Stuart BeatchVertical Divider
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Stuart Beatch is a Canadian composer currently living in Edmonton, Alberta. He received a Master of Music in Composition from King’s College London under composer Rob Keeley, having previously studied composition at the University of Alberta and music education at the University of Regina. Stuart has held Composer in Residence positions with Chronos Vocal Ensemble (Edmonton) and The Fourth Choir (London, UK), and has received mentorship from Sir James MacMillan and Uģis Prauliņš. While Stuart has a special affinity for the Canadian choral community, his music has frequently been sung by vocal ensembles across North America and Europe, including the BBC Singers, Elysian Singers, Voces Nordicae, Pro Coro Canada, National Youth Choir of Canada, musica intima, Luminous Voices, Chronos Vocal Ensemble, Spiritus Chamber Choir, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Cantabile Chamber Singers, Chorus Austin, Empire City Men's Chorus, and Choral Arts Initiative. He is an Associate Composer with the Canadian Music Centre and a member of the Canadian League of Composers.
https://stuartbeatch.com/home |
Michael BeauclercVertical Divider
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Michael Beauclerc is a Toronto-based touring drummer, singer, author, and Executive Director of the Canadian Drumline Association. He is the Musical Director of multiple Tribute Shows, and the owner and designer of Mad Practice Pads and Mad Cymbal Shields. Michael is a percussion and voice graduate, and world-class marching snare drummer. He is a sponsored artist and clinician for Yamaha Drums, Vic Firth Sticks, Remo Drumheads, and Sabian Cymbals.
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Sabrina BrooksVertical Divider
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Sabrina firmly believes in the science and spirituality of music as the most powerful tool we have to move our society forward. Winner of the 2022 City of Fort St. John’s Arts and Cultural Award, Sabrina believes the most effective form of advocacy is to entrench music so deeply into the souls of community members, it becomes impossible to even consider removing it.
Sabrina graduated from the University of Victoria’s Education program in 2010, with a degree in Mathematics and Music. It was there where she met her euphonium playing husband Joe Brooks. She moved to her husband’s hometown of Fort St. John and was so lucky to have been taken in by a passionate arts scene and learned the power of community. Sabrina took spent over a decade doing K-6 general music, beginner band and high school band. She now teaches Band 7-9, Guitar, Math and Science at Bert Bowes Middle School. SD60 runs a collaborative music program based on mentorship across grades and team teaching. Her "work husband" (A.K.A. team teacher) was David Price. For the last decade the two have for better or worse, richer or poorer successfully doubled the size of the beginner band program to the point where they grew so big, new facilities had to be built, and the 150 kids in beginner band barely fit on any of the stages in the city. This success did not happen overnight. After her first year teaching, Sabrina quickly realized musical skill alone was not going to be enough to save her program from cutbacks, and so she completed a Masters in Leadership and Administration through Gonzaga University. There she learned to speak the language of those in charge and gain the leadership skills she needed to effect change. With her teammates Band Co-ordinator Sandra Gunn, David Price and Joe Brooks, the team used the research Sabrina had accumulated for her Masters thesis to turn the small town SD60 Band Program into a nationally recognized source of pride for the community. The program frequently competes at the invitation-only Music Fest Canada, something Sabrina makes sure the whole town takes ownership and pride for. Sabrina also founded the community band Northern Winds, in 2012. The band often collaborates with the local choirs and school bands, because Sabrina believes as musicians we are stronger together. Northern Winds has resulted in 2 marriages and 1 baby to date! Sabrina has two children, Cecilia and James, and she is enjoying learning about the Suzuki method as her kids learn Violin and Cello. Her husband Joe is now an administrator at the Arts school in town. When she is not working, Sabrina’s favorite things to do are be Mom and be home with her family. |
Heidi Buhler (Klassen)Vertical Divider
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Heidi Buhler (now Klassen) has her Masters in Music Education from Gordon College in Massachusetts with a focus on Music Learning Theory, which was pioneered by Dr. Edward E. Gordon.
