BCMEA 2023 Clinicians

(Alpha Order - Last Name)
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S1 Laura Andrew
Sailor First Class Laura Andrew (M.Mus, B.MusEd) has been playing with the Canadian Forces since 2011, where she has performed with Ottawa’s Band of the Ceremonial Guard, The Queen’s Own Rifles in Toronto and now, the Naden Band of the RCN. Beyond her military career, Laura has performed as a guest soloist with the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Busan Harmony Choir in South Korea and enjoys freelancing around Vancouver Island. When she’s not playing the flute or marching, you can find Laura out on the trails or open water swimming with friends and family.
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Nicholle Andrews 
Originally from Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, Dr. Nicholle Andrews is Director of Choral Studies at the University of Redlands in Southern California, and Artist Director of Phoenix Chamber Choir in Vancouver British Columbia. She is in high demand across North America as a conductor, adjudicator, and clinician.
Andrews has worked with such composers as William Bolcolm, Joan Tower, Libby Larson, Gunther Schuller, Imant Raminsh, R. Murray Schafer, alcides lanza, and Krzysztof Penderecki, and eminent conductors Bramwell Tovey, Sir David Willcox, Bobby McFerrin, Tõnu Kaljuste and Georg Titner. Under her direction, choirs have been invited to perform at festivals and conferences such as Canada's national choral conference Podium on the Edge, National Collegiate Choral Organization Convention, California Music Educators Association Convention, California All State Music Educators Conference and Festival 500 Sharing the Voices and HarbourVOICES! Her choirs have performed with legendary rock group The WHO, Sarah Brighman and Josh Groban.
Andrews is a licensed body mapping educator and her areas of research include the study of performance anxiety in musicians, pitch perception, and awareness of the body through conducting. Her publications can be found in sources such as the Journal of Research in Music Education and Journal of Band Research and she is currently serving as the Collegiate Research and Repertoire Coordinator for the Western Division American Choral Directors Association.
At the University of Redlands, Andrews' areas of specialization include choral conducting, body mapping and ear training. She also offers graduate seminars on performance anxiety, score study, rehearsal technique, an undergraduate course on understanding contemporary music titled Ear Cleaning, and a Freshmen Music Seminar. Andrews has received recognition for her outstanding teaching as the recipient of Advisor of the Year, Professor of the Year, and Faculty Outstanding Service Award.
Having completed her doctorate and master's in choral conducting at McGill University, Andrews studied with Professor Iwan Edwards, Dr. John Baboukis, Dr. Julian Wachner. While at McGill University she taught musicianship, instrumental conducting and choral conducting. She completed a double Bachelor of Music in oboe performance and music education at Memorial University of Newfoundland where she studied conducting with Dr. Douglas Dunsmore.
Andrews has also taught music (kindergarten to grade 12) in several public schools throughout Canada and England
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Joshua Capri
Joshua Capri is a saxophonist, composer, flutist, and educator based in North Vancouver, BC. and has been a performing musician for most of his life and music educator for over fifteen years. He founded Mini Mountain Publishing in 2018, Mr. Capri Teaches Music in 2008, has written two method books for concert band, and over 15 arrangements for concert band / jazz band.  He has worked for the Vancouver School Board, the Burnaby School District and is currently with the North Vancouver School District.
Joshua received his Masters degree in Education from Simon Fraser University where he focused on designing curriculum that brings composition and improvisation into the elementary music classroom to promote emotional literacy while also blending in performance, theory, ear training, and history/culture to create a comprehensive learning experience for students. This curriculum has been the foundation for his program at Westview Elementary.    
Joshua also has a Bachelor degree in Education from the University of British Columbia, a Bachelor degree in Music in Jazz Studies from Capilano University, a grade nine flute performance certificate from the Royal Conservatory of Music, and is currently enrolled in the Masters of Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University.  
As a musician, Joshua has performed and recorded throughout western Canada including at the Edmonton and Vancouver International Jazz Festivals. His first professional gig was singing with the Edmonton Opera at age eleven and has since performed with myriad groups throughout BC & Alberta.  He has studied saxophone with Canadian jazz greats Phil Dwyer and Jim Brenan as well as renowned saxophone teacher Stan Karp.  In addition, he has also studied with VSO flutists Christie Reside and Rosanne Wieringa."
