CYMC — Comox Valley Youth Music Centre

CYMC is thrilled to welcome Dr. John van Deursen of Vancouver to lead our Classical program for his second year in 2010. In addition to his role as Director of the Classical Program at CYMC, John is Music Director of Orchestra Armonia in Vancouver and conductor of the Concert Winds at the University of British Columbia. Recent conducting highlights include his premiere with the National Symphony of Taiwan at the National Concert Hall in Taipei in December, the upcoming performance of Orchestra Armonia as Ensemble in Residence in the annual Sonic Boom Festival, and a return to Taiwan that will take place in June 2010 when John leads leading the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra. In October 2009, John led a masterclass at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music (China) and worked with the school’s excellent orchestra.

As instructor of music, John leads the Concert Winds ensemble at UBC, and is instructor of Trombone and Tuba at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Each year, John works as a clinician with visiting wind bands and orchestras to UBC, and he has also given brass masterclasses on trombone in Taiwan, China, Korea and Canada.

While an undergraduate at UBC, van Deursen was a winner of the Vancouver Youth Orchestra “Concerto Competition” and was awarded the “Director’s Award” for his “outstanding musicianship, and exceptional talent” by the School of Music. In 1998, Van Deursen was a “Winter Resident” at the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada.

Mary Sokol Brown has been at CYMC since 2000. Mary is a well-known performer, performing to Vancouver audiences since 1979. Active as both a performer and teacher, she holds a prominent position in the first violins of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and has been a featured soloist.

As a chamber musician she performs extensively with many of Vancouver”s well-known ensembles including the Vetta Recital Series, Music in the Morning and the Turning Point Ensemble.

A musical highpoint for Mary has been her involvement as a founding member of Trio Accord. This dynamic string trio has served both as performers and clinicians throughout BC, with numerous features on CBC radio. In addition, Mary enjoys creating exquisite evenings of chamber music in private homes. These concerts are highly acclaimed, for their intimacy and beauty.

Travelling extensively to work with young musicians, adult amateurs and community-based ensembles, Mary appears regularly at the Naramata and Gabriola String Ensemble retreats and has an association with Kelowna”s Festival of the Arts. She has also conducted many orchestral and chamber workshops with the Terrace Symphony.

Mary’s favourite CYMC experience

It is through initiatives such as CYMC that I continue to realize my musical ambitions and share with audiences my passionate commitment to the violin.

trioaccord.ca

Andrew James Brown, viola, is the Associate-Principal violist of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the CBC Radio Orchestra for over eighteen years. A prominent chamber musician, Andrew has performed extensively with Vancouver’s leading musical organizations, including the Vetta Quartet, Curio, the Vancouver New Music Ensemble and Masterpiece Players. He is a founding member of Trio Accord.

Andrew’s musical endeavours have given him the opportunity to perform throughout North America, Korea, China and Japan, but he enjoys the eclectic musical environment in Vancouver where his engagements have ranged from intimate chamber music performances to rock and roll at the Coliseum with members of Led Zeppelin.

A former member of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Andrew earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at The College Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati – studying with Donald McInnes, Paul Coletti, Gerald Stanick and Masao Kawasaki.

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Cellist, Ariel Barnes, enjoys a diverse career performing as a soloist, chamber, and orchestral musician. Born in Toronto, Ontario to violinist Nancy Mathis DiNovo and composer Milton Barnes, Ariel began his violin studies at the age of three. Transfixed by the rich, expressive sonority of the cello, he made a transition to the larger instrument at age five. The following year, a family move to Boston offered him the opportunity to study at the All Newton Music School, where he began to enjoy the thrill of performing in frequent recital appearances. Returning to Canada, at ten years old, Ariel was an Ontario Kiwanis Festival Provincial Finalist in the under 30 category, having been described as “a fine example of a flourishing musical talent”.

Two years later, a move to British Columbia allowed him to begin studies with Eric Wilson, founding cellist of the Emerson String Quartet. Ariel soon became principal cello of the Vancouver Youth Symphony and began winning local competitions and awards. During these years, attending the Marrowstone Music Festival each summer provided him with a nurturing environment in which to develop as a soloist and chamber musician. It was here that he met his mentor, Craig Weaver, a member of the Seattle Symphony and former student of Orlando Cole. At eighteeen, he was a top prize winner in the Burnaby Clef Society Competition and made his debut as a soloist playing Ernst Bloch’s “Schelomo, Hebraique Rhapsody for Solo Cello and Orchestra”. In recent years as a soloist, and as a member of the Borealis String Quartet, Ariel has appeared in recital and in chamber music concerts across Canada, the United States and Mexico.

