Whistler - Adjudicators

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Dr. Robert Ambrose (Concert Band)

whistler festival adjudicator

Conductor Robert J. Ambrose enjoys a highly successful and diverse career as a dynamic and engaging musician.  His musical interests cross many genres and can be seen in the wide range of professional activities he pursues.  Ambrose studied formally at Boston College, Boston University, and Northwestern University, where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in conducting.

Ambrose has conducted professionally across the United States as well as in Australia, Canada, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan.  His interpretations have earned the enthusiastic praise of many leading composers including Pulitzer Prize winners Leslie Bassett, Michael Colgrass, and John Harbison. He has conducted over two dozen premiere performances including works by Michael Colgrass, Jonathan Newman, Joel Puckett, Christopher Theofanidis, and Joseph Turrin. In addition, a recent performance of Igor Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms under his direction has been given repeated airings on Georgia Public Radio. 

Dr. Ambrose is founder and music director of the Atlanta Chamber Winds a professional dectet specializing in the promotion of music by emerging composers as well as lesser-known works of established composers.  Their premiere compact disc, Music from Paris was released in 2009 on the Albany Records label and has received outstanding reviews in both Fanfare Magazine and Gramophone Magazine.

As a guitarist Ambrose has performed in dozens of jazz ensembles, combos, rock bands and pit orchestras. His rock band "Hoochie Suit," formed with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, received rave reviews throughout the Chicago area.

Ambrose currently serves as Director of Bands, Professor of Music and Associate Director of the School of Music at Georgia State University, a research institution of over 50,000 students located in Atlanta, Georgia.  As Director of Bands he conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, maintains a highly selective studio of graduate students in the Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting degree program, and oversees a large, comprehensive band program comprised of four concert ensembles and three athletic band organizations.  He lives in Peachtree City, Georgia with his wife Sarah Kruser Ambrose, a professional flute player and daughters Isabelle and Hannah.

Allan McMurray (Concert Band)

whistler festival adjudicator

Allan McMurray is an internationally acclaimed artist conductor, teacher, author and collaborator. He has conducted professional orchestras, ballet, opera and contemporary chamber ensembles, but it is his passion for wind music and the teaching of conducting that has inspired the majority of his artistic career. As Professor of Conducting Emeritus and Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado, where he served as Director of Bands from 1978-2013, Professor McMurray established the Masters and Doctorate degrees in Wind Conducting and for three decades hosted and taught the College Band Directors National Association Conducting Symposium. Former conducting students currently hold leadership positions at colleges, universities and conservatories in America and abroad. As a result of his impact, Professor McMurray has been recognized as one of the leading teachers of wind ensemble and conducting in America.

In demand as a visiting artist, Allan McMurray has guest conducted and taught conducting throughout the United States, Asia, Australia , Europe and Central America.. He has also created and published a three volume set of DVDs on the teaching of conducting entitled Conducting from the Inside Out.

Professor McMurray is past president of the College Band Directors National Association and is a recent recipient of CBDNA’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.

Colin Clarke (Concert Band)

whistler festival adjudicator

A recipient of the Clifford Evans Award for Conducting, Colin Clarke’s credits include collaboration with world-renowned artists and ensembles including the United States Air Force Band of Liberty in Boston, Massachusetts, the Canadian Brass, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir and the U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, the official fanfare ensemble for the President of the United States. He is best known for his work with the multi-award winning Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra, an ensemble he started as a high school student. Today, the Toronto Youth Wind Orchestra enjoys a reputation as one of the leading performance ensembles of its kind in Canada.

Colin has led the Provincial Honour Bands of Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island, and also served as Conductor of the prestigious National Youth Band of Canada. Abroad, Colin has led performances in the United States, the United Kingdom, Austria, Bulgaria, Spain and China.

With a passion for music education and outreach, Colin remains active as a conductor, guest lecturer, clinician, adjudicator and composer/arranger. He received the Lifetime Membership Award from the Ontario Band Association for his contributions to music and music education in Ontario. He is Music Director of the Oakville Symphony Youth Orchestra, and is the newly-appointed Artistic Director of the Oscar Peterson Program at the Royal Conservatory of Music.  