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Mandart Chan
Mandart Chan (he/him) embraces his intersectionality as a gay/queer, cis-gender, neurodivergent, first generation Chinese/Hong Kong - Canadian male. He was born & raised as a visitor on the lands of the Musqueam people, also known as Richmond, BC. He is a graduate of the University of Victoria (BMus - 2003, PDPP - 2004) and the American Band College of Sam Houston State University (MMus - 2014). Currently, Mandart is pursuing a Master of Professional Education in Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice at the University of Western Ontario. For over 18 years, Mandart was in the classroom teaching Band, Leadership, and Social Justice in schools in Alberta (Calgary) and British Columbia (Victoria). In addition to Education, Volunteerism, Social Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Community are the main pillars of Mandart’s life. This passion for Social Justice, and EDI has led him towards a career path to the Ministry of Education & Child Care in British Columbia, where he now holds the position of Education Officer. Mandart’s first project was leading the development team for the “Anti-Racism Education in BC : A Teachers’ Guide” which was released in early 2023. 
Along with his work in Music Education, he is the Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion with the Canadian Music Educators’ Association, and is the Database Coordinator & DEI Advisor with the Institute for Composer Diversity. For the past 24 years, Mandart has been an active member of the Canadian Armed Forces (Reserves) working in the Canadian Cadet Organization, where he holds the rank of Major. Mandart lives as a visitor on the lands of the Lekwungen People, also known as Victoria BC with his partner Jason and their dogs Tikka & Masala
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Becky Clark
Becky is a music teacher at Colwood Elementary in Victoria, currently teaching students in Kindergarten to Grade 5. She is of Metis, English, Mennonite, and Scottish ancestry and is married with two children. Becky has a Bachelor's of Education from the University of Victoria, specializing in Secondary Music Education and is completing her Master's of Education at Simon Fraser University with a focus on Decolonizing Arts Education. She holds the Co-President position in the Sooke Music Teachers' Association LSA. Becky has been involved in outdoor music education, mindfulness in the music room and other various projects in her district. Her current inquiry is on decolonizing her classroom, focusing on including Indigenous practices in her music program. She has been working closely with her district Na'tsa'maht department to develop resources that other teachers can use in their classrooms. She has also helped create some meaningful professional development opportunities in the Sooke School District to spur on conversations around Indigenous perspectives in music.
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Diana Clark
Diana Clark is Artistic Director of Coastal Sound Music, a multi-level choral organization based in Coquitlam, BC. With an eclectic background that includes a Master’s Degree in Music Performance and a Master of Music Education from Northwestern University, Diana is recognized for her creative work with young artists and has served as a clinician across Canada. She has been teaching music in public elementary schools for 30 years, including a few years as Fine Arts Coordinator in SD43. Her workshop sessions offer a treasure-trove of ideas that connect repertoire to curriculum, choral literacies and skills, and performance. 
Diana has been a member of the BC Choral Mentorship Project since its inception, and is an advocate for Dr. Geoffrey Boers’ resource “Together, We Sing: Goals for Singing Ensembles & Leaders”.
She proudly served the Canadian choral community on the Board of Choral Canada, where she coordinated the first-ever national choral census and the recent “Benefits of Singing” campaign.
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Will De Sousa
Will de Sousa has been involved with Coastal Sound Music for over a decade, presently serving as the Conductor of the Coastal Sound Youth Choir, and Associate Artistic Director of the organization. He is currently on leave from teaching music in Burnaby to pursue his Master’s of Choral Conducting at UBC. Will’s passion for choral music has led him to seek out opportunities to enhance his skills as a musician and leader, and to immerse himself in the thriving choral community in the Lower Mainland. In his work with Coastal Sound he strives to create opportunities for his singers to grow as artists and individuals, and gain a sense of belonging through involvement in a welcoming community. The environment Will and his singers create together is built on empathy, dedication, and authenticity
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Michael Dirk
As one of Canada’s more active and versatile organists, Vancouver Civic Organist Michael Dirk is equally at home offering solo concerts, accompanying the many fine choirs/ensembles of the region, improvising an entertaining accompaniment to a silent film, or serving liturgically in various worship styles. During his BMus program at UBC, he studied organ with Ed Norman and Denis Bédard. Michael then continued as graduate assistant with full scholarship, to the eminent teacher, Clyde Holloway, at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University of Houston, Texas, where he received his Master’s degree. Subsequent studies include the Cavaillé-Coll organs of Paris, as well as the Fr Willis organs and Cathedral choir school systems of London.
