陳 文 達 Mandart Chan (he/him) embraces his intersectionality as a gay, cisgender, 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 graduated from the University of Victoria (BMus - 2003, PDPP - 2004) and the American Band College of Sam Houston State University (MMus - 2014), and had recently completed the Master of Professional Education program in Equity, Diversity, and Social Justice at the University of Western Ontario. For over 18 years, Mandart taught Band, Leadership, and Social Justice in schools in Alberta (Calgary) and British Columbia (Victoria). In addition to education, Volunteerism, Social Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI), 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 held 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. Mandart’s work in EDI and Social Justice has now expanded into entrepreneurship with the start of “Mandart Chan Consulting”, where he provides guidance and project management support for organizations, large & small, towards their EDI goals.

Along with his work in Music Education, he has been an active volunteer with the BC Music Educators’ Association and the Canadian Music Educators’ Association. In 2023, Mandart joined the Institute for Composer Diversity as the head of DEI and as a database coordinator. 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 an uninvited visitor Liǧʷiłdaxʷ people, the We Wai Kai, Wei Wai Kum, and Kwikiah First Nations., also known as Campbell River BC with his partner Jason and their dogs Tikka & Masala.

After falling in love with choral music and the powerful social bonds that communal music-making entails, Tyler has made it his goal to master and spread the joy of choral music! Holding degrees in both Music and Education from the University of British Columbia, Tyler has gone on to conduct the orchestras and choirs at the Vancouver Pops, teach music at École Kwantlen Park Secondary School, and is a co-founder, president and co-artistic director of the Nabi Vocal Ensemble, a choir in Vancouver that focuses on providing opportunities for emerging musicians in the lower mainland. He is currently enrolled in the Master's program at UBC for choral conducting.

Michael Beauclerc is a professional drummer with decades of experience as a touring performer/musical director and a private lesson teacher. Michael is a sponsored Artist/Clinician for Yamaha Drums, Vic Firth sticks & mallets, Sabian cymbals, and REMO drumheads, and Mad Practice Pads.

Dr. Steven Capaldo is currently an Associate Professor of Music Education & Conducting, the Wind Symphony and Concert Band Conductor, Graduate Advisor, and Head of Music Education and Graduate Wind Conducting at the University of Victoria. Dr. Capaldo has previously held conducting positions at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and UNSW Australia.

Distinguishing himself as one of the most respected music educators, wind conductors, and conductor educators in Australia and Canada, he has earned academic and musical recognition locally, nationally, and internationally. Dr. Capaldo has won many teaching awards throughout his career, including the 2018 UOW Teaching and Learning Award and the 2023 UVic Faculty of Fine Arts Teaching Excellence Award.

Dr. Capaldo has extensive conducting experience working with symphony orchestras, wind orchestras, and chamber ensembles. As an active writer, he composes, arranges, and transcribes music for wind orchestras, symphony orchestras, festivals, and concerts. His work Invictus Fanfare was performed at the closing ceremony of the 2025 Invictus Games in Vancouver, with other works having been performed by groups in Australia, Canada, Japan, and the United States, recorded on Klavier records (US), and published with Brolga Music and Murphy Music Press. An Assistant Producer and Co-Editor for eight Klavier Records CDs, Dr. Capaldo has been also Chair of the Australian Jury Panel for the 2017 International Eurovision Song Contest and has been a full voting member of the Grammy Awards.

Dr. Capaldo is in demand as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator. Having been a conducting clinician for ABODA Queensland, ABODA NSW, the Canadian Armed Forces, and the BCMEA, he has now established the new UVic Conductor Educator Symposium demonstrating his commitment to providing professional learning opportunities for music educators and conductors.

Vancouver-born violist Dr. Catherine Chen is a dedicated and accomplished orchestra musician with an impressive career that includes engagements as the principal violist of the Baton Rouge Symphony, Lubbock Symphony, and various other orchestras across Louisiana and Texas. Since returning to Vancouver, she has been focusing on maintaining her private teaching studio and performing as a freelance musician, often playing for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and other local ensembles.

Dr. Chen has performed recitals across the United States, Canada, and Taiwan, and has soloed with orchestras as a winner of concerto competitions at Louisiana State University and Texas Tech University. Her passion for contemporary music performance is evident in her frequent programming of works by composers who identify as women, persons of color, and LGBTQ+. Notably, she has performed at Carnegie Hall with the Constantinides New Music Ensemble and spent several summers as the violist for the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble.

In addition to her performance career, Dr. Chen is equally enthusiastic about education. She has been a faculty member at the University of Texas Permian Basin, teaching viola and coaching chamber music. Her teaching philosophy centers on inspiring excellence and nurturing curiosity in her students. She strives to create a supportive and engaging learning environment, aiming to be as influential and motivating a teacher as her own mentors were to her.

Dr. Chen holds music performance degrees from Louisiana State University (DMA), Rice University (MMus), and McGill University (BMus), having studied under esteemed instructors Kimberly Sparr, James Dunham, and André Roy, respectively.

Erika Chow is a band and music specialist and a new teacher to the Richmond School District. She completed her secondary practicum under the mentorship of Brenda Khoo, and CFE under the mentorship of Nancy Quan. Erika attended both Elementary and Secondary school in Richmond, completed her music degree at Capilano University, and completed her Bachelor's Degree in Education at the University of British Columbia. She continues to play music professionally and has performed live at venues in the lower mainland and on the islands. 

Tristan Clausen is a Member-At-Large (Independent Schools Representative) with the BC Music Educators' Association. He has taught students from K-12 in general music, band, choir, and orchestra for 15 years, primarily in independent boarding schools on Vancouver Island. As a Cadet Instructor with the Canadian Armed Forces, he also has considerable experience directing concert and marching bands, teaching private lessons, music theory, instructional technique, and leadership to young musicians from across BC and Western Canada. He holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Victoria and is currently pursuing a Master's of Music at Western University.

Vancouver born Guyanese, Geeta Das, is a music educator, conductor, and professional multi-instrumentalist who has been, studying, teaching, and performing locally and internationally for over 30 years. Throughout her music career she has had the honour of working with a myriad of local legends as well as world renowned artists spanning countless genres. Geeta has been blessed with an incredibly diverse musical journey with a wonderfully unique perspective.

David F. Eccles is a native of Norfolk, Virginia. He currently serves as Orchestra Program and Upper School Orchestra Director at The Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia. For over a decade, he was the Director of String Music Education and Orchestral Activities at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. He has held string education positions in Virginia and Florida. An active clinician, adjudicator, conductor, and cellist, Eccles has served as music director and principal conductor for numerous youth orchestras. He has also served as a guest conductor for many all-state, county, regional, and community orchestras. Mr. Eccles has presented education sessions at local, state, and international conferences including, The Midwest Band and Orchestra Directors Clinic & Conference, American String Teachers Association Conference, Texas Music Educators Conference, Illinois Music Educators Conference, and Florida Music Educators Conference. Mr. Eccles is a clinician and consulting author for the Hal Leonard Corporation. Additionally, he is a Performing Artist for JonPaul Bows. He also serves on the national board of the American String Teachers Association.

