses at the University of Toronto/OISE. Brenda is currently artistic director of the Cambridge Male Chorus, and is founding artistic director of her chamber choir, Kokoro. Brenda enjoys freelance work as a musical director for community music theatre companies and is often invited to be a clinician, adjudicator, guest conductor and workshop presenter.
Learn more about Brenda at Brenda Uchimaru
Kirk MacDonald
Clinician/Concert Artist
With an established reputation as one of Canada’s leading saxophonists, Kirk MacDonald cut his first record at the age of thirteen. Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards, and has worked with many leading musicians in a variety of musical genres. Kirk also leads the Kirk MacDonald Jazz Orchestra (KMJO), a 19-piece all-star ensemble dedicated to performing his original compositions and featuring arrangements by leading Canadian and U.S. Writers. The KMJO released its debut recording Deep Shadows in March 2011, and in May of 2012. His latest recording Vista Obscura was released in 2014 and features jazz legend Harold Mabern and special guest saxophonist Pat LaBarbera. Kirk has been active as an educator for 27 years at leading jazz studies programs such as at the University of Toronto and McGill University. Kirk is presently a full time professor at Humber College in Toronto, where he holds a cross appointment in the Music Degree Program and the Community Music School. Kirk also acts as the Artistic Director for the “Youth Jazz Canada” project and directs the “National Youth Jazz Combo”. This project also hosts a 2 week workshop in the summer for high school and post-secondary students.
Sponsored by: Humber College
- Location: Toronto On.
Greg Jasperse
Adjudicator/Concert Artist/Clinician
A world-renowned composer, arranger, vocalist and pianist, Greg Jasperse is the Director of Vocal Jazz at Western Michigan University. He is also the director of the award-winning Gold Company vocal jazz ensemble. His credits include numerous movie soundtracks including “Jurassic World”, “Epic”, “Oz, The Great and Powerful”, “The Campaign”, “Star Trek” and “Star Trek 2” as well as the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s “Monarchy of Roses” and “The 2nd Law”, the recent release from Muse. His conducting credits include all-state jazz choirs in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Arizona, North Dakota, New York, California, Oklahoma, Indiana, Missouri, Colorado, New Hampshire, Illinois, Iowa as well as the British Columbia Honors Jazz Choir and Musicfest Canada’s Ellison Honour Choir,
Learn more about Greg at Greg Jasperse
Mike Downes
Concert Artist
Mike Downes is the Bass Department Head at prestigious Humber College in Toronto. Bassist, composer, author and educator Mike Downes has earned a reputation as one of Canada’s finest jazz artists. His bass playing has delighted audiences worldwide, including tours through western and eastern Europe, Iceland, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, the United States and throughout Canada.
Mike’s extensive discography highlights his work as a bassist, composer and arranger. He has released five recordings as a leader to critical praise. His most recent recording Ripple Effect features his trio with masterful musicians Robi Botos and Ethan Ardelli. Mike has been a (guest-concert) artist, adjudicator, clinician, and educator many times at Musicfest Canada.
Sponsored by Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.
Toronto, ON
Brian Dickinson
Concert Artist
Now head of the keyboard department at Toronto’s Humber College, Dickinson is a graduate of the Humber Music Program and holds a Masters in Music (with distinction) degree from the New England Conservatory in Boston. He is the author of a respected book on ear training, entitled The Ears Have Walls (published by Advance Music of Germany). Brian Dickinson has been a fixture on the Canadian Jazz scene since the early 1980’s.he has performed and recorded with many jazz greats including Pat Labarbera, Lee Konitz, Kirk MacDonald, Kenny Wheeeler, John Abercrombie and Tom Harrell. He won a Juno Award for best jazz recording in 1991, and was also a member of the University of Toronto Faculty for twelve years.
Sponsored by: Yamaha Canada Music Ltd.
Jonathan Dagenais
Adjudicator
Jonathan enjoys an active career as a composer and arranger for wind orchestra. His compositions are included in many North American concert band music festival syllabuses, and are currently published worldwide by Alfred Music, Hafabra Music and Eighth Note Publications.
Learn more about Jonathan at Jonathan Dagenais
Denny Christianson
President (deceased Feb. 10, 2021)
Prior to his 2001 appointment as Humber’s Director of Music, Christianson taught at McGill University, Concordia University, the University de Montreal, John Abbott College, and Centennial Academy. His jazz portfolio is no less impressive. His credits include performance and recording sessions with jazz greats J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughn, Tony Bennett, Michel Legrand, and many others.