Michael has performed for national festivals of the Royal Canadian College of Organists for which he serves as Vancouver Centre’s co-president and Education officer, as well as the Association of Anglican Musicians national conference. Since 2012, Michael has been the Music Director/Organist of St. John’s Shaughnessy Anglican Church. He is frequently invited to showcase the Orpheum’s historic Mighty WurlitZer for the VSO and VCT, having studied with Robert MacDonald (Radio City Concert Hall NYC) and Charlie Balogh (Organ Stop Pizza, Mesa). A sought-after clinician, Michael has offered numerous workshops for the RCCO and British Columbia Music Educator Association, as well as articles for Organ Canada Journal. Recently, with the help of Canada Council for the Arts grant, he was invited to help introduce the pipe organ to Rwanda by means of tele-midi. 
Michael is on faculty at the UBC School of Music and VSO School of Music, as well teaches K-7 music full time for VSB’s Shaughnessy Elementary. Away from the classroom and organ bench, Michael can be found ballroom dancing with his wife, percussionist/educator Annabelle Ip, and teaching their daughter how to sail around English Bay. 
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PO 2 Steve Donegan
Born in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Petty Officer Second Class Steve Donegan is an active performer and educator based in Victoria BC and is currently a trumpeter for the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy. Steve holds both an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Lakehead University as well as a Master of Music degree in Performance from Memorial University of Newfoundland. 
Steve has had the privilege of performing with many ensembles throughout the country including the symphony orchestras of Victoria, Thunder Bay, Newfoundland as well as the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and Ottawa’s Band of the Ceremonial Guard.
In addition to his activities as a performer, Steve is also passionate about music education. Prior to his current post, Steve served as the band teacher at Terrace Bay Secondary School and as a contract lecturer at Lakehead University’s Department of Music where he was nominated for a "Contribution to Teaching Award".
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Ed Dumas
Ed Dumas is a retired secondary school band teacher who worked his entire career in the Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows school district. He has enjoyed working with thousands of students from grade 6 to grade 12 teaching primarily concert bands and jazz bands. Ed also conducted the local adult Maple Ridge Concert Band for 25+ years as well as leading the Whalley Legion Band and assistant conducting the Abbotsford Concert Band for a time. Consequently, he has a wealth of knowledge spanning musicians from as young as 12 to as experienced as 90 years of age!
Ed is currently working as a (very) part-time TOC for the Comox Valley School District. Ed also works as a Mid-Island Rep for Tapestry Music helping teachers from Campbell River to Duncan develop their music programs. Ed now plays in numerous groups in the mid-Island area including the Oceanside Concert Band where he is currently holding the position of President, as well as the Oceanside Big Band, and his own Flugelhorn Quartet.
Currently, Ed is retired and now living in Parksville, BC with his wife Laurie of 38 years, where they enjoy gardening in their beautiful backyard as well as their many musical activities
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Kerri Faa
I am a music specialist and have worked in SD #69(Qualicum) for 30 years, teaching both general classroom (Grade 4-8) and school music programs (K-8). I hold a B.Mus in Ed (UVIC) and a M.Ed in Leadership (VIU) and live with my husband and two teenage kids in Nanaimo, BC. My teaching experiences include conducting concert band & choirs, as well as teaching young learners from K-7 to engage in “play” in my music classroom. I am passionate about seeing young learners awaken their love of music and the performing arts as they “play” with a wide variety of instruments and materials in my music program! My interests beyond music & teaching include kayaking, scrapbooking and jogging (whenever I can find the time!). I LOVE teaching and am passionate about seeing students’ sense of capacity build as learners and leaders!
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PO 2 Bob Fearnley
 Petty Officer Second Class Bob Fearnley was born and raised in North Vancouver, and attended Carson Graham Secondary School, learning under the direction of Steve Woodyard. He started playing Euphonium in the Beginning Band 8 class, after unsuccessfully trying to hoodwink anyone into renting a Bassoon for him. He attended the University of Victoria, and studied under Prof. Gene Dowling, to whom he owes a debt of gratitude eternally for his kind tutelage. He has played as solo euphonium with the Central Band of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Ottawa Chamber Symphony, and currently with the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy. His second passion in music is conducting, and he was blessed to conduct a concert with the Meridiem Wind Orchestra in Victoria.