Shelley Jagow (Concert Band)

whistler festival adjudicator

Dr. Shelley Jagow is Professor of Music at Wright State University School of Music (Dayton, OH) where she serves as Director of Bands conducting both the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, and teaches conducting at the undergraduate and graduate level. She earned top honors in Music Education degrees from the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) and the University of Missouri (Columbia) where respective mentors include Marvin Eckroth, Dale Lonis, Martin Bergee and Wendy Sims. She earned her Ph. D. in Music Education at the Union Institute & University (Cincinnati) where Colonel Timothy Foley, Frank Battisti, and Edward Wingard served as her mentors. In addition to studies in education, saxophone and conducting, Shelley earned the Certificate in Piano Performance IX from the Royal Conservatory of Music, and was previously nominated for both the "Robert J. Kegerreis Distinguished Professor of Teaching" Award and the "Brage Golding Distinguished Professor of Research" Award.

As an artist clinician with Conn-Selmer, Vandoren, Meredith Music, and GIA Music, “Dr. J” enjoys working with school bands and presents clinics, performances, adjudications, and serves as honor band conductor at various state, national and international events. Some activities include State Music Educators Conferences, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA), the International Society for Music Education (ISME), the College Music Symposium (CMS), the World Saxophone Congress, and the United States Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. Shelley has presented in various states/provinces: Alberta, British Columbia, California, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Manitoba, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Quebec, Rhode Island, Saskatchewan, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington D.C.; including international venues: Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Scotland, and Spain.

Shelley previously served as coach for the WSU student Avion Saxophone Quartet, which can be heard on Apple Music/iTunes. All members of the quartet were chosen annually on a highly selective audition process, and include music education and/or performance majors at Wright State University. The Avion Saxophone Quartet is a recipient of the Edgar Hardy Scholarship, the Dayton Chamber Music Society Scholarship, the Chamber Music Institute Fellowship, and the Wright State University Presidential Commendation for Excellence. The quartet has commissioned and premiered works from composers across the world. Shelley herself can be heard performing on the Emeritus Recording label, on National Public Radio Performance Today, and America’s Millennium Tribute to Adolphe Sax.

Shelley is a regular contributing author to the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series (GIA Music), and is author of the book Teaching Instrumental Music: Developing the Complete Band Program (2nd edition)(Meredith Music)—a resource rapidly becoming the adopted textbook for music education degree study across the United States and Canada. Additional book publications include Tuning for Wind Instruments: A Roadmap to Successful Intonation (Meredith Music), Intermediate Studies for Developing Artists on the Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone and Bassoon (Meredith Music), and The Londeix Lectures a 13+ hours DVD set archiving the historical music lectures of Professor Jean-Marie Londeix (and translated by William Street). Growing up riding horses and helping on the farm in her native Saskatchewan (Canada), Shelley continues to enjoy the outdoors, gardening, exploring independent craft breweries, and sharing a love for all animals. Website: www.shelleyjagow.com

Dr. Angela Schroeder (Concert Band)

whistler festival adjudicator

Dr. Angela Schroeder is Professor of Music in the Department of Music at the University of Alberta. She is the Director of Bands, the Area Coordinator for Winds and Percussion, and conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Summer Band. Angela was awarded the 2016 Faculty of Arts Award for Undergraduate Teaching, and the 2017 Rutherford Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching by the University of Alberta. She teaches courses in conducting and music education, and works with Graduate students in instrumental conducting. She previously taught conducting at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas. Angela is the conductor of the St. Albert Community Band, an ensemble that is currently in their 52 n concert season. She lead the ensemble on their first European tour in July 2015, performing in Germany and at the MidEurope Band and Orchestra Festival in Schaldming, Austria.

A native of Alberta, Dr. Schroeder completed undergraduate studies in Music at University of Calgary, majoring in Secondary Education, with performance studies in piano and trumpet. She also completed the Diploma of Fine Arts in Wind Band Conducting at University of Calgary under the supervision of Glenn D. Price. After several years of teaching at various secondary schools in the Calgary area, she entered the Long Term Residency program at The Banff Centre, where she studied and performed on piano, trumpet and as a conductor. Angela entered the Master's program in Wind Conducting at Northwestern University in 2002, where she studied with Mallory Thompson and earned the Master of Music in Conducting. In 2007, she completed the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Band Conducting at the University of North Texas, under the supervision of Eugene Migliaro Corporon.