Sponsored by: Humber College
Etobicoke, On
Sharon Fitzsimmins
Chair, Concert Band
Sharon Fitzsimmins, Mus. Bac, B.Ed, is a respected educator, international adjudicator, clinician and conductor. She is past president of The Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA) and was co-editor of The Recorder for 8 years, conductor at National Music Camp of Canada and examiner for The Royal Conservatory of Music. She taught for thirty years at Barrie North Collegiate where she conducted award winning bands and choirs. She has written three teacher resources and is working on a fourth.
Learn more about Sharon at Sharon Fitzsimmins
Bob Rebagliati
Vice Chair, Instrumental Jazz
Bob holds a Bachelor of Music, Teaching certificate for the University of B.C., and a Master of Music at Western Washington University. While an undergraduate, Bob was involved in performances as a clarinettist, pianist, and percussionist. His main post-graduate activity was the writing of and extensive manual for the development of the young jazz rhythm section. He has continued to write curriculum in the areas of jazz rhythm section, jazz rehearsal techniques, jazz improvisation and concert band percussion. For 33 years, in the North Vancouver School District, Mr. Rebagliati directed many award winning junior and senior high school ensembles in both concert band and jazz. Since 2012, Bob has conducted the Metro Vancouver Firefighters Band.
Joanne Pittock
Communications Coordinator
Musicfest 2018 is fast approaching and we are very happy to have all of your continuing support for this inspiring event. I have personally been with Music Fest for the past 14 years and have progressed through many roles from, registration, adjudication secretary, adjudication logistics director, Communications Coordinator, This year I am currently updating the web site for members, guests, bios, and their photos.
Every year I am touched and inspired by the creative venues offered, students reactions, and to the wonderful team that is “Musicfest”
Joanne D. Pittock
Communications Coordinator
Marilyn Mann
Honour Ensembles Coordinator
Dr. Gillian MacKay
Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra Director
Dr. Gillian MacKay holds degrees and diplomas from the University of Lethbridge, McGill University, the University of Calgary, and Northwestern University. Previously, she served as Instructor of Brass at Medicine Hat College, and Director of the School of Music at the University of Windsor. Gillian MacKay is an Associate Professor of Music of the University of Toronto, where she conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches conducting and trumpet. She is also Associate Dean of Graduate Education. An award-winning teacher, Gillian has an active professional career as a trumpeter, conductor, adjudicator, and clinician.
Learn more about Gillian at Gillian MacKay
Scott Leithead
Vice Chair, Choral/Vocal Jazz
Scott Leithead is the founder and Artistic Director of Edmonton’s Korora Choir Association and TIME Association. Under his direction, Korora was the winner of both the 2015 CBC National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs and both the 2015 and 2016 Canadian National Music Competition. In the summer of 2019, Korora was invited to perform at the IFCM World Choral Expo in Portugal, where they represented Canada on the world stage. Scott has a passion for music from southern Africa, and he has been invited to work with choirs in South Africa and Namibia on numerous occasions. In 2008–2009, Scott was on sabbatical in Namibia, where he worked with the Mascato Youth Choir and many other choirs in southern Africa. In February 2023, he conducted the ISSEA Mass Choir in Johannesburg, South Africa, featuring international schools from across the African continent. In 2015, Scott was awarded Choir Alberta’s top honour, the Richard S. Eaton Award. He also received Edmonton’s Salute to Excellence award in 2016. In 2024, he will conduct the 40th Anniversary Manitoba Sings Adult Choir, the Ellison Canadian Honour Choir (Toronto), the Eastman Honour Choir and the Nova Scotia Youth Choir. He will also adjudicate the 2024 Ontario Vocal Festival.
Learn more about Scott at Scott Leithead
Scott is sponsored by Korora Choirs
Thaddeus Howard
Executive Assistant
Nancy Howard
Registration Director
Jim Ferris
Vice Chair, Concert Band
Jim Ferris from McDougall has adjudicated bands at various music festivals across the country at both regional and national levels. He is presently responsible for the sight-reading segment of MusicFest Canada’s Concert Band Division. Jim Ferris earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Western Ontario and his Master of Education degree from the University of Toronto. Following his retirement after 32 years of teaching, he was the Education Consultant for Yamaha’s Music in Educational program until he retired from that position in December 2005. In 1999 he was awarded the Canadian Band Journals. Outstanding Directors Award and was inducted into MusicFest Canada’s Hall of Fame for his long outstanding contribution to Music Education.
- Location: McDougall, On.
Alex Dean
Vice Chair, Instrumental Jazz
Alex Dean, one of Canada’s foremost jazz saxophonists, has been a mainstay of the Canadian music scene for many years.
He has played and recorded with Bill Evans, Kenny Wheeler, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Harry Connick Jr., Phil Nimmons, the Dave McMurdo Jazz Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra. Alex holds the tenor saxophone chair with Rob McConnell’s Grammy award winning Boss Brass and he performed on their last five albums.
Alex is a widely respected private teacher and adjudicator in Canada and the U.S.