On his spare time, he enjoys the company of his partner Alliszon Zaichkowski, the affection of their cats, the eating and cooking of rich meals, and the collecting and drinking of fine wine. He has recently taken up a position as the head sacristan of Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria and is a lay delegate to General Synod for the Anglican Military Ordinariate. 
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Sharon Fitzsimmins
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, examiner for The Royal Conservatory of Music and a conductor at the National Music Camp of Canada . She has received numerous teaching, professional development and leadership awards including Teacher of the Year. In November 2006, Sharon received the highest award from the OMEA, an Honorary Life Membership. In Feb. 2019 Sharon also received an Honorary Life Membership from the Ontario Band Association (OBA).Sharon is currently the Chair of the Concert Band Division for MusicFest Canada. Sharon is proud to have taught for thirty years at Barrie North Collegiate where she conducted award winning bands and choirs. She has written three teacher resources and a collection of stories called It Made Me Laugh, It Made Me cry. Stories From the Music Room. She is currently writing a reboot of An Earful. 
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David Flello
David Flello is a musician and an educator living in Victoria, B.C.  He recently retired from the public education system in BC after teaching for 36 years.  He continues to teach as a TOC in the Saanich and Greater Victoria School Districts, as a clinician for the Victoria Conservatory of Music, and as President of the U-JAM (Universal Jazz Advocates and Mentors) Society of Victoria.
His educator awards include Arts Leader of the Year for the City of Victoria, Jazz Program of the Year from the Jazz Report Magazine, and a Prime Minister’s Merit Award for Outstanding Education.  His adjudication experience includes Festivals on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, Central BC and Alberta.  
His performance experience as a freelance trumpet player has spanned most musical styles including orchestral, chamber ensembles, pit orchestra, jazz and commercial music.  He has performed in the trumpet sections of, and/or as a soloist with, a large number of ensembles including the Victoria Jazz Orchestra, Victoria and Vancouver Island Symphony Orchestras, the Meridiem Wind Orchestra, and with notable artists including Holly Cole, David Foster, Rob McConnell, Guido Basso and the Temptations. His most recent performances have included orchestras onboard ships of the Cunard Line.
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Gordon Foote
Gordon Foote, professor emeritus, University of Toronto, Faculty of Music, recently retired after a 45-year career. He taught grades 7 through 12 in Winnipeg, and then 42 years at the university level. He was in the teaching cohort at St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1980, when the first university jazz studies program was pioneered in Canada. Following that, he spent 26 years at McGill University, developing that program, which included the first jazz degrees at the graduate level in Canada (Master of Music and DMA). The last 9 years were spent at the University of Toronto. Through his career he was involved in university teaching and administration, holding several positions: chair of the jazz area, department chair, director of graduate studies, associate dean of performance and interim dean (McGill).  
His education included the University of Minnesota and the University of North Texas. At Minnesota, he was graduate assistant for the director of bands, Frank Bencriscutto.  
The university big bands he directed were recognized as among the best bands in North America. There were many tours, (France, England, Ireland, Switzerland, Mexico, and throughout the USA and Canada) opening many festivals (including 6 IAJE performances) and performing with major guest artists. The bands released 15 recordings. The IAJE invited the McGill Jazz Orchestra, as guest ensemble, to open the international night concert in New York. 
As a saxophonist and Conn-Selmer artist, Gordon has presented countless workshops, guest appearances, adjudicated many festivals, and directed several honour jazz bands in Canada and the USA. 
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S1 ​Andrew George
Sailor First Class Andrew George joined the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy in the summer of 2023, moving from Atlantic Canada which was his home music scene since 2013.  Bringing in his experience in various roles like Principal Clarinet and featured soloist of Symphony New Brunswick, woodwind doubler in musical theatre and jazz band pits, and as a member of his chamber ensemble of clarinet and strings, Port City 5, Andrew is happily exploring the new opportunities available here on the West Coast.  As an educator, he has worked as clarinet sectional coach, woodwind coach, winds and brass conductor, orchestra librarian, and arranger for both the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra and the Saint John Youth Orchestra, and was also the resident Clarinet Teaching Artist for Sistema New Brunswick’s Saint John Centre since his arrival in New Brunswick.  With his latest studies in music education at Memorial University now complete, he is excited to seek out new opportunities to continue to shape and support the next generation of musicians and music lovers in British Columbia.