Angela Schroeder is well known in the Alberta music education community, not only through her teaching and conducting both in schools and in community music organizations, but through her involvement as an executive director of the Alberta Band Association for two terms. Angela has performed on cornet with the Mill Creek Colliery Band and was the Principal Trumpet for the Concordia University Orchestra for seven seasons. She is currently Principal Second Trumpet with the Borealis Symphony. Angela has guest conducted and adjudicated numerous school bands in festivals and clinics throughout Canada, the United States, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Australia and Thailand. She is a contributor in Canadian Winds, the national journal for wind band educators, and wrote chapters in eleven volumes of the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series, which profile wind literature for all levels of instrumental instruction, published by GIA. 

Dr. Nicole Lamartine (Concert Choir)

whistler festival adjudicator

Dr. Nicole Lamartine is thrilled to be joining the excellent music faculty at Central Washington University, where she will act on her values of empowering the next generation of choral educators and cultivating excellence in 21st century choral performance.

As a clinician and guest conductor of three international honor choirs (DoDDS Honor Choir in Germany, AMIS TTBB Honor Choir in Abu Dhabi, TAISM Festival Choir in Oman), nine All-State choirs (MN, CO, WA, OR, WY, MT, AK, KS), the 2014 NW ACDA TTBB Honor Choir, and dozens of regional honor choirs, Nicole seeks to positively impact choral musicians all over the world. An avid champion for music education, Nicole has headlined conferences of the Association for Music in International Schools (Hong Kong) and the Washington Music Educators Association.

Dr. Lamartine’s research focuses on rehearsal technique and anatomy and movement for conductors, and she has presented at dozens of conferences including national and regional meetings of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Collegiate Choral Organization, College Music Society, California All-State Music Conference, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.

From 2020-2022, Dr. Nicole Lamartine served as the Sorensen Director of Choral Music at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she conducted the flagship UCSB Chamber Choir, integrated relevance into graduate choral studies at the MM and DMA levels, and taught studio conducting and voice.

As Professor and Director of Choral Activities at the University of Wyoming from 2008-2020, she led the Collegiate Chorale, The UW Singing Statesmen and the Happy Jacks, and taught conducting and studio voice. Her choirs were honored to sing at several national and regional conferences (2020 NW ACDA, 2017 NW NAfME, 2015 NW NAfME, 2012, NW ACDA, 2011 NCCO, 2011 NW MENC), and she is a recognized expert in females conducting tenor/bass choirs. She won the Ellbogen Award for Meritorious Classroom Teaching, the university's highest teaching award.

Dr. Lamartine has enjoyed abundant opportunities to commission and premiere new works from leading composers such as Craig Hella Johnson, Libby Larsen, Jennifer Higdon, Gerard Schwarz, Forrest Pierce, Gabriela Lena Frank, John Muehleisen, and Karen Thomas.

She conducts Chor Anno with Howard Meharg (Vancouver, WA), providing an opportunity for a creative outlet as ensemble singers to choral music educators in the NW. Chor Anno performed at the 2022 NW ACDA conference. She is also the founding Artistic Director of the Santa Barbara Gay Men’s Chorus, which just completed its first season.

An active performer, Dr. La has sung professionally with Conspirare, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, and Colorado Bach Ensemble. She has served the American Choral Directors Association as President of the Northwestern region. She achieved world, national, and state records in powerlifting, demonstrating that creativity is intertwined with strength of body and mind. The “Nicole Lamartine Choral Series” is published with Santa Barbara Music Press and focuses on accessible music for emerging Tenor-Bass choirs

Jennifer Lang (Concert Choir)

whistler festival adjudicator

Dr. Jennifer Lang is an Associate Professor of Music Education and the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Saskatchewan.  She is a co-lead for the University of Saskatchewan’s newly recognized Signature Area in Health & Wellness and serves as the Pillar Lead for Music, Arts, and Wellbeing.  Dr. Lang has been awarded the College of Arts & Science Publicly Engaged Scholar Award for Research, Scholarly, and Artistic Work and she has received the 2020 USSU teaching award.  She is the Graduate Chair and organizer of the Department of Music’s Music Education in Action Series, the founder and organizer of the uSing uSask Choral Festival, the conductor of the Greystone Singers and the Founder and Artistic Director of Aurora Voce.  Her choirs regularly perform with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and other celebrated ensembles and composers.  Dr. Lang has adjudicated most recently at the Saskatchewan Music Festival in Saskatoon and Regina in 2023; the Manitoba ChoralFest in 2022; Cantando Festival 2019 in Alberta; ChorFest 2019 in Saskatchewan; the Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival 2019; ChoralFest North 2018 in Alberta; 2017 Cantando Sun Peaks Festival in British Columbia; and ChorFest 2016 in Saskatchewan. Her forthcoming edited book, Music and wellbeing in education and community contexts, presents a variety of contributed chapters exploring the intersections of music education and wellbeing.  Prior to completing her doctorate, Jennifer served as a program leader of vocal and instrumental secondary school music with the District of Niagara Arts Academy in the District School Board of Niagara.  