Sponsored by: Humber College
Toronto, Ontario
John Chalmers
Chair, Choral/Vocal Jazz
John is active as an adjudicator and clinician throughout North America and has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Vocal Festival and part of the Executive Committee of MusicFest Canada for over 30 years. He taught music at Humberview SS, Central Peel SS, Mayfield SS, Humber College and the University of Toronto Jazz Performance Program where his groups received national and international recognition, winning nine DOWN BEAT Magazine Student Music Awards. John has received the I.A.J.E. “Outstanding Jazz Director Award” for Canada, the Jazz Report Award for “Best Secondary School Jazz Program” and was inducted into the MusicFest Canada “Hall of Fame” for outstanding service to young Canadian musicians.
Changyong Park
Internet Technologies Director
Dr. Shirantha Beddage
Vice Chair, Instrumental Jazz
Two-time JUNO-nominated musician Shirantha Beddage is a baritone saxophonist, composer and educator from Toronto, Canada. Currently, he serves as Head of Theory and Harmony in the Humber College Music department, where he teaches courses in Music Theory, Pedagogy, and Ensemble. Previously, he was Director of Jazz Studies at the Columbus State University Schwob School of Music (Columbus, Georgia, USA). He serves as a Vice-Chairman of the Instrumental Jazz Division of MusicFest Canada.
He has released three critically-acclaimed albums as a leader. His debut album, Roots and Branches, was released in 2007 on Jazz Excursion Records. His follow-up album, Identity (2012) was nominated for a JUNO award for Traditional Jazz Album of the year in 2013. His newest album, Momentum (2016), featuring drummer Will Kennedy of the Yellowjackets, was nominated for Jazz Album of the Year (Solo) at the 2017 JUNO awards.
His compositional skills have garnered him accolades such as the 2013 Galaxie Rising Star Award at the Montreal Jazz Festival for his compositions “Baker’s Dozen” and “Winds of Change”. In 2014, he also composed and performed incidental music for the first season of the Emmy-winning FX TV series Fargo. Compositions from his album Momentum won him a spot as a finalist in the 2017 Canadian Songwriting Competition.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (D.M.A.) in Jazz Studies from the Eastman School of Music (New York, USA), a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from William Paterson University (New Jersey, USA), and a Bachelor of Music degree from Humber College (Toronto, Canada). Shirantha is a Yamaha saxophone artist and performs on the YBS-62.
Etobicoke, ON
Neil Yorke-Slader
Treasurer, Associate Director
Neil has composed over 55 works at various levels for jazz ensemble, available through UNC Jazz Press and Burnihla Music Publishing and distributed worldwide by J.W. Pepper. He taught music at the elementary and secondary levels for 17 years, and is active as a jazz adjudicator and clinician throughout North America. Neil directs the renowned Nepean All-City Jazz Band, one of Canada’s per-eminent student jazz ensembles for the last 35 years. In 2018, he was named the inaugural winner of the Tommy Banks Outstanding Jazz Director Award. In 2020, he was named an Honourary Life Member of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association.
Learn more about Neil at Neil Yorke-Slader
Neil is sponsored by Burnihla Music.
Jim Howard
Executive Director
Mr. Howard is an author, adjudicator, arranger, producer, performer and a former faculty member at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. He was the recipient of the “Berklee College of Music Distinguished Alumnus Award” in 1989.
Mr. Howard has been the Executive Director of MusicFest Canada for the past 30 years and has been involved with the festival for 36 years. Prior to that Mr. Howard served as Visiting Professor of Jazz Studies at Sir Wilfred Laurier University, Jazz Ensemble Director at McMaster University and the Senior Faculty Member and Teaching Master at Mohawk College.
Dr. Mark Hopkins
Director
Currently, Dr. Hopkins is an Assistant Professor in the School of Music at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He is responsible for overseeing the Music Education area, teaching conducting, and is Director of Bands at Acadia University. Dr. Hopkins is very active as a guest conductor of professional and collegiate ensembles, having led performances across Canada and the United States, Bermuda, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Italy, Switzerland, and Romania.
Learn more abotu Mark at Dr. Mark Hopkins
Bryan Stovell
President
Bryan taught music in Nanaimo for 50 years. Since 1997 he served as Chair of MusicFest Canada’s Jazz and Concert Band Divisions and is currently a Board member. He also taught Jazz Pedagogy at Vancouver Island University and was Chairman of the Music Department until he retired again in 2015. Bryan is a MusicFest Canada Hall of Fame member, recipient of the Marshall McLuhan Distinguished Teacher Award for both BC and Canada, BCMEA’s Professional Music Educator Award, and the City Of Nanaimo Excellence in Culture Award.
Learn more about Bryan at Bryan Stovell