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Dr. J. Scott Goble
J. Scott Goble is Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of British Columbia, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses and supervises work of M.Ed., M.A., and Ph.D. students. A specialist in vocal/choral music and philosophy of music education, his current research focuses on Indigenous knowledge and musical practices. His book What’s So Important About Music Education? is published by Routledge, and he is presently Co-Editor of the online, open-access journal Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education (ACT).
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Kimberly Gorman
Kimberly Gorman grew up in the Okanagan and has been teaching music since 2007. In 2012 she began working at Ecole Glenrosa Middle School and successfully applied for a MusiCounts grant to help rebuild the program in 2013. From there, she continued to expanded the music program to include instrumental band, jazz band, jazz combo, choir and grade 6 exploratory music. This year, 50% of the grade 7 population at her school chose to take band full year! Kimberly studied clarinet, saxophone and piano, continues to play in the community, and is passionate about advocating for music programs in the public school system. Kimberly graduated originally from UBC with a Bachelor's degree in Music and and Bachelor's degree in Education. In 2021, Kimberly returned to school through Acadia University to study a Master's in Curriculum Design with a focus in Music Education. She completed the degree in June of 2023.
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Kevin Hamlin
Recently retired as head of music at Collingwood Collegiate, Kevin Hamlin has been appointed to be Yamaha Music Canada's first Educator-in-Residence, providing workshops and clinics for high school music programs and bands throughout North America. Kevin was awarded the Keith Mann Outstanding Band Director in 2015, awarded to one teacher each year from across the country, chosen by MusicFest Canada. Kevin also presents regularly at numerous music conferences throughout Canada, provides workshops for school boards and universities, and adjudicates at Regional Festivals from Coast to Coast, as well as the MusicFest Canada National Festival. Kevin was also awarded the Collingwood Arts Award in 2015 as well as the Order of Collingwood in 2016.
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Jennifer Hansen
Jenny has been teaching music in the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school district since 2003. She is a music education graduate from the University of Victoria and has an Elementary Music Graduate Diploma from Simon Fraser University. She spent the first part of her career teaching secondary band but made the switch to elementary music in 2011. She currently teaches K-7 music at Golden Ears Elementary and is part of a performing arts team, co-directing at least one school musical each year. Outside of school, Jenny enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
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Michelle Hartley
Originally from Newfoundland, Michelle has taught across Canada from NS to NWT, as well as abroad in England, France and the US. A graduate of Mount Allison University (BMus) and Memorial University (BMusEd), Michelle also completed a Masters of Music at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, where she sang with the acclaimed Westminster Choir and Westminster Kantorei, performing with major symphonies, in ACDA national conferences, and international festivals. While living in the US, Michelle also worked with the American Boychoir School as the Tour Manager for their grade 4-8 Concert Touring Choir. Since her arrival in BC in 2016, she has been developing a Kodály-based curriculum for singers aged 4-18, integrating the method along with the Orff Approach in music classes and rehearsals as a certified Kodály and Orff Schulwerk teacher. Currently, Michelle conducts VYC Kids at the Vancouver Youth Choir, and is the Senior School Choir and Orchestra Director at Crofton House School. 
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Jennifer Hill
Jennifer Hill is of Nlaka’pamux, Métis, British, Scandinavian and Austrian ancestry. She was born, raised and currently resides in Victoria BC on the territory of the Lekwungen and WSANEC speaking peoples. She is a music and drama teacher at École Arbutus Global Middle School. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Music with Distinction from the University of Victoria and a Certificate in Inclusive Education from Queens University. Jennifer is the co-recipient of the 2017 VCPAC Fine Arts Champion Award and has twice co-taught winning submissions to the CBC Music Class Challenge. She is a Past-President of the Greater Victoria Music Educators’ Association. Jennifer has been an active contributor to the creation and implementation of a district wide Indigenous drumming program in SD61. 
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Crystal-Anne Howell
Crystal-Anne is a music teacher in Qualicum Beach where she has taught an assortment of concert and jazz, choral and instrumental ensembles since completing her BMus and BEd at UVic. She also holds a Master’s of Music Education from the University of Western Ontario. She is currently the Honour Ensemble Coordinator Chair for the BCMEA. Crystal-Anne’s main goal in teaching is to foster community, musicality, and lifelong skills in her students, particularly focusing on a sense of acceptance and belonging within her school ensembles and program. She loves watching her students transform from who they might have been without music into who they can be with it.
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