With no prior concert band training, Buhler was hired nearly a decade ago to restart a dormant band program at Eugene Reimer Middle School in Abbotsford BC. Before learning about Music Learning Theory, teaching band was inefficient and unsustainable as the majority of the students did not have prior music making experience in any form including singing. Providing students with the building blocks of music as a language revolutionized the program into a thriving and highly capable community of young musicians. Buhler has long since wished to share these vital tools with other teachers on the West Coast. Buhler enjoys rock climbing during her spare time to keep her cool. |
Dr. Jared BurrowsVertical Divider
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Dr. Jared Burrows is a guitarist, composer, and educator in Vancouver, BC, Canada. His music is rooted in the jazz tradition and is influenced by frequent collaborations with musicians from China, Ghana, India, and Iran. He leads the Jared Burrows Sextet and Les Djangophiles, and is involved with many other ensembles in the Vancouver area including The Offering of Curtis Andrews, Naadaleela Ensemble, Dave Robbins Electric Band, Bruce Freedman’s Collage, Clyde Reed Quartet, Thunder Lizard, and Len Aruliah Quintet. Recent performance highlights include concerts, recordings, and a tour of South India with mrdangam maestro, Sri Trichy Sankaran, as well as many performances and recordings with legendary Los Angeles reed player, Vinny Golia. Jared has been an instructor at Capilano University since 2008. There he teaches improvisation, small ensembles, vocal arranging, upper-level research seminars, and directs the renowned new music group, Narwhal. Jared is the founder and director of the Vancouver Jazz History Archive, an online collection of over 1000 items (and growing) including photos, posters, and other ephemera related to the Vancouver jazz scene. In December of this year, Jared and Dr. Kofi Gbolonyo will lead CapU’s first field school in Ghana. Jared holds a Ph.D. in Arts Education from Simon Fraser University. His writing and research has touched on social and embodied models of cognition related to free improvisation, the teaching of improvisation, and Sufi and Taoist philosophies applied to performance practice and education. He has been fortunate to have a long-term musical and academic partnership with improvising bassist and economic historian, Dr. Clyde Reed, and their work has been published on Oxford University Press. Jared’s teachers and mentors have included Steve Owen, Ihor Kukurudza, Rudolph Komorous, David MacIntyre, Martin Gotfrit, David Crumb, and Robert Kyr. www.jaredburrows.com
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Diana ClarkVertical Divider
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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 people and has served as a choir clinician across Canada. She taught Music in public elementary schools for 32 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. She proudly served the Canadian choral community on the Board of Choral Canada, where she coordinated the first-ever national choral census and the 2023 “Benefits of Singing” campaign. |
Geeta DasVertical Divider
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Vancouver born Guyanese, Geeta Das, is a very diverse and well seasoned, professional multi-instrumentalist focusing mainly on brass and woodwinds, across countless genres. She has been studying, teaching, conducting, and performing locally and internationally for over 30 years and has had the humbling opportunity of working with a myriad of local legends and world renowned artists alike. Geeta has had the honour of performing with Vancouver’s Hard Rubber Orchestra, Jill Townsend Jazz Orchestra, Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, Sister Jazz Orchestra, as well as international icons such as the historic big band The Glenn Miller Orchestra, UK singer/songwriter Adele, rapper Kanye West, UK pop/rock sensation The Heavy, Iranian/Persian Pop Artist Mazyar Fallahi, and many more.
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Glynis DawsonVertical Divider
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Glynis Dawson studied music at the University of Victoria, obtaining a Bachelor of Music Degree, followed much later by a Master of Education, Leadership Studies. Glynis has been teaching in the secondary school system for nearly 30 years where she enjoys teaching both instrumental and choral music. She hosts an annual regional Choral Collaboration, has mentored many student-teachers, and in the distant past has been clinician at BCMEA conferences, and sessional instructor of Vocal Jazz Methodology at UVic. Glynis continues to teach full time at Belmont Secondary School on the traditional territory the Coast Salish T’Sou-ke and Scia’new, and Nuu-chah-nulth Pacheedaht Nations.
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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. |
Dr. Richard Dorfer |
Dr. Rick Dorfer enjoys the great variety he has developed in his career and maintains an active schedule as a violinist, conductor and educator. As a violinist, Rick is a member of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra.