An avid chamber musician, Ariel is the cellist of Trio Accord, a Vancouver-based string trio that is quickly developing a reputation for being the finest ensemble of its kind in Canada. He has also collaborated with such great performers as The St. Lawrence String Quartet, Scott St. John, Rita Costanzi, William Aide, David Harding, Rena Sharon, Ian Parker, Cary Chow, Nancy DiNovo, Barry Shiffman, Daniel Phillips, Tara Helen O’Connor, Mehan Esfahani, Daniel Bolshoi, Andrew Dawes, and many others. Memorable appearances at summer music festivals include the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival, The Banff Festival, Festival Orford, Festival Vancouver, and Mendocino Music Festival.

Ariel currently serves as principal cello of both the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and the CBC Radio Orhestra. He has recorded for Centrediscs, E’space Musique, Integrity Music, Za Discs, Disney Films, CBC Television, Funktopus Records, extensively for CBC Radio, and with such artists as Brian Adams and Michael Buble. Among the many fine cellists with whom he has studied, principal teachers include Daniel Domb at the University of Toronto, Bruce Uchimura at Western Michigan University, Craig Weaver of the Seattle Symphony, and Eric Wilson at the University of British Columbia. In addition, he has received coaching from Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Janos Starker, Lawrence Lesser, Desmond Hoebig, Lorand Fenyves, and members of the Guarneri, Julliard, Cleveland, Orford, and St. Lawrence String Quartets.

In the 2008-09 season, Ariel will tour Canada in recital with pianist Brian Wagorn, presented by Jeunesses Musicales Canada. Upcoming recording projects include a string trio arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations with Trio Accord on the Skylark label, and a contemporary work by Yannick Plamandon with the Turning Point ensemble on the Atma label.

trioaccord.ca

"A rarity of musical excellence, technical ease and tonal purity," pianist Sarah Hagen is a sought-after soloist and chamber musician, performing in concerts across Canada as well as in the United States, France, Italy, Germany and Sweden. Her interpretations have been described as "outstandingly inventive," performed with "infinite skill."

A visionary and an idealist, Sarah ’s performances are conceptually innovative, involving photography, couture and theatre. She is the Artistic Director for Pro ’ject Sound, a performance project involving live piano with large-scale projected images. She is also an avid collaborator, reveling in the friendships and stimulation that abound in chamber music. As a concert presenter and producer, Miss Hagen frequently hosts world class performers from Europe, Australia and the United States. In 2006 she was awarded as the Comox Valley ’s Cultural Ambassador of the Year. She has been on faculty at the Comox Valley Youth Music Centre for over 10 years, performing in the CYMC Summer Festival with Russell Bajer, Charles Inkman and Yariv Aloni, among others. While Sarah travels regularly for performances in Europe, she also delights in playing with the premier Canadian ensemble, Trio Accord.

Miss Hagen has been heard on Swedish Radio 2, CBC’s West Coast Performance, Alberta CBC's Sunday Arts Programme, WDAV (North Carolina) WOSU (Ohio), KFUO (Missouri), CKUA (Edmonton), WKAR (Michigan), WITF (Pennsylvania), 98.1 KING FM (Seattle) and has appeared on Bravo Television. Her solo album, Glass House Dancing, was nominated for a 2009 Western Canadian Music Award in the category of Classical Recording of the Year.

Sarah ’s motivation is the belief that music has the power to be a window into our souls regardless of age or knowledge. She currently makes her home and studio in a beach front cottage on Vancouver Island.

Russell Bajer has been with CYMC since 2002. Russell”s first teacher was Jerry Domer who is former principal oboe of the CBC Orchestra and CYMC instructor. His principal teachers have been Roger Cole of the Vancouver Symphony and Fred Korman of the Oregon Symphony.

During his 15 years with The Victoria Symphony he has performed with the orchestra as soloist on both oboe and English horn. He has played principal oboe with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Orchestra for tours throughout the US and Canada and has played numerous times with the Vancouver Symphony , the CBC orchestra and the Vancouver Opera. Russell has appeared as soloist in concerti of Vivaldi, Bach, Haydn, Mozart and several contemporary composers with a number of ensembles.

He recently toured with the contemporary group Aventa to Montreal, Toronto and New York. He has also toured in Japan with the Pacific Wind Trio.

Russell has been guest instructor of oboe and chamber music at The University of Victoria and teaches in the Collegium program for the Victoria Conservatory.

Keith MacLeod has been with CYMC for over 8 years. His own clarinet instructors include Wes Foster, Ronald De Kant and Robert Marcellus in Chicago.

Keith has been a member of the faculties of the Wisconsin Conservatory, Douglas College, and University of BC and currently teaches at the Victoria Conservatory. He has also conducted master classes in Spain and at the Marrowstone Music Festival in Washington.