Elizabeth Forrest is the Assistant Director of the West Vancouver Youth Band (WVYB) and currently works as a conductor, music educator, and musicologist. She completed her undergraduate studies in music and history at the University of British Columbia and her postgraduate studies in musicology at the University of Oxford under Professor Laura Tunbridge. Her thesis, titled “Operatic Feminine Realness: The Performativity of Gender and Masquerade of Femininity in Giacomo Puccini’s Manon Lescaut” explored the representational stage and how it continues to perpetuate certain notions about gender and femininity. While at Oxford, Elizabeth presented a paper at the Galpin Society's "Materiality and the Meaning of Musical Instruments" Conference titled "Finding Our Path", based on her experience as a member and now instructor at the WVYB during the creation of the Squamish Symphony. The paper discussed the 2018 Gathering of Eagles concert and the Eagle Drum gifted to the WVYB by Squamish Elder Bob Baker. She is currently collaborating with Dr. Wendy Zander of Brandon University to write an article about The Gathering of Eagles, telling the story of its collaboration and how it can be used in educational contexts.

Originally from Kamloops, BC, Suzanne Fulton (she/her) began her musical journey as a soloist and choir member in school and community ensembles, sparking a lifelong passion for vocal performance and music education. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Opera Performance, a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Music Education, all from the University of British Columbia.
A dedicated educator with West Vancouver Schools for over 20 years, Suzanne has taught at both the elementary and secondary levels and now leads the West Vancouver Secondary choral program and the district-wide Illuminate Choral Program. She is also the director of NorthShoreChoirs in North Vancouver, an ever-growing community program where she leads five choirs ranging from age four to adult.

Emily Gibb is currently a K-12 educator at Southridge School. She holds a Master’s of Education from Thompson Rivers University with her thesis focusing on World Music Curriculum Integration. Emily also earned a Diploma in Music from Kwantlen Polytechnic University, as well as a Bachelor’s of Music, Bachelor’s of Education, and an Early Years Education Diploma from The University of British Columbia. Additionally, she holds credentials in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme from The University of Western Ontario.

Emily has received numerous academic awards, including the UBC Outstanding Practicum Award (2023), Donald and Ellen Poulter Scholarship (2023), UBC Outstanding Community Field Experience Award (2022), Shirley M. Wong Bursary in Education (2022), Leone and Robert Hammond Memorial Bursary (2021), S. Cyril Maplethorp Memorial Scholarship in Music (2021), Dr. Zohreh Izadi Memorial Entrance Award (2020), and the Mildred Johnson Scholarship in Music (2020).

Beyond her academic achievements, Emily has extensive experience as a band instrument repair technician, specialising in wind, brass, and percussion through her company, Gibb Instrument Solutions.

In 2023, Emily established the Criminal Justice Scholarship in collaboration with Surrey Schools, awarded to a young individual pursuing a career in the criminal justice field. She also serves on the Board of Directors for White Rock Concerts as a student volunteer coordinator and on The Council of Canadian Bassoonists, where she curates the annual Frank Marcus Awards in honour of the legendary Canadian bassoon technician.She resides in the Lower Mainland of BC with her husband and eighteen-month-old son.

J. Scott Goble is Associate Professor of Music Education at the University of British Columbia, where he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses and supervises research 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. Scott served from 2006 to 2012 on the ISME Policy Commission (Co-Chair 2008-2012) and as Co-Editor (with Deborah Bradley) of Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education (ACT) from 2018 to 2023. His book What’s So Important About Music Education? is published by Routledge, and his current research focuses on Indigenous knowledge and musical practices.

Nick Godsoe is the Director of Programs & Education with MusiCounts, Canada’s music education charity associated with the JUNO Awards. For the past seven years Nick has led the strategic development and delivery of all MusiCounts programming—including national grant programs, research partnerships, artist development programs, awards, and educational resources—all aimed at making music education more accessible, inclusive, and sustainable across the country.
Nick also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors with Rainbow Songs Foundation, which provides free music programming to young children and families living in shelters and refugee support services in the Greater Toronto Area. Additionally, Nick sits on the Board of the Canadian Music Educators’ Association.
 

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.

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. 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.  She established the Clarinet Choir at the Victoria Conservatory of Music in 2022. In fall 2023 she began her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and is exploring the possibilities of relational leadership and supporting learning communities.

Christine Helferich Guter is a jazz vocalist and studio singer in the Los Angeles area. She has a multitude of studio credits and has sung on dozens of Hollywood soundtracks including Disney’s “Wish,” Hocus Pocus 2, Dr. Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, Mulan, Star Wars Rogue One, Sing!, Ready Player One, Star Trek Beyond, The Jungle Book, Jurassic World, Despicable Me 2, Men in Black 3, and Spiderman 3. She has sung or recorded with legends such as Bobby McFerrin, Joe Williams, Maynard Ferguson, Barry Manilow, Danny Elfman, Clare Fischer 2+2 Ensemble, Don Shelton, and more.

An extraordinary educator, Christine is active internationally as a lecturer, adjudicator, and clinician, and has conducted numerous All-State Jazz and Honor Choirs. Christine is a member of the California Alliance for Jazz (CAJ), the Jazz Education Network (JEN), the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). She has served on the board of ACDA Western Division and the California Choral Directors Association as Vocal Jazz Chair. She is proud to be on the board for Jazz Education Abroad and is the jazz voice instructor for the Thailand Jazz Workshop. In her “spare time” she also works as a teaching artist on the Imagineering Campus at Disneyland.

In 2018, Christine received the prestigious “Jazz Education Achievement Award” from DownBeat Magazine, for her work as a jazz educator. She is currently the Director of Vocal Jazz at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University Long Beach where she teaches private jazz voice lessons, vocal styles classes, class jazz piano, jazz theory, and directs the university’s award-winning vocal jazz ensemble, Pacific Standard Time.

Dr. Darren Hamilton is an assistant professor of music education and founding director of the University of Toronto Faculty of Music Gospel Choir. His research interests lie in gospel music, popular music and Hip Hop pedagogy, in addition to equity, diversity and social justice in music education. He is the visionary and lead writer of the #BlackMusicMatters: Hip Hop and Social Justice in Canada MusiCounts Learn resource. He is also the co-editor of the forthcoming edited volume, The Why and How of Popular Music Education: A Canadian Perspective. He has presented at the PODIUM (Choral Canada), Ontario Music Educators’ Association (OMEA), Association of Popular Music Education (APME), and the International Society of Music Education (ISME) conferences. His work has been published in the Canadian Music Educator (CMEA) and Recorder (OMEA) journals. Dr. Darren Hamilton was awarded the 2022 JUNO Award for MusiCounts Teacher of the Year.

Daniel Hersog, acclaimed by All About Jazz as “a major new compositional voice in jazz,” is a distinguished composer and performer and the winner of the Jazz Times Magazine poll award for best composer in 2020. His debut album, Night Devoid of Stars, received considerable praise, and his 2023 follow-up, Open Spaces (Folk Songs Reimagined), was lauded by Downbeat Magazine for “finding opportunity in virgin land.” Jazz Times highlighted Hersog’s talent in this album, stating, “Daniel Hersog has a gift for expressive orchestral writing… directly in the lineage of great jazz composers like Gil Evans… He is a great talent and this album is a remarkable work.” Jazzwise acknowledged Hersog’s ensemble as being able to “handle musical freedom just as readily as the tightest, most subtly nuanced arrangement.” Furthermore, The Vancouver Sun praised Daniel for “breathing new energy into the big-band sound.” The Guardian listed Daniel Hersog in the company of distinguished composers Steve Lehman, Henry Threadgill, and Maria Schneider.