For eight seasons, Rick was a conductor with the Surrey Youth Orchestra, working mainly with the Junior Strings and Chamber Music programs. He previously served as Assistant Conductor for the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra and guest conducted the Prince George Symphony Orchestra. Rick also appears on faculty at many summer festivals and is regularly invited to lead masterclasses and adjudicate festivals. Rick’s postgraduate training included an Artist Diploma from the Glenn Gould School and culminated in a Doctor of Music Arts degree from the University of Washington. |
Duncan FraterVertical Divider
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Duncan has dedicated the past 25 years to teaching music to elementary school students on Vancouver Island. Beyond his work in schools, he led the Cowichan Consort Orchestra and Choir for nine years and directed the Victoria Children’s Choir-Intermediate Choir for two years. His school choirs have performed with the Victoria Symphony, and he has personally arranged and produced operas for several of his Grade 5 classes. With a deep passion for music, Duncan strives to make learning an enjoyable experience for children.
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Mia GazleyVertical Divider
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A versatile saxophonist who regularly performs in a variety of genres on all saxophones, Mia Gazley holds a master’s degree from the University of Florida and an undergraduate degree from the University of British Columbia, both in saxophone performance. In her pursuit of being a well-rounded musician, Mia has performed with the Vancouver Jazz Legacy Orchestra, the Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra, the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and various other ensembles. She has placed gold with the Azura Quartet and the Orpheus Quartet in the FCMF National Music Festival in 2017 and 2024, respectably. Mia is proud to be a Rousseau Mouthpiece Artist and uses them on all four of her saxophones for her classical playing. For jazz playing, she uses JodyJazz mouthpieces.
As a researcher, Mia wishes to pursue a better understanding of the historical lineage of the saxophone in Japan. Much of her current research addresses the lack of accurate documentation regarding saxophonists and Japanese composers of saxophone music in Western literature. She has been studying possible translation errors that may exist, as well as understanding the impact of the political and cultural unrest in Japan during the 20th century. Mia is currently a contributor of the Japanese Saxophone Database, working alongside Nathan Mertens on providing accurate and easily accessible information on compositions for the saxophone by Japanese composers. In addition to her busy performing and private teaching schedule, Mia currently works as the Winds, Brass, and Percussion Administrator of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s School of Music. Mia was also previously the music librarian for the Vancouver Opera for their 2023/2024 season. She also currently serves on the North American Saxophone Alliance’s sub-committee for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Accessibility |
Dr. J. Scott GobleVertical Divider
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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 and a conductor of choirs and orchestras, he began his career teaching music in public schools near Seattle, Washington, later serving on the music faculties of Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges, Boston University, and San Francisco State University. His book What’s So Important About Music Education? is published by Routledge, and he recently concluded a five-year term as Co-Editor of the online, open-access journal Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education (ACT). His current research focuses on Indigenous knowledge and musical practices.
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Nick GodsoeVertical Divider
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Nick Godsoe is the Director of Programs & Education at MusiCounts, Canada's music education charity associated with the JUNO Awards. In this role over the past six years, Nick oversees various grants, artist development programs, awards and resource development initiatives aimed at making music education more accessible, inclusive and sustainable across Canada. Nick has served as a clinician at music education conferences from coast to coast, and has been invited to facilitate workshops for students and educators by different school boards and universities across the country. Nick is also the Chair of the Board of Directors for Rainbow Songs Foundation, which offers free music programming for young children and families living in shelter and refugee services in the Greater Toronto Area.
Prior to his work at MusiCounts, Nick completed a Bachelor of Music in tuba performance from Mount Allison University, and a Master of Arts in Musicology from the University of Toronto. Currently, Nick is based in southern New Brunswick. |
Melissa GoodchildVertical Divider
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Melissa is an active teacher and freelance clarinetist and bass clarinetist, in Victoria, British Columbia. She performs music for solo clarinet, chamber groups, and music for large ensembles. In 2019 she joined the faculty of the Victoria Conservatory of Music and enjoys teaching students of all ages in private as well as group settings including chamber music, clinics for schools, and adjudicating for music festivals across Canada. She has also been a clarinet instructor for schools such as the Alberta College Conservatory of Music, and at the University of Victoria. She received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Windsor and also studied at Western University where she earned her Artist Diploma in Clarinet Performance and Master of Music in Performance and Literature. After her studies in London, Ontario in 2008 she moved to Edmonton, Alberta where she taught at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music and performed throughout the city.