Dr. Lang’s research examines engagement and agency in music education programs, including informal music learning in a variety of educational contexts, music creation in the classroom, and intergenerational singing programs. Jennifer is also active as a conductor, choral adjudicator, clinician and conference presenter with local, provincial, national, and international invitations.   Dr. Lang has adjudicated most recently at Cantando Festival 2019 in Alberta; ChorFest 2019 in Saskatchewan; the Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival 2019 in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan; ChoralFest North 2018 in Alberta; 2017 Cantando Sun Peaks Festival in British Columbia; and ChorFest 2016 in Saskatchewan.  Her recent international conference presentations include:  International Symposium on the Sociology of Music Education (2023, 2021, 2019, 2013); Research in Music Education (2023, 2019, 2017, 2015); Choral Canada's Podium (2022, 2018), Progressive Methods in Music Education (2018); and the International Society for Music Education (2022, 2016, 2014, 2012).

Scott Leitheid (Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz)

whistler festival adjudicator

Scott Leithead is the founder and Artistic Director of Edmonton's Kokopelli Choir Association and TIME Association. He has been invited to conduct provincial and state honour choirs on twenty-five occasions and he has presented workshops in North America and beyond. Notable appearances include: adjudicating the Tampere International Festival in Finland; conducting the 2013, 2015-2019 Ellison Canadian Honour Choir; and headlining the 2017 University of Toronto Summer Conducting Symposium. He has adjudicated both the ACCC National Competition for Amateur Canadian Choirs and the Kathaumixw International Choir Festival (2014 and 2016). Under his direction, Kokopelli 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, Kokopelli was invited to perform at the IFCM World Choral Expo in Portugal, where they represented Canada on the world stage. Also in 2019, Kokopelli was featured on an episode of CTV's "The Amazing Race Canada”. ​

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. Scott’s passion for innovative and unique choral music experiences has shaped the direction of the Kokopelli Choir Association. In February 2023 he will conduct the ISSEA Mass Choir in Johannesburg South Africa featuring international schools from across the African continent. ​

Also this year he will conduct the Saskatchewan Youth Choir, The Ellison Canadian Honour Choir (Niagara Falls) and the BC Chorfest Adult Choir. He will guest conduct at Mosaik 2023 in Ottawa and return to adjudicate the 2023 Kathaumixw International Choral Festival. Scott is a longtime member of the advisory committee for the Canadian Rocky Mountain Music Festival and the Edmonton, Kelowna and Whistler Cantando Festivals. ​

Scott was awarded Choir Alberta’s top honour, the Richard S. Eaton Award, in 2015. He also received Edmonton’s Salute to Excellence award in 2016. He has also been awarded the Syncrude Award for Innovative Direction.

Francis A. Ouimet (Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz)

whistler festival adjudicator

Based in Montreal, François A. Ouimet is a multi-faceted conductor, singer and musician. He is in charge of the choral singing program at the École de musique Vincent-d'Indy. He is conductor for the Metropolitan Choir, directed by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He is also a professional chorister. Versatile, passionate, positive and demanding, he is in high demand and gives workshops on choral singing throughout Quebec and Canada. He has been teaching at the CAMMAC Music Centre for over twenty years.

Darmon Meader (Jazz Choir)

whistler festival adjudicator

Recognized in both the jazz vocal and instrumental worlds, Darmon Meader is a highly respected vocalist, arranger and saxophonist. Darmon has achieved international recognition as the founder, musical director, chief arranger, composer, producer, saxophonist, and vocalist with New York Voices. As a member of New York Voices, he has released numerous recordings on the GRP, RCA/Victor, Concord and MCGJazz labels. In the fall of 2007, New York Voices released their long-awaited MCGJazz release “A Day Like This,” and in January of 2008, Darmon released his much anticipated debut solo CD, And So Am I. Darmon’s first solo project is a collection of jazz standards and original works, which reflects his varied interests and skills as a singer, saxophonist, writer and arranger. Although the entire project is steeped in the jazz tradition, the CD includes a wide variety of styles, orchestration approaches and concepts. Darmon’s second solo project, titled “Losing My Mind” will be released in January of 2023. A mixture of standards and originals, this new project was recorded during the pandemic, and features Darmon’s vocal, sax, composing and arranging skills.