Hersog is not only a performer and composer but also an educator. As a graduate of the New England Conservatory and the recipient of the Gunther Schuller Medal, Hersog holds the positions of academic coordinator and instructor in the jazz studies program at Capilano University, and also has a faculty appointment at the VSO School of Music.

In addition to his recorded music, Hersog has been a part of large and small ensembles performing at notable venues and festivals such as the Akbank Jazz Festival (Istanbul), the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Frankie’s Jazz Club, The Zinc Bar (New York City), Shape Shifter Lab (New York City), The Lilypad (Boston), and The Rex (Toronto).

Alan Hopkins currently teaches Music and English Language Learning (ELL) at Queen Mary World IB Elementary School in North Vancouver. While classroom Music is part of his work, Alan often does more ELL teaching,  as this has helped him develop social connections across multiple grades that help him to organize the Queen Mary Choir. Through practices, participation in district festivals, and visits to other schools and places in the wider community, the QM Choir offers students a place of belonging and creative collaboration, where they can find the best in themselves and each other.  Dancers and students not into singing publicly in Just Sing have also come to be part of all of this.

Early on in life, Alan’s passion for music begin with composition. Encouraged by his older sister, Valerie, by age 16 he eventually studied music theory with Dr. Douglas Webb at Laurentian University, whose mentorship, following a life changing experience in the waters of the Great Lakes, proved crucial, as the study of harmony and counterpoint helped Alan find stability through music.  After Dr. Webb’s passing a few years later, Alan completed a double major in Music and Philosophy at Laurentian, taught English in Taiwan for 2 ½ years, earned a Master’s degree in Religion and Culture (and Global Justice) at Wilfrid Laurier University, and embraced life as a slightly silly father to a very musical daughter, before entering the public education system. By 2012, he had earned his teaching credentials at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and eventually became a full-time ELL and Music teacher at Queen Mary by 2017.

Alan’s musical journey includes forgoing pop music for Handel, Bach and Beethoven early on, composing a historical drama, writing and improvising contrapuntal fugues or sonatas, creating worship pop songs for Filipino friends in Taiwan, and rediscovering pop music through his daughter’s musical journey of her own and benefitting from her participation in the White Rock Children’s Choir, under the direction of Sarona Mynhardt, one of our BC Choral Federation wonderful conducting teachers. Eventually, Alan from 2019 on started directing the Queen Mary Choir, setting him on a journey of living the delightful ordinariness, wonder, and spontaneity.

After composing “Rainbow in the Sky”,  a primary song and dance video series personifying hope, emphasizing contrapuntal melodic shape over typical harmonic rules for his barely used YouTube channel, Alan started to, not only make personal composition integral to his teaching, but also the expectation that students see themselves as collaborative composers exercising creative agency together.
In 2020, Alan also started applying spreadsheet programming learning to address the data intensive nature of his lifelong favourite game, Dungeons & Dragons, to his teaching, not only to improve his instruction, but also to achieve extraordinary time savings on paperwork, enabling him to give extra extraordinary amounts of extra curricular time to students variously interested in music, while accompanying this shift with a deeper commitment to low tech, yet high-tech, education.

Deeply appreciative to BCMEA music teachers, Alan hopes that what he shares is helpful.

Dale Hudson is a local chorister and RMT. She has been immersed in the choral community for the better part of a decade singing in groups including Phoenix chamber choir, Aurora chamber choir, and others. Currently she is a member of Nabi vocal ensemble.

Dale gained a passion for anatomy in college, where she was trained in therapeutic exercise, kinesiology, and more. Naturally, she has applied her professional knowledge on musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology to create a clinic focused on reducing common muscle imbalances involved with singers and conductors alike, and provide a foundational knowledge of the respiratory system.

Janet Irvine is currently one of the Music Directors at Chilliwack Secondary School in Chilliwack, B.C. Previously, she served as the W.J. Mouat Secondary School Music Director, the director of the Douglas College Concert Band, and assistant conductor of the Fraser Valley Wind Ensemble. She maintains a busy schedule as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician across British Columbia while continuing to rehearse and perform locally in various ensembles. Janet holds a Masters of Music degree from Central Washington University as well as Bachelors Degrees in Secondary Music Education and English from the University of Victoria. In addition to these roles, Janet has served on the BC Music Educators' Association board since 2016 in roles as Member-at-large, Vice-President, and currently as President. Janet has been recognized nationally and provincially with the Canadian Music Educators’ Association Builders Award (2020) and the BC Music Educators’ Association Special Distinguished Service Award (2020) for her role in supporting and advocating for BC music education through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gareth Jones is the director of the UCalgary Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band and the Brass Choir as well as being the Instructor of Trumpet and Conducting. He is also the Music Director of the Alberta Winds. He was Assistant Principal Trumpet with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra from 1992 to 2007 and he continues to play with the CPO when his schedule allows. Before that he held the same position with the Tulsa Philharmonic. He was appointed on 2013 to review the Royal Conservatory of Music trumpet syllabus for the new edition. In 2014 he was named the conductor of the National Youth Band of Canada. He studied trumpet with the renowned pedagogue, Vincent Cichowicz, and studied conducting and attended workshops with such luminaries as Jorma Panula, Gustav Meier and Michael Jinbo. 

Mr. Jones's musical activities are greatly varied. He has appeared as guest conductor and clinician with hundreds of ensembles across North America, been featured on Juno nominated blues recordings, appeared on CBC radio as a soloist and chamber musician, been guest lecturer with the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and been an adjudicator at music festivals across Canada. He received the UCalgary teaching excellence award in 2018. In 1996, he placed first among North American competitors in the Ellesworth-Smith International Trumpet Guild Solo Competition, placing third worldwide. He can be heard playing chamber music, jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues with various groups around Calgary. He was a founding member of the chamber ensemble "Rosa Selvatica" and has been a featured soloist with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra on several occasions. He studied conducting at the Pierre Monteux Institute and Canada's National Arts Centre and received his Master of Music in Conducting from the University of Calgary. He studied trumpet at Northwestern University where he won the prestigious concerto competition and a scholarship for performing excellence. Gareth Jones is Yamaha Artist. 

Nick La Riviere is an accomplished trombonist and singer-songwriter who has garnered international acclaim through his exceptional musical abilities. With an illustrious career that includes touring with renowned bands such as the Juno award-winning Paperboys, Michael Kaeshammer, 54-40, and Adonis Puentes, Nick has also had the privilege of being a special guest with esteemed acts like Steven Page (Barenaked Ladies), The Temptations, and Nikki Yanofsky. As a freelancer, he stands as one of Victoria’s most sought-after musicians, evident in his busy schedule and relentless commitment to his craft.