In 2012 she moved to Saskatoon Saskatchewan where she held the position of Second Clarinet with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra until May 2018. While in Saskatchewan Melissa collaborated with percussionist Kevin Grady, and together they continue to perform repertoire including contemporary works with a special interest in, but not limited to, Canadian compositions and have commissioned several works. As a duo Kevin and Melissa were artists-in-residence for the Prairie Wind & Silver Sage museum in Val Marie, Saskatchewan and at the Banff Centre for the Arts winter residency in 2018. In July 2018 the Duo performed at ClarinetFest in Ostend, Belgium. Students in Melissa’s studio enjoy opportunities to perform in festivals, masterclasses, recitals, and ensembles. They are welcomed into a supportive community where learning through curiosity is encouraged. In fall 2023 she began her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and is researching avenues to create a learning community. |
Kevin HamlinVertical Divider
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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, as 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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Madeleine HumerVertical Divider
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For over 45 years Madeleine has been involved in Music Education. Teaching students from Kindergarten to Grade 12, her school choirs were consistently invited to perform in concerts with professional local and touring orchestras and choirs, and in multiple Pacific Opera Victoria productions. She was the Founder and past Artistic Director of the Victoria Children’s Choir, whose choristers sang for Canadian and International dignitaries in festivals and special commemoration celebrations both nationally and in Europe, where the choir also was awarded first in Summa cum Laude competition in Vienna, Austria. Beginning her music career as a Baroque Soloist, she now volunteers to work with singers in schools, churches and jazz organizations. In June 2024, Madeleine was awarded the Order of Canada for her dedication to the arts.
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Hussein JanmohamedVertical Divider
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Hussein Janmohamed is a champion of pluralism with over three decades of working internationally in schools and communities. A Canadian-based artist, he is a 4th generation Kenyan of Ismaili Muslim South Asian Gujarati ancestry. Inspired by a mission to build community, unleash creativity and cultivate dialogue, Hussein provides teacher professional development, music integration consulting, choral clinics, artistic curation, and collaborative composing workshops. He holds a PhD in Music Education from the University of Toronto, and Masters degrees in Choral Conducting and Opera Production. His doctoral research focussed on Muslim youth identity and belonging in Canada through choral music participation. Hussein has sung with Chor Leoni, the Phoenix Chamber Choir, Elmer Iseler Singers and National Youth Choir of Canada; and, he has led UBC Choirs, the Nai Syrian Children's Choir, Vancouver Peace Choir, Canadian Ismaili Muslim Youth Choirs and global music ensembles. He has curated cross-cultural vocal collaborations for Nuit Blanche Toronto, U of T Faculty of Music, Luminato Festival, and MABELLEarts. Incorporating his multicultural influences, Hussein’s evocative choral compositions tell stories and invite reflection, offering a unique perspective on inclusiveness. Recent projects include work with Dead of Winter on a new choral work and community collaboration, and a co-creation commission with the Canadian Chamber Choir. Hussein has been recognized for his inspirational leadership and twice awarded the U of T Irene Miller and Koshkish Fellowship in music for his research in music as a language for dialogue and peace.
https://www.husseinjanmohamed.com/ |
Steve KaldestadVertical Divider
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Since moving to Vancouver in 2008, Steve Kaldestad has become one of the most in-demand saxophonists on the scene, performing as a sideman with Jesse Cahill’s Nightcrawlers, Jodi Proznick’s quartet, and many other groups. Steve has released 4 CDs on the Cellar Live label to great acclaim including Straight Up featuring the Mike LeDonne Trio, New York Afternoon with the Renee Rosnes Trio, and his latest release, Live at Frankie’s Jazz Club.