Keith brings to his position a wealth of professional experience, having performed with the Milwaukee Symphony and Ballet, Calgary Philharmonic and Winnipeg, Seattle and Vancouver Symphonies. As well, he is a successful chamber musician, and has been broadcast on the CBC in both these capacities.

When not teaching Keith plays his clarinet for the Victoria Symphony.

Keith’s favourite CYMC experience

Seeing a young person discovering the joy of music.

Anne-Elise is a professional flutist living in Vancouver, Canada. She boasts a wide range of international experience as a recitalist, concerto soloist, recording artist, chamber musician and orchestral flutist in a variety of genres. She is an experienced and enthusiastic educator: teaching private flute lessons and classes, performing her duties as Head of the Suzuki Flute Programme at the Vancouver Academy of Music, providing masterclasses and clinics, coaching chamber music and giving lectures in music appreciation.

Anne-Elise has been with CYMC for over 17 years. In addition to teaching and performing with BC”s longest running summer music camp she plays co-principal Flute and Piccolo in the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. As principal flute in the Abbotsford Symphony, she freelances in Vancouver, playing such shows as “Miss Saigon,” “Showboat” and “Phantom of the Opera.”.

Anne-Elise has enjoyed an extraordinary diversity in her career. She has given a private command performance for King Olav V of Norway, lovingly taught 4-year olds to play the flute, toured Europe as a successful soloist, acted as a "guest enrichment lecturer" for Celebrity Cruises, distributed three solo CD's worldwide, shared her love of music with students from 4 to 80, been invited to audition for the Principal Flute position in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, played baroque flute with Tafelmusikk and has delighted in her role as flutist and piccoloist with innumerable symphony, opera, ballet and musical theatre orchestras!

She has taught at the University of Western Ontario, U.B.C., University of Victoria, Douglas College and the Vancouver Academy of Music.

anne-elisekeefer.ca

Chris Mitchell holds a Master’s degree in trumpet performance from the University of British Columbia. He also holds a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education from the same institution, and was awarded the Don Wright Scholarship in Instrumental Music Education as well as the C K Choi Scholarship in Secondary Education. Chris has performed with the Vancouver Symphony, Victoria Symphony, and Vancouver Island Symphony, Turning Point Ensemble, CBC Radio Orchestra, and is Principal Trumpet of the Kamloops Symphony Orchestra. Chris’s brass quintet, the Vancouver Chamber Brass, performs regularly throughout the lower mainland and interior.

Chris is also a member of the Vancouver Brass Project, a brass ensemble comprised of musicians from the Vancouver Symphony, the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, Vancouver New Music, and the Turning Point Ensemble. In October 2008, Chris performed with the Vancouver Symphony on their tour of China and Korea. Chris has taught in the Vancouver, North Vancouver, Richmond, and Burnaby school districts and has worked with the senior bands at Lord Byng Secondary, Churchill Secondary, Eric Hamber Secondary, Gladstone Secondary, Vancouver Technical, Burnaby Central, Burnaby South, Moscrop secondary, Alpha Secondary, and Burnaby North, among others. He has also worked as a clinician and private teacher for students in high school and university.

Steve Denroche has performed with a number of chamber groups, as well as symphony and opera orchestras in Ontario and B.C. As a Vancouver-based freelance horn player, he has played with the Vancouver Opera since 1980, and has worked as an extra with the Vancouver Symphony and the CBC Radio Orchestra.

He is a founding member of, and arranges for, the brass group Cornucopia. Steve has served as a faculty member of community music schools throughout B.C. for 17 years, and has been on the faculty of the Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music for 10 years. In 1985, he participated in the recording of Tears Are Not Enough, the Canadian record with proceeds donated to help famine relief.

Steve has played horn in Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Secret Garden, and in the summer of 1995 played on the national tour of Music of the Night. He teaches at Capilano College.

Ashley Foot has studied music at McGill University, and currently studies voice with master vocal teacher Rosemarie Landy of the Universitie de Montreal. He is also the host of Radio Allegro, a pop culture radio program. Recently Ashley won first prize in the CBC New Media competition Digital Diversity. He has performed in numerous productions and is a former CYMC alumni. For the past three years he has been the musical director for CYMC Musical theatre on productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar and Jekyll and Hyde. He is thrilled to have been asked to take on the challenge of managing CYMC Musical Theatre and is excited for the coming season!

Ashley’s favourite CYMC experience

Singing the Pineapple song in Cabaret and making Alana laugh at my lack of dance skills.

Musical Theatre mini site

ashleyfoot.com

Roger Carr teaches drama, stagecraft, directing and playwriting at Frances Kelsey Secondary School in Mill Bay, British Columbia and is one of the designers of the drama curriculum for the province of British Columbia. A versatile and widely employed director, some of his productions have included Sweeney Todd, La Cage Aux Folles, and Oliver (Victoria Operatic Society) to name just a few. A busy actor, Roger is currently performing the lead role in Langham Court Theatre’s production of Shadowlands. Many of Roger’s students have gone on to have tremendous success in theatre, film and television. CYMC is delighted to welcome Roger Carr for the first time to our front row summer!