Darmon’s three most recent projects with NYV are “New York Voices, Live with the WDR Big Band” (2013, Palmetto Records), “Let It Snow” (2013 Five Cent Records) and “Reminiscing in Tempo” (2019 Original’s Arts). In addition to Darmon’s vocal and sax performances, all three recordings feature his exemplary vocal arrangements, and the Christmas project also features Darmon’s extensive orchestration skills.

www.DarmonMeader.com

Mark DeJong (Jazz Band)

whistler festival adjudicator

Saxophonist Mark DeJong has over 20 years of professional experience as a musician, educator, director, composer, bandleader, promoter, contractor, presenter, and sideman. A graduate of the prestigious jazz program at Rutgers University, Mark has benefited from the tutelage of saxophone masters Ralph Bowen, George Garzone, Donny McCaslin, and Stan Karp.

A dynamic and versatile musician, Mark is equally at home in jazz, blues, pop, folk, and gospel settings. With such recent accomplishments as a Canada Council touring grant for his renowned international group, The Outer Bridge Ensemble, a WCMA nomination for his recording, The Unknown, and his selection as a performing artist at the Canadian pavilion at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai, Marks abilities have garnered recognition regionally, across Canada, and beyond the border.

Mark has performed with many of the worlds leading musicians from all genres and styles. Career highlights have included sharing the stage with such international icons as Ray Charles, Ian Tyson, Wayne Newton, and Lennie Pickett, Canadian music legends Rob McConnell, Moe Koffman, Tommy Banks, Victor Sawa, Hugh Fraser, P.J. Perry, as well as renowned vocalists Nikki Yanofsky, Denzal Sinclaire, and Carol Welsman. With a career that spans over 20 years, his performance credits include the Ottawa, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, and Saskatoon International Jazz festivals, as well as numerous concert halls and jazz clubs across North America, Canada, the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Ben Henriques (Jazz Band)

whistler festival adjudicator

Julian Award nominee and saxophonist Ben Henriques has performed with Joe Lovano, Ben Monder, Jim McNeely, Father John Misty, Hey Ocean! and more. Originally from Vancouver, Ben cut his teeth in the Montreal jazz-scene and returned to make Vancouver his home. His original tunes have been described as “lyrical” and “burners” by Peter Hum (Ottawa Citizen). Ben has released two albums, both of which have received critical acclaim (“The Responsibility Club” and “Captain Awesome”) and both feature his compositions which are a blend of jazz vocabulary mixed with Ben’s unique twist.

Ben teaches jazz studies classes at Capilano University and UBC, and gigs regularly in the lower mainland and surrounding areas. He has performed as a sideman on countless albums such as “Night Devoid of Stars” and “Open Spaces” by Daniel Hersog (Cellar Music, 2020, 2023 respectively) and “It’s a Pony Kind of Christmas” by My Little Pony (Sony Limited, 2015), and has appeared a handful of times on television, including on ABC’s ‘Once Upon a Time”. Ben is a veteran performer, who brings 100% to every gig, and hopes to instil that sense of professionalism in his students.

Ben spends most of his time at Vancouver Island University where he teaches woodwinds, improv, theory, composition and arranging.

Carmella Luvisotto (Jazz Band)

whistler festival adjudicator

Carmella Luvisotto is the creator (2006) and director of the Jazz Academy at Wellington Senior Secondary School in Nanaimo, B.C., where she has also been the music teacher since 1996.

Born and raised in Nanaimo, Carmella learned to love music (and jazz particularly) through her father Fred Luvisotto, one of the first teachers to introduce band into the city’s elementary curriculum. She began playing piano at age seven, and clarinet in Grade 6, and further credits the teaching and mentorship of High School band teachers including Bryan Stovell. Carmella studied in the Malaspina Jazz Program (now Vancouver Island University) under Steve Jones and in the University of Victoria Music Education Program.