Originally from the prairies, Steve spent the ’90s in Montreal, obtaining his Bachelors and Masters degrees from McGill University. During this time Steve was awarded a grant to study with Lee Konitz in New York. In 2000, he began an eight year stint in London, England and joined the Kate Williams Quartet, the Matt Wates Sextet, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, the Gareth Lockrane Septet, and played regular gigs in the BBC big band, the Humphrey Lyttelton Group and others. He has also played and/or recorded with Renee Rosnes, Denzal Sinclaire, Mike LeDonne, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Peter Bernstein, the Karl Jannuska Group, Kevin Dean and many others. Steve now resides in Port Moody, BC and teaches at Capilano University. Steve is a D’addario artist and plays D’addario Select Jazz reeds on all his saxophones and D’addario Reserve reeds on clarinet. https://stevekaldestad.com/ |
Susan KiddieVertical Divider
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Susan Kiddie gained her BMus and MMus in Musicology from the University of Auckland in NZ and her Dip.Tchg. from Christchurch Teachers’ Training College in Christchurch in NZ. She taught secondary school Music in Auckland, NZ for 5 years and has been teaching elementary Music in Coquitlam School District for 23 years; she presently teaches at Nestor Elementary School. Susan has Level 3 Orff and Level 1 Kodaly. She is a singer (ARCT), pianist (LTCL, BCRMT), violinist and choral specialist. Susan has been a professional soprano church soloist for over 30 years at St Andrews Wesley United Church and Spirit of Life Lutheran Church and has sung in elite choirs, such as NZ National Youth Choir and Vancouver Cantata Singers. She has produced 2 CDs, Memories of Prague, and Dreams and Songs of Love. Susan is an avid Music advocate and is currently President of the CMTA. She is also Vice President of the Kodaly Society of B.C., B.C. Rep. to the Kodaly Society of Canada, Chair of Fundraising for the National Orff Conference Steering Committee, Constellation 2024 and a Director on the BCCF board. Susan runs a busy home piano studio in which she teaches private and group (Music for Young Children) piano.
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Jonathan KruegerVertical Divider
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Jonathan Krueger is a dedicated Music Educator at North Surrey Secondary in the Surrey School District. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Victoria and a Master’s in Music Education from the University of British Columbia. Jonathan specializes in developing foundational music literacy skills, incorporating the Zoltan Kodaly method to enhance sight-singing abilities in his students. During his high school years at the Mennonite Educational Institute, Jonathan was actively involved in both band and choir, experiences that shaped his teaching approach. His passion for music extends to a particular interest in folk songs and storytelling.
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Ben LitzckeVertical Divider
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Ben Litzcke holds a Master of Music in wind conducting from the University of Victoria, where he also completed a Bachelor of Music on clarinet. He teaches band and clarinet workshops in schools and guest conducts in various community bands around Victoria. Ben is also the founder and music director of Island Chamber Winds, a new professional ensemble based in Victoria dedicated to playing new and underperformed repertoire for winds and brass.
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Dr. Scott MacLennanVertical Divider
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Dr. Scott MacLennan is an active adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor who frequently works with ensembles, schools, honour groups, and festivals across Canada. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia and has been the Music Director of the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Wind Ensemble and the Music Director at the Byng Arts Academy in the Performing and Visual Arts in Vancouver, B.C. For more than 30 years, he has taught bands and orchestras at all levels from elementary to post-secondary and performed extensively on bassoon. He has conducted his award-winning ensembles in various locations throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, China, the United States, and Canada. His ensembles have performed in such notable venues as Carnegie Hall, New York, USA, and Santa Maria della Pieta (Vivaldi’s Church) in Venice, Italy. In March 2011, with Johan de Meji’s endorsement, Dr. MacLennan conducted the Canadian premiere of his composition At Kitty O’Shea’s. He holds a Bachelor of Music (1988) and a Bachelor of Education (1990) from the University of British Columbia, a Master of Music (2010) in Conducting (Wind Band) from Sam Houston State University, Texas, and a Ph.D. (2015) from the University of British Columbia. He studied conducting with Ken Hsieh, Morihiro Okabe, and Wayne Toews and participated in numerous conducting master classes given by Kazuyoshi Akiyama, Anthony Maiello, Ralph Hultgren, and Robert Ponto. His published Ph.D. research involved studying students’ conceptions of ancillary movements (physical movements not necessary in the production of sound) in instrumental music performance. His teaching philosophy is based upon striving for musical excellence in performance as well as the education of the whole student through an embodied approach to teaching. Through this approach, student engagement is increased through linking conceptual images of past experiences (physical and non-physical) with expressive musical qualities in the music being performed. Moreover, students become active participants in the decision-making process surrounding the subtle details of their artistic response, while the music director still holds overall artistic license of the music to be played. As an active music educator, he has worked for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to edit and draft curriculum for their VSO Connects (Secondary) program, chaired the BC Music Educator’s Association’s Conference Pulse 2006, and currently sits as a board member of the Chamber Music in the Schools Society. He is a recipient of the BC Music Educators’ Association’s Outstanding Professional Music Educator’s Award in recognition of exemplary commitment, talent, and leadership for music education in British Columbia. Please feel free to contact him via email.
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