Alana grew up dancing in the Comox Valley before pursuing her performing and teaching careers. She moved to Toronto to Canada’s National Ballet School, to receive intensive Ballet instruction, and teacher training. Mrs. Collins is also trained in Tap, Jazz, Modern, Hip-Hop, and National dancing.

She has been teaching for almost 20 years, and choreographing throughout North America over the past few seasons. Collins now operates Portside Academy of Performing Arts, in Port McNeill.

Alana has taught, directed, and assisted with several Musical Theater and Ballet productions over the years including: The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland, Fame, Cabaret, Chicago, and Jekyll and Hyde. Mrs. Collins was also CYMC’s Musical Theater Choreographer for 10 years, before taking leave to pursue other avenues. She is very excited to be back working with us again.

Kristopher Epps joined the CYMC faculty in 2003 where he was the pianist for CYMC’s Evita. Since then Kris’s favourite CYMC productions include Chicago and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Kris Epps is also a busy pianist and teacher in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec. A graduate of Mcgill University, Kris currently studies with Lauretta Altman. He is the pianist for Mcgill Choral Society, Women Making Music, and numerous ballet schools in the Montreal area. A busy private teacher, Kris is also the organist and choir director of Westminister Presbyterian Church.

Dave Proznick has been at CYMC since 1999. With an incredibly successful 34 years as music educator, David Proznick brings outstanding experience and dynamic leadership to the CYMC Pacific Jazz Program. He is in demand year round in these capacities and is well regarded by both students and colleagues. known in both student and performers capacities.

Mr Proznick has been a Choir Director and Music Director in the United Church for over 25 years. His music program at Semiahmoo Secondary School in South Surrey (White Rock) has enjoyed over two decades of local, provincial, national and international recognition for high achievement in high school music. His achievements have been marked by more teaching awards than one can possibly imagine. Our favourites include: The highest number of Berklee scholarships of any high school in North America which he won in 1993. That same year he was awarded a letter of recognition and a new trumpet presented by Dr. Lynn Skinner, University of Idaho Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival for outstanding work in jazz education.

Dave has brought many bands to Musicfest Canada (invitational national music festival) for the past 20 years with as many as 14 groups from Semi’s program in one given year.

Mr Proznick was one of 10 people to be awarded the John Philip Sousa “Legion of Honour” award for his service to music education in North America at the Mid West Clinic in Chicago in 1998.

Chris Sigerson has been an active member of the Vancouver music scene for the last twenty-five years.

Chris Received the music award in high school then enrolled in the Jazz Studies program at Vancouver Community College in the early 1980’s. While at college he studied piano with Elmer Gill and formed a trio with bassist Ken Lister and percussionist Craig Scott. Chris, Ken, and Craig still play together whenever they can.

Chris plays a variety of musical styles in a wide range of settings and has played with many top Canadian and International musicians. He has been on many recordings as a sideman and has produced four C.D.’s of his own. They include; “Heritage” with Campbell Ryga, Ken Lister, Craig Scott, and Kevin Elaschuk. “A Father’s Dream” with Bill Coon and Ken Lister. “Merry Chris, Chris, Christmas” with Chris Nelson. “A Christmas Tribute” with Bill Coon.

He has been featured on numerous C.B.C. broadcasts.

Chris teaches piano privately and at Capilano University in North Vancouver. He also works as an accompanist for vocal master classes at Vancouver Community College.

Chis Sigerson

Campbell Ryga has been at CYMC since 2001. He brought together CYMC faculty past and present when he co-led a release with former CYMC faculty member Renee Rosnes (the great New York pianist) entitled Deep Cove.

Ryga was honoured by the Jazz Report Magazine’s Award Canada’s Alto Saxophonist of the Year 2000. The two former recipients of this award were Moe Koffman and PJ Perry. Since 1987, Campbell has received 3 Juno Awards and 2 Juno nominations, a Grammy nomination and has twice received the Western Canadian Music Award in the Jazz category.

Since 1981 Campbell has toured internationally on 19 occasions, primarily to Western Europe and to Latin America, most notably the Havana International Jazz Festival, where he has performed for four consecutive years. Often touring has been with the internationally acclaimed Hugh Fraser Quintet, of which he is a founding member, an association that began in 1981. Campbell has performed several weeklong engagements at the prestigious Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in Soho, London. Campbell has also been involved in cross-country Canadian touring on 24 separate occasions. He has contributed to 57 jazz recordings.

Campbell Ryga is on faculty at Capilano College in the Jazz Performance