Many of Carmella’s former students have found careers in music, as educators or performers, the latter having appeared in venues including the Monterey Jazz Festival, the Vancouver TD Jazz Festival and the Victoria TD Jazz Festival. In 2015, the Wellington Jazz Academy received the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce award for Cultural Vitality (2015) and Carmella has been honoured personally with the British Columbia Music Educators Outstanding Professional Educator Award (2023), Tommy Banks/NAC Orchestra Outstanding Jazz Director Award (2021), City of Nanaimo Excellence in Culture Award (2009) and MusicFest Canada’s Keith Mann Most Outstanding Band Director Award for Canada (2004), and as a finalist for the BC Premier’s Award for Teaching Excellence (2009). Currently, Carmella is the Honour Ensemble Chair of the BCMEA Honour Jazz Ensemble, is a member of the MusicFest Canada Equity Committee and is Vice President on Board of MusicFest Canada.

Shana Wolfe (Dance)

whistler festival adjudicator

Shana 愛 Wolfe is a Japanese-Canadian dance artist currently based in so-called Vancouver, Canada on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. She completed the Arts Umbrella Graduate Program in 2017 then joined Ballet BC as an apprentice for their 2017/2018 season performing throughout England and in Germany as well as the US and Canada. In 2018, she attended Springboard Danse Montreal and since then has been freelancing with local dance companies such as OURO Collective, The Falling Company and Company 605 as well as with independent artists such as Cindy Mochizuki, Justin Calvadores, Lisa Mariko Gelley and Anya Saugstad. Through these wonderful artist she has been able to perform at festivals such as Dancing on the Edge, Vines Art Festival, Dance Deck by Belle Spiral, Guelph Dance Festival, Hold On Let Go, Left of Push, the Edam Performance Series, BC Movement Arts Society’s North Island Tour, and with the Edmonton Opera for their production of Orphée+ choreographed by Nicole Von Arx and Directed by Joel Ivany. Her own work has been shown through Vines Art Festival, the.response’s Dance Cafe, Co.ERASGA’s Winter Salon and The Dance Centre’s Reboot Program. In 2022 she completed an artistic mentorship with Cristina Bucci, Maiko Miyauchi and Rina Pellerin through the support of BC Arts Council Early Development Program.

2022 Festival Staff:

  • Dr. Scott MacLennan (Concert Band)
  • Dr. Robert Ambrose (Concert Band)
  • Allan McMurray (Concert Band)
  • Dr. Robert Taylor (Concert Band)
  • Dr. Jacquie Dawson (Concert Band)
  • Robert Spittal (Concert Band)
  • Dinah Lindberg Helgeson (Concert Choir)
  • Dr. Andrea Ramsey (Concert Choir)
  • Kathleen Allan (Concert Choir)
  • Scott Leitheid (Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz)
  • Bruce Cable (Concert Choir)
  • Kim Nazarian (Jazz Choir)
  • Darmon Meader (Jazz Choir)
  • Kevin Lee (Jazz Ensemble)
  • Joel Gray (Jazz Ensemble)
  • Steve Kaldestad (Jazz Ensemble)
  • Dennis Esson (Jazz Ensemble)

2019 Festival Staff:

  • Craig Winter (Concert Band/Drumline)
  • Andy Collinsworth (Concert Band)
  • Allan McMurray (Concert Band)
  • Jacquie Dawson (Concert Band)
  • Dr. Angela Schroeder (Concert Band)
  • Colin Clarke (Concert Band)
  • Dr. Gary Weidenaar (Choral)
  • Scott Leithead (Choral)
  • Kellie Walsh (Choral)
  • Katy Luyk (Choral)
  • John Chalmers (Choral)
  • Frank Lee (Choral)
  • Dorothy Dyck (Choral)
  • Tom Van Seters (Jazz Band)
  • Ray Baril (Jazz Band)
  • Craig Brenan (Jazz Band)

2018 Festival Staff:

  • Robert Ambrose (Concert Band)
  • Erin Bodnar (Concert Band)
  • Gordon Brock (Concert Band)
  • Robert Spittal (Concert Band)
  • Rob Taylor (Concert Band)
  • Brad McDavid (Concert Band)
  • Katy Luyk (Choral)
  • Elise Bradley (Choral)
  • Carrie Tennant (Choral)
  • Frank Lee (Choral)
  • Allison Girvan (Choral)
  • Joel Gray (Jazz Band)
  • Jodi Proznick (Jazz Band)
  • Jerrold Dubyk (Jazz Band)