Drawing inspiration from the vibrant sounds of modern New Orleans music, Nick’s own project, The Best Laid Plans, encapsulates the essence of contemporary horn-driven revelry. Nick’s music is a fusion of infectious energy, piano-based grooves, and melodic vocals. Combining the spirit of Trombone Shorty with the piano-based foundation of Ben Folds, his original compositions are a harmonious blend of wild horn solos and irresistible melodies that ignite audiences, ensuring an unforgettable experience where feet are moved and good times are had.

Beyond his remarkable performances, Nick also offers a range of services including arranging, recording, and teaching. His expertise extends to leading various musical ensembles, including a community rock choir, R&B band, big band, and jazz combo, where he facilitates weekly rehearsals and imparts his wealth of musical knowledge to aspiring musicians.

With a dedication to musical excellence, a charismatic stage presence, and a profound love for creating joyful experiences through his music, Nick La Riviere stands as a true force in the industry, captivating audiences with his undeniable talent and unwavering passion.

David Lakirovich was born in Brisbane, Australia, and started his violin studies at the age of three with his father, Jacob Lakirovich. David has taken part in various master classes with renowned violinists such as Felix
Andrievsky, Nelly Shkolnikova, Jose-Louis Garcia, Pinchas Zukerman,Victor Tretyakov, Mauricio Fuks, Haim Taub, Pavel Vernikov, and Michael Frischenschlager. His teachers have included David Zafer in Toronto, Arkadij Winokurow and Boris Kuschnir in Vienna, Vadim Gluzman and Shmuel Ashkenasi in Chicago, and William Preucil in Cleveland.

David has performed in many recitals and concerts in Australia, USA, Canada, Israel and Europe, including solo performances in Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, Bronfman Auditorium in Tel Aviv, Stradivari Museum in Cremona, Italy, along with solo performances with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic, Scarborough Symphony, York Symphony, and Chicago College of Performing Arts Symphony Orchestra. He also performed in the “Young Stars of the Young Century” concert in George Weston Recital Hall for the Vladimir Spivakov International Charity Foundation. He performed in a Stradivari Society concert in Chicago, playing on the 1692 ‘Lord Falmouth’ Stradivari. He has also performed solo on Chicago WFMT 98.7 Classical Radio on numerous occasions.

A passionate chamber musician, he has collaborated with Peter Salaff, Shmuel Ashkenasi, Ilya Kaler, Mark Kosower, Atar Arad, William Wolfram, Alina Ibragimova and Vadim Gluzman. He has also collaborated and
performed with ensembles that include the Pacifica Quartet, Cavani Quartet, and the Vermeer Quartet, and has performed in the Jupiter Chamber Players in New York and the North Shore Chamber Music Festival in Chicago. In 2014, his quartet at the Cleveland Institute of Music won “Quartet of the Year” in the Hvide Sande Festival in Copenhagen, Denmark. He has also performed at the Instrumental Society of Calgary and Vancouver Chamber Music Society on several occasions. David has participated in and achieved top honours in numerous violin and chamber music competitions around the world. He was a participant at the Keshet Eilon International Violin Mastercourse in Israel for two summers, as well as the Pinchas Zukerman Young Artist Program in Ottawa.

Equally passionate in pedagogy, David Lakirovich was a faculty member of the Rochetta Ligure Masterclass in Palazzo Spinola, Italy, and has been on faculty at the Cremona International Music Academy since 2013. In 2017-18, he served on the faculty of the Mount Royal Conservatory in Calgary, and has given numerous masterclasses and seminars in their Advanced Performance Program. He also taught at the University of
Calgary the same year. He is currently on faculty at the Vancouver Academy of Music and the VSO School of Music.

David completed his Undergraduate Degree at the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in 2013 with Shmuel Ashkenasi and Vadim Gluzman, and his Master’s Degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2015 with William Preucil. He previously served as the Associate Concertmaster of the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra in Columbus, Ohio for 3 seasons, and played 3 seasons with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra (2 years as Tutti 1st Violin, and 1 year as the Assistant Concertmaster). He was also invited to perform as guest Associate Concertmaster with the Jalisco Philharmonic during the entire summer of 2015 in Guadalajara, Mexico, as well as Guest Concertmaster of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in April and November 2019.

David joined the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as the new Assistant Concertmaster at the beginning of the 2018/19 season.

Since his first exposure to the horn, Sam McNally, has been on a quest to tame this unruly beast. Occasionally successful, Sam has enjoyed a thus-far fulfilling and rewarding career of performance and education. Along the way Sam’s teachers have included Laurie Matiation (Mount Royal Conservatory), Kurt Kellan (UVic), David Pyatt, Nico Fleury, Sue Dent, and Alec Frank-Gemmill (Guildhall School of Music and Drama). While at UVic, Sam appeared a soloist twice with the UVic symphony and began his professional career in 2015 when he was made Principal Horn of the Kamloops Symphony. After his studies at Guildhall and upon returning to Canada, Sam landed in the Okanagan where he re-joined the Kamloops Symphony and served as Acting-Principal Horn of the Okanagan Symphony. While in the Okanagan, Sam built a robust studio of brass students based at the Penticton Academy of Music and appeared regularly throughout the community in solo and chamber recitals. Since 2022, Sam has been 3rd horn of the Victoria Symphony and Instructor of Horn at the University of Victoria. Sam also teaches at the Victoria Conservatory and continues online with the Penticton Academy. Grateful to be back in Victoria, Sam continues his quest of horn-taming along side his wife, McKaila, and their cat, Spooky. When not playing or teaching the horn, Sam can be found reading, cooking (read: likes to eat), doomscrolling, and ruminating on various topics of the day.

As a trumpeter, Vince has appeared on hundreds of recordings for TV, feature films, commercials, and albums. Versatility is one of his major assets and artists he's shared the stage or recording studio with include - Sarah McLaughlin, Divine Brown, Michael Buble, The Powder Blues, Tom Jones, David Clayton Thomas, David Foster, Phil Dwyer, Don Thompson, The Temptations, Natalie Cole, Eddie Daniels, Buddy Miles, Robben Ford, Long John Baldry, Danilo Perez, Sheldon Reynolds (of Earth Wind & Fire), and many others.

As a solo artist, Vince has released six CDs. With the exception of "FOR ALL WE KNOW",   the CDs feature mostly original compositions. All releases are in the jazz and smooth/groove/latin jazz genres. Releases are: FOR ALL WE KNOW, SUBTE, MBAND, STRETCHY, THAT'S THE WAY OF THE WORLD, and MUSIC FOR REHEARSAL. All are available for download through iTunes. For physical CDs please contact Vince directly.

With dozens of album credits, Vince's studio work has also included TV shows like DaVinci's Inquest, Chris Isaak Show, Lonesome Dove, McGyver, Ed, Edd, & Eddy and many feature films. Also an award winning composer, Vince has composed music for feature films, documentaries, TV series, video games and commercials for TV, radio and internet. Clients include CBC (Theme for The Early Edition), NFB, FOX, PBS, Knowledge (themes and IDs for the network rebranding), McDonalds, Ford, Electronic Arts, Radical Entertainment, Mattel, Telus, Mazda and many more. For more info on Vince’s composing please click the above icon to go to: www.musicformotionpicture.com

Curtis Mathewson is a percussionist, composer, and educator. He is currently a vice-principal with the Vancouver School Board and taught music, band and choir in elementary schools for over 15 years. He has given workshops on using marimbas in music education and is a Level III certified Orff specialist and a past president of the BC Orff Chapter.

Michael Meroniuk is a dedicated music educator at Nookta Elementary in Vancouver, BC, and the founder of "The New Sound," a music education company committed to keeping music education thriving in schools.

With a professional music career spanning over a decade and a Master's in Educational Technology, he integrates practical musicianship with innovative teaching. Michael's curriculum at Nookta Elementary focuses on technical skill-building while fostering a creative passion for music, aligning with his vision to ensure music remains an essential part of every child's education

Marizza Mislang is a dedicated voice teacher and choral conductor with over 20 years of experience in music education. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, she holds a Bachelor of Music, a Bachelor of Education, and a Master of Education with a focus on choral and vocal music.

Specializing in the development of treble voices, Marizza blends vocal technique with emotional expression, highlighting how vocal artistry can nurture self-discovery, confidence, and a lifelong love of music in treble singers. Her teaching integrates a deep understanding of vocal technique with a passion for the performing arts, creating a holistic and empowering approach to choral music education.

As Choral Music Director at Little Flower Academy, a Catholic girls' high school in Vancouver, she is known for rehearsal strategies that are both technically grounded and heart-centered—fostering vocal growth while encouraging authentic artistic expression. Through this approach, she helps sopranos and altos build confidence, embrace vulnerability, and experience the joy of making music in community. Her choirs are recognized for their musicality, sensitive artistry, and deep commitment to expressive ensemble singing.

Gena is an Education Champion from the Peel District School Board in Mississauga, ON, where she taught K-8 music for 32 years. Gena is the President of the Kodály Society of Ontario and currently serves as Secretary for the Kodály Society of Canada. She is a Past President of the Ontario Music Educators’ Association and spent six years as the membership coordinator for the Canadian Music Educators’ Association. In her spare time, Gena is the volunteer librarian at Birds Canada, teaches private piano lessons, and began the Con Brio Music Program in Simcoe, ON to give families a class-based music program for their children. This program is financially supported by Trinity Anglican, where she is also the choir director. She lives with her composer husband, Kevin, their new puppy Rondo and three cats Crotchet, Macavity and Jellicle on the shores of Lake Erie in Port Rowan.

Christina's passion for engaging and accessible music education shines through in her classroom lessons and work as a clinician. As a graduate of the James Hill Ukulele Initiative in 2020, she developed the popular "Ukulele for Children" method, benefiting from James Hill's mentorship and editorial guidance. Christina believes in the power of music to build both music literacy skills and community (ask her about CommUKEity!). Christina has taught clinics and workshops in Western Canada, Arizona, Texas, and Hawaii. Her ukulele clinics regularly draw repeat attendees because of her relatable experiences, hands-on interactive approach, and unique way of simplifying ukulele instruction. Plus, she always has exciting new arrangements to share with teachers! Outside of music, Christina enjoys running, paddleboarding, and a strong latte.

Ryan Oliver, a Juno-nominated saxophonist based in Victoria, has carved his musical journey along Canada’s west coast and beyond, with stints in Amsterdam, Toronto, and New York City. Renowned as one of Canada’s foremost saxophonists, Oliver boasts an impressive resume spanning continents. He’s a familiar face on the global jazz circuit, having toured extensively with the iconic jazz funk ensemble, The Shuffle Demons, captivating audiences across Canada, India, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Europe, and the United States. Co-leading The Cookers Quintet, Oliver has left an indelible mark on the Canadian jazz scene, with numerous recordings and broadcasts under their belt, including a notable live video broadcast for CBC. Oliver’s partnership with Toronto-based Do Right Music has yielded four acclaimed albums, including 2024’s, “Live In Vancouver” by the Ryan Oliver Quartet, featuring vocalist Dee Daniels and Canadian jazz legends, Sir Terry Clarke on drums and Neil Swainson on bass. Oliver’s musical prowess is matched by his academic achievements, holding a Masters degree in music from Rutgers University. He has not only led the undergraduate big band at Rutgers but also shared his expertise in saxophone and ensemble clinics at universities worldwide for over two decades. Currently, as director and founder of the West Coast Jazz Academy in Victoria, he imparts his knowledge to aspiring saxophonists across Vancouver Island, directs both student and adult jazz combos and runs an annual week long saxophone camp.

Beyond performance and education, Oliver has contributed to the jazz community as an adjudicator for prestigious scholarships and festivals, including the Fraser MacPherson Scholarship and the Victoria and Powell River Jazz Festivals. He has been recognized as a nominee for numerous awards including the Prix De Jazz at the Montreal Jazz Festival, a Juno nomination and the Western Canadian Jazz musician of the Year in 2022.

Kitbielle Pasagui is a Filipino-Canadian vocalist, conductor, and vocal coach whose artistry bridges cultures and inspires communities. Born and raised in the Philippines, she discovered her passion for music at an early age as a member of the Mandaluyong Children’s Choir, performing internationally in the World Choir Olympics (Busan), the World Children’s Choir Festival (China and Hong Kong), and the International Choral Kathaumixw in Powell River, BC, where they became the first Filipino choir to win.
She majored in Vocal Performance at the University of the Philippines College of Music, studying under renowned mentors including Professor Ligaya Quinitio, Dr. Eudenice Palaruan, Dr. Beverly Shangkuan-Cheng, Mark Anthony Carpio, and Jonathan Velasco. Most formative, however, was her time as a soloist and member of the world-renowned Philippine Madrigal Singers. Touring extensively across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, and performing during the ensemble’s recognition as UNESCO Artists for Peace, the Madrigal Singers profoundly shaped Kitbielle’s artistry, instilling the discipline, creativity, and collaborative spirit that continue to define her work today.
Since moving to Canada in 2012, Kitbielle has established herself as a dynamic conductor and sought-after vocal artist. She has performed with Korora, Alberta Youth Choir, the Ellison Canadian Honour Choir, TIME Association’s Nuf Sed, and Òran, while serving as assistant conductor of the Ellison Canadian Honour Choir and later leading them at MusicFest Canada (2021). In 2024, she was named Apprentice Conductor of the National Youth Choir of Canada and received the prestigious Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Award for Choral Conducting.
She is currently the Associate Conductor of Edmonton’s Korora, where she also leads Shumayela, Korora’s vibrant youth ensemble. In addition, she is a Guest Conductor with Pro Coro Canada, where she is featured in the Emerging Artist Series, and continues to perform as a singer with Pro Coro Canada. Her work as an arranger was recently highlighted in the Children’s Choir Category of the most recent Andrea O. Veneracion International Choral Festival, held just last month, where her setting of “Nanay, Tatay” was chosen as the compulsory piece.
Today, alongside her conducting work, Kitbielle is a dedicated voice teacher at Purple Door Music Academy, passionate about mentoring the next generation of singers. With a career that reflects both her Filipino roots and Canadian journey, she remains committed to using music as a powerful tool for connection, expression, and cultural exchange.

Alanna Pearce is a drummer and music educator from Squamish, BC. As a graduate from Capliano University's Jazz Studies program, she has a strong background in aspects of performance, music theory, history, composition, and arranging. Along with her Bachelor of Music in Jazz, she also holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of British Columbia. Alanna is a secondary school music teacher and founder of King George Secondary's Contemporary Music program in downtown Vancouver. Alanna’s teaching is grounded in inclusion and a low barrier approach to music education. She believes that the Music classroom is a place for community and connection with ourselves and others, and that this should be at the centre of music education. In addition to classroom teaching, Alanna is an active musician in the Vancouver and Squamish scene, performing and recording with various artists and groups on drums and vocals.

Dr. Erik Peregrine (they/them/theirs) is a visionary conductor, musicologist, and educator whose work centers relationship as the fundamental basis for music-making. Peregrine currently serves as the Director of Choral & Orchestral Activities at Colleges of the Fenway, the artistic director of Ensemble Companio, and the founding director of LIFT!, an independent conducting studio which centers the development of musical leaders whose identities are un/underrepresented in the field.​​​​

Peregrine’s ensembles are hailed for their transformative programming, advocacy for historically-excluded composers, and vibrant, compelling performances of repertoire ranging from early music to newly-commissioned works. Under Peregrine’s direction, Ensemble Companio won third prize in the American Prize for Choral Performance (2018) and consecutive Ernst Bacon Memorial Awards for the Performance of American Music (2018 and 2019) for performances of works by historically-excluded living composers.

An award-winning teacher and internationally-recognized expert on best practices for transgender affirming ensembles, Peregrine received the 2023 UC Davis University Honors Program Faculty Mentorship Award and the 2023 ASUCD Excellence in Education Award for their outstanding commitment to undergraduate education. Their work has been featured by Chorus America, GALA Choruses, American Choral Directors Association, British Columbia Music Educators Association, and the International Federation for Choral Music.

Elliot Polsky began his drumming journey at 12. By the time he was 18, he was subbing for the Edmonton Symphony and playing for various bands in Edmonton, Alberta. Elliot has a Licentiate of Music in Percussion Performance and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from McGill University

During his studies at McGill, Elliot performed with various ensembles and freelanced on both percussion and drum set in the Montreal area. A lifelong learner, Elliot has had opportunities to perform and learn many African, Afro-Cuban and African musical styles. Since 1996, Elliot has been teaching Drum set and African and Afro Cuban hand drumming.

After Elliot set upon a path as a performer and educator, he wandered into the Retail and Wholesale Music Industry, having worked at and managed several businesses. During this time, he honed his world percussion and drum set skills, performing with many top groups and artists, and as an accompanist for Modern Dance. During this time, he earned 3 Juno Awards for his work on various recordings. In 2016, Elliot began working and mentoring under Milton Randall, who was well known as a drumming educator and ambassador. Since then, Elliot has been conducing workshops for schools, institutions, corporate and community events.

Dr. Anita Prest is Associate Professor of Music Education in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Victoria, Canada, located on the territory of the lək̓ʷəŋən peoples. She was born and raised in Montreal (Tiohtià:ke) and is of Italian descent. Alongside multi-First Nation, Métis, and non-Indigenous partners, she engages in ongoing, SSHRC-supported, community-based participatory research to examine the embedding of local Indigenous knowledges, pedagogies, and worldviews in British Columbia’s public school music classes. In 2020, she was awarded a University of Victoria Faculty of Education Award for Excellence in Research, and she recently was appointed the Faculty of Education Lansdowne Chair in Decolonizing Music Education (2025-2028). Anita is co-founder of the International Society for Music Education (ISME) Decolonizing and Indigenizing Music Education special interest group, working with colleagues from Nordic countries, Oceania, and Mexico. Anita teaches music education courses to both secondary music specialist and elementary generalist teacher candidates (in English and in French), and research methodology courses to graduate students. She has presented papers in Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Prior to her appointment at the University of  Victoria, Anita taught K-12 music for 20 years in rural and metropolitan settings. 

Nancy Quan is a music teacher in School District #38 (Richmond). She started off playing piano at the age of 4 and played the violin throughout elementary and high school. Nancy went on to study voice and piano at UBC and continued on to get her degree in education. In addition to music, she also has experience in stage acting and musical theatre. She has taught piano and music theory privately and has worked as the piano accompanist for the Suzuki Cello department of the Vancouver Academy of Music. Nancy has 3 sons who all played cello but are now grown up and have moved on to various other fields. She has taught music in the public school system from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Currently, Nancy is an itinerant music teacher for the Richmond School District and works at Archibald Blair Elementary and other elementary schools. For the past 3 years she has worked closely with the local highschool to help establish a band mentorship program, funded by a District Innovation Grant.

Christin Reardon MacLellan is the Associate Director of the Pacific Symphonic Wind Ensemble and the Director of Bands at St. Thomas More Collegiate. Previously, she served as Director of Education and Community Programs for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, director of the University of British Columbia Concert Winds, and as a sessional lecturer in the UBC School of Music.

Christin is dedicated to supporting and advocating for quality music education in schools. She maintains an active schedule as an in-demand clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and guest speaker. Christin has presented workshops and her research at numerous conferences and symposia in Canada and the United States. As a board member of the Coalition for Music Education in Canada, she works closely with teachers, community members, and arts organizations to protect, promote, and advance music education in schools.

Christin earned her masters degree in music education from Indiana University, where she taught undergraduate courses in music education and was a university supervisor for student teachers. Christin’s research is published in the Journal of Research in Music Education and Music Educators’ Journal. She is the recipient of the 2020 Canadian Music Educators Association Builders Award and 2020 British Columbia Music Educators Association Distinguished Service Award.

Canadian conductor-educator-tenor Nicholas Renaud is passionate about working with others toward musical growth and dynamic performances. Currently, he is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA) under the supervision of Dr. Geoffrey Boers and Dr. Giselle Wyers. At UW, he serves as Assistant Conductor of the award-winning UW Chorale, co-conductor of the UW Recital Choir, Glee Club Tenor-Bass Choir, and Graduate Choral Cohort Ensemble, and as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the School of Music.
In Seattle, Nicholas is Artistic Director of La Chorale francophone de Seattle, a multi-generational community choir specializing in the performance of French-language repertoire from across the globe. He is also Associate Artistic Director of the Magnolia Chorale, a large community chorus that regularly performs major choral works. Nicholas is in demand as a tenor, guest conductor, clinician, and French-language diction coach for choirs in the Pacific Northwest. He is regularly invited as a guest lecturer, clinician, and adjudicator, and most recently served as a judge for the Washington State Solo and Ensemble Contest at Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA) in April 2025. In June 2025, he was selected as one of eight conducting fellows worldwide for the inaugural McGill Choral Academy (Montreal, QC), where he studied with Dr. Jean-Sébastien Vallée. There, he conducted the professional Academy Chamber Choir in rehearsals and performance and served as assistant conductor of the 80-voice Academy Choir, preparing them for a performance of Palmeri’s Misa a Buenos Aires with orchestra.
Nicholas holds degrees and graduate-level diplomas in music, French, and education from some of Canada’s top universities. While completing his Bachelor of Music at the University of Victoria, he served as Assistant Director of the Vocal Jazz Ensemble and Chamber Singers, Conductor of the Massed Men’s Choir, and Director of the Vocal Jazz Women’s Chorus, Ellavation. He has received numerous fellowships, scholarships, and awards, but his proudest accomplishment was receiving the Outstanding Practicum Award from the University of British Columbia. This award recognized his dedication, commitment, and diligence while teaching high school students in choir, band, and IB French classes during his Bachelor of Education degree.
Before beginning his studies at UW, Nicholas conducted community choirs and bands and had a busy career teaching K–12 music and French in public schools. He has also served his fellow teachers as a union activist with the BC Teachers’ Federation and his local union. He completed his Master of Education at Simon Fraser University, where his research investigated the intersection of decolonization and leadership theory as it applies to teachers and conductors.
An earnest scholar, Nicholas’ research interests include inclusive and decolonial approaches to leadership and pedagogy, empathetic choral conducting, the integration of voice science in rehearsal, and early Canadian choral music. He is devoted to building community and cooperation through music, engaging in innovative teaching that fosters teamwork. He works to empower musicians of all ages and experience levels to develop confidence as they express their creativity through group music-making and performances.

Cindy Romphf is a music teacher at Cedar Hill Middle School in Greater Victoria. As an educator, performer, and advocate, she has taught band, choir, and string ensembles with a steadfast commitment to ensuring all students have access to high-quality music education — especially important amid recent budget cuts in the Greater Victoria School District. She is the 2014 and 2022 recipient of the Fine Arts Champion Award from VCPAC. As well as being a Past President of the BCMEA, she also holds a Lifetime Membership in the BC Music Educators’ Association for her longstanding service and advocacy work. In addition, Cindy is a performing musician (singer, tenor sax, keyboards, backing vocals) with the cover band Bobby Dazzler, and is proud to be a mom of two.

Tim Sars is a working musician, composer, and teacher in the lower mainland. His quirky and playful compositions get performed in a wide range of his musical projects, ranging from his powerful Afrobeat band, Camaro 67", his community band, the Carnival Band', and band programs in various public schools around the Vancouver area. 

Rie Sasaki is a pianist and an accompanist. She holds a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Hartt School in Connecticut, a Bachelor's of Arts in piano performance from Central Connecticut State University. In addition to her performing experience as a soloist and a collaborative pianist in Connecticut, she was a piano faculty at Bethwood Suzuki School and Neighborhood Music School in New Haven. After she moved to Canada with her family she has completed a Bachelor’s of Education in secondary teaching at SFU. Currently she works at School District #60 as a beginner band teacher and an elementary music teacher and continues to run her piano studio. Her involvement in the community arts scenes includes piano accompanying school musicals, co-teaching a musical camp and organizing Peace River North Festival of Arts in Fort St. John as a music director. 
 

Clarice Scop is a violinist, vocalist, and music educator from Vancouver, BC. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from Capilano University as well as Bachelor of Music Education from the University of British Columbia. Her background is in fiddle and folk music as well as jazz, growing up playing and improvising in these styles. For many years, she worked as the Director of Novice Programs with the North Shore Celtic Ensemble, teaching fiddle styles to young string players. She has taught elementary and secondary Strings, elementary classroom music, as well as secondary Band and Choir. Her passion lies in teaching music from all corners of the globe, exploring not only the music of a certain place or culture but how that music is learned and communicated. She believes that building a strong community based on connection, inclusion, and freedom to explore is integral to any school music program; and this starts with fun. Her background in fiddle styles and ability to bring this fun into the classroom has helped to engage Strings students in meaningful ways.

Annie Shum (B.Mus., M.A., B.Ed) is an elementary music educator from Victoria, BC, the traditional territory of the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. She has taught K-5 music for the Greater Victoria School District since 2011. Weaving in Kodaly methods, Orff principles, and a sense of fun throughout the year, Annie's music classes are a highlight for many of her students. Her program has been described by her colleagues and families as the heart of the school community. She has a special passion for teaching ukulele, and is currently a teacher with the Island Ukuleles group and at Ecole Marigold Elementary.

Brenda's exposure to music began at the age of 12 when she took up a flute which her parents had purchased for her in Grade 7.  After struggling initially, she stuck with it and came into her own as a skilled player.  In Grade 8, she developed tendinitis in her shoulder and had to switch instruments.  She chose the tenor saxophone, the instrument that 'called' to her and played it throughout high school, along with the flute, baritone saxophone, piccolo and bells.
Although her original goal was to major in saxophone in university, her unsuccessful application turned out to be a blessing in disguise as she entered the Faculty of Education instead.  She played bass clarinet in the symphony while obtaining her B.Ed in Instrumental Music and English.
Brenda has been teaching concert bands since 1994 at the beginner to senior level.  She believes that music connects people and enhances their lives and that it is never too late to learn to play an instrument.  It is her passion to share music through teaching and performing to all those who are willing.
Brenda is the band teacher at J.N. Burnett Secondary School in Richmond, British Columbia; currently plays French horn for the Delta Music Makers band; teaches and conducts the two community concert bands she founded: Marcato Youth Concert Band (in Richmond) and Brass, Wind and Wire (currently running at the beginner level through Delta Continuing Education with practices on Wednesday nights in Ladner).
Her motto? "It is never too late to toot your own horn".

From center stage to carpet sage, Jonathan Tromsness has lived many musical lives. With a Jazz Studies degree from Capilano University, he spent over a decade performing in bands, composing music for TV commercials, and releasing original tracks. His background as a working musician gives him a deep understanding of the craft—and a knack for making music feel alive and relevant. 

These days, Jonathan finds himself surrounded by tiny humans who’ve never heard jazz and think a trumpet is a kind of fruit. He’s embraced the challenge with curiosity and creativity, discovering through trial and error that teaching elementary music is less about scales and more about spark and sequence. With a Bachelor of Education (2019) and a Master’s in Educational Technology (2024), he’s blended his musical expertise with modern pedagogy to create engaging, inclusive, and joyful music experiences for young learners. 

Dr. Mark Tse is a conductor and educator, serving as Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education at the University of Saskatchewan, and settler living on the Treaty Six Territory and the Homeland of the Métis. He conducts the University’s Concert Band and Symphony Orchestra and is an instructor of conducting and instrumental music teaching in secondary schools.

Dr. Tse values kindness, collectivism, and continuouslearning. He is dedicated to co-creating opportunities for everyone to access and cultivate the joy of music, which includes musicians, conductors, composers and audiences, as well as people and genres who have historically been marginalized from orchestral music.

In the 2016 American Prize competition, he won 3rd place forCommunity Band Wind Ensemble Conducting and an Honourable Mention for College/University Wind Ensemble Conducting. In 2015, he won 2nd place for
College/University Wind Ensemble Conducting.

Dr. Tse holds a doctorate in Wind Ensemble Conducting fromthe University of Washington, a Master of Music (Wind Ensemble Conducting) from the New England Conservatory, a Master of Music (Music Education) from the University of Western Ontario, as well as a Bachelor of Music (Music Education) and a Bachelor of Education (Instrumental Music) from the University of Toronto.

Dr. Tse has guest conducted the North Saskatchewan WindSymphony and the Atlantic Wind Symphony. He served as clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor at various music festivals, and workshopped school bands in Seattle, Toronto, Long Island, and Saskatoon. He is published in the Canadian Music Educators Association Journal. Prior to his graduate studies, Dr. Tse taught instrumental high school music for eleven years in his home city Toronto.

Rossi (Svetozar Tzonkov) obtained his music degree in jazz studies at the Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa. 
While performing professionally on both Bass, Spanish guitar, and Steel Pan Rossi went on to lecture part-time at the two of the most prestigious universities in Pretoria, the Tshwane University of Technology, and the University of Pretoria. 
Working as a bass guitar instructor at those institutions, he developed and implemented a bass guitar curriculum for students, 1st through 4th year, which the university adopted and continued to use long after his departure to Canada in 2010. 

Upon arrival in Vancouver, Canada in 2010 and completing his education program, Rossi focused on Elementary Music Education. He expanded the scope of his music pedagogy by completing Orff, Levels 1 and 2, Drama and Education, Designs for Learning Dance, and Conducting and Conducting Pedagogy. 

In 2020 Rossi co-authored and published his first ukulele method book called “Sounds and Strings,” which is currently being used by Elementary Music teachers in Israel. 

In 2022 Rossi launched Kulea Ukulele (myuke.com), an Online Interactive Ukulele Curriculum. The method is now used by educators and school districts around the world. Rossi is currently working at the Delta School District as a Music and Band teacher teaching grades K – 7.

Hector hails from Naolinco, Mexico, and has ancestral ties to the Totonaco People. He is an Assistant Teaching Professor at the Departments of Curriculum & Instruction (EDCI) and Indigenous Education. He completed his PhD at UVic in EDCI, supported by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) doctoral fellowship. His doctoral research addressed ways of embedding music with Indigenous roots into Mexico’s national elementary curriculum. In 2022, Hector was awarded one of the 10 inaugural year Aspiration 2030 Postdoctoral Fellowships at UVic, and in 2023, he was awarded a SSHRC Postdoctoral Fellowship. Hector’s most recent research project envisions collaborations between teacher candidates and Indigenous culture bearers on Coast Salish Territory (Canada) and in the Huasteca region (Mexico). His research interests include Indigenizing and decolonizing music education in both K-12 and postsecondary settings, emphasizing the use and development of Indigenous methodologies from a perspective rooted in the global south, as well as educational policy and change.

Katherine Watson began learning the flute and piccolo at age 10, in a community marching band for children in Lindsay, ON. She went on to study flute performance at the University of Toronto, The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory of Music, and at McGill University. Her teachers included Leslie Newman in Toronto, and Timothy Hutchins, the principal flutist of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.

Before having relocated to Vancouver, BC, Katherine had established herself as a prominent orchestral and contemporary flutist in Toronto and Southern Ontario. She has premiered dozens of new compositions featuring the flute and has recorded live for CBC radio and appeared in several films and on several soundtracks including Pompeii (2014) and Brad’s Status (2017).

A former member of Charm of Finches, Canada’s only professional flute quintet, Katherine has also performed with the London Sinfonietta, the Kingston Symphony, the Niagara Symphony, the Mandel Philharmonic, the Ontario Philharmonic, the Peterborough Symphony, and Orchestre de l’Agora in Montreal. She has appeared on stage with great musical groups such as Il Divo, Josh Groban, and Sarah Brightman.

As a teacher, Katherine is recognized by parents for her abilities to discover what makes children interested in music and has been known to tailor each student’s lesson to suit their needs and goals. She believes that finding a student’s innate passion will ignite a life-long love for learning and musical discovery. She is a Kinderflute-trained teacher, with a great passion for teaching young beginner flutists as young as four years old!

When Katherine is not teaching or playing flute, she can be found training for running races, or listening to audiobooks about adventures while knitting.

Nora Wilson is a trombonist and the Associate Professor of Low Brass at Brandon University. She has performed with several professional ensembles including the Winnipeg and Regina Symphony Orchestras, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, and the Brandon Chamber Players. Although the traditions of classical and jazz trombone will always be important to her, Nora’s true passion lies in creating new music for her instrument. She has commissioned several new works from Canadian composers, including a new piece for trombone and 8-bit accompaniment by Kenley Kristofferson that was premiered at the 2024 International Trombone Festival. Nora has been exploring her relationship to Truth and Reconciliation through a Canada Council for the Arts funded project called Sonic Dreaming. With her collaborator, Peter Morin, they are developing a land-based methodology for music and art making. This work has been deeply personal and transformative. Through being on the land, both she and Peter have started to develop and plan recording projects and art installations that will be shared/presented in the next couple of years. Lastly, Nora is a founding member of Transfixed, an experimental music ensemble with Brandon University alum, Koda Maxon.

Nora is a fierce advocate for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. She appears frequently on discussion panels and in presentations advocating for the empowerment gender diverse people. Her talks center on the role of music and art in her own transition as well as the need for educators to foster safe spaces for 2SLGBTQIA+ students. Nora has presented at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Festival and the Tempo: Manitoba Music Conference.

A life-long love of choral music continues to fuel Willi Zwozdesky’s career as a choral conductor, arranger, publisher, and administrator.  Now in his 43^rd season as artistic director and conductor of the Vancouver Men’s Chorus (VMC), Willi’s record tenure as conductor of the VMC is unmatched in the global movement of 2SLGBTQI+ choruses.  His long-term dedication to choral music has been recognized with both a Legacy Award from GALA Choruses and a Willan Award from the British Columbia Choral Federation for outstanding service.

At Canada’s national Unison Festival 2023 in Halifax this past May, Willi was honoured to conduct the festival men’s chorus of rainbow-dog-tag-adorned singers from across Canada. A festival highlight was the world premiere performance of D. Geoffrey Bell’s “The Commanded Heart”, one of three works commissioned by the Festival with funds from the LGBT Purge Fund www.lgbtpurgefund.com.  The establishment of the LGBT Purge Fund resulted from the settlement of a nation-wide class action lawsuit against the Canadian government; moneys have been allocated for reconciliation and memorialization measures, including the 2023 choral commissions for Unison Festival and the creation of a superb 2SLGBTQI+ National Monument on parliament hill (opening 2025). Willi Zwozdesky’s undergraduate work at the University of Alberta (BMus) led to graduate studies (MA in music theory, MMus in choral conducting) at the University of Washington. Following his move to Vancouver in 1981, he undertook the development of the voice of the Vancouver Men’s Chorus. Under his direction, the VMC has distinguished itself internationally through concert performances, recordings, broadcasts, and choral commissions. In 1990 he established Rhythmic Trident Music Publishing, which focuses on his own and others’ new Canadian work. An active choral clinician and adjudicator, Willi has also volunteered on a number of national and regional organizations, including the Canadian Music Centre and GALA Choruses, Inc. In addition to his freelance work, he serves as the Executive Director of the British Columbia Choral Federation and on the national Board of Directors of Choral Canada.