2017 Festival Staff:

  • Barry Valleau (Concert Band)
  • Larry Gookin (Concert Band)
  • Shelley Jagow (Concert Band)
  • Don Owens (Concert Band)
  • Mark Lane (Concert Band)
  • Jacquie Dawson (Concert Band)
  • Chee Meng Low (Concert Band
  • Dean Mcneill (Jazz Band)
  • Fred Stride (Jazz Band)
  • Ray Baril (Jazz Band)
  • Scott Leithead (Choral)
  • Dominic Gregorio (Choral)
  • John Chalmers (Choral)
  • Frank Lee (Choral)
  • Allison Girvan (Choral)

2016 Festival Staff:

  • Barry Valleau (Concert Band)
  • Allan McMurray (concert band)
  • Gary Green (Concert Band)
  • Robert Taylor (Concert Band)
  • Fraser Linklater (Concert Band)
  • Robert Spittal (Concert Band)
  • Christin Reardon MacLellan (Concert Band)
  • Chee Meng Low (Concert Band))
  • Robert Ambrose (Concert Band)
  • Jerrold Dubyk (Jazz Band)
  • Jared Burrows (Jazz Band)
  • Craig Brenan (Jazz Band)
  • Allison Girvan (choral)
  • Carrie Tennant (choral)
  • Lhente-Mari Pitout (choral)
  • Kathleen Luyk (choral)
  • Lisa Ward (choral)
  • Scott Leithead (Choral)
  • Benila Ninan (Choral)
  • Frank Lee (Choral)

2015 Festival Staff:

  • Larry Gookin - Central Washington University (concert band)
  • Allan McMurray - University of Colorado (concert band)
  • Mark Lane (concert band)
  • Don Owens(concert band)
  • Chee Meng Low (Concert band)
  • Carrie Tenant (choral)
  • Scott Leithead - Kokopelli Choir Director (choral)
  • Jennifer Riley (choral)
  • Jennifer Moir (choral)
  • Jared Burrows (Jazz Band)
  • Brad Turner (Jazz Band)
  • Dave Robbins (Jazz Band)

2014 Festival Staff:

  • Larry Gookin - Central Washington University (concert band)
  • Allan McMurray - University of Colorado (concert band)
  • Dr. Gillian MacKay - University of Toronto (concert band)
  • Robert Taylor - UBC (concert band)
  • Gary D. Green - University of Miami (Concert band)
  • Jonathan Girard (Concert band)
  • Scott Leithead - Kokopelli Choir Director (choral)
  • Chandelle Rimmer (choral)
  • Scott Goble (choral)
  • Raymond Baril (Jazz Band)
  • Craig Brenan (Jazz Band)
  • Dean McNeill (Jazz Band)

2013 Festival Staff:

  • Scott Leithead- (Choral), Kokopelli Choir Director
  • Lhente-Mari Pitout- (Choral), South Africa Director World Youth Choir
  • Fred Stride- (Jazz Ensemble), UBC Director of Jazz Bands
  • Ray Baril- Grant McEwan University of Edmonton
  • Allan McMurray- Conducting Department Chair, University of Colorado
  • Don Owens (Concert Band), Director of Jazz Studies, Northwestern University
  • Larry Gookin (Concert Band), Director of Band University of Central Washington
  • Angela Schroeder (Concert Band), University of Alberta
  • Dennis Beck (Concert Band), Master Educator, University of Toronto
  • Dr. Mark Hopkins (Concert Band), Associate Professor, Acadia University

2012 Festival Staff:

  • Mr. Don Owens- Director of Jazz Studies, Northwestern University
  • Dr. Rob Taylor- Director of Bands and Assistant Professor UBC
  • Dr. Gillian MacKay- Associate Dean, Graduate Education University of Toronto
  • Ms. Catherine Glaser Climie- Founder, the Calgary Cantare Children's Choir
  • Mr. Larry Gookin-Director of Bands, Central Washington University
  • Mr. Allan McMurray- Conducting Department Chair, University of Colorado
  • Fred Stride- Senior Sessional Lecturer, Director Jazz Ensemble UBC
  • Special guest artists Allen Vizzutti and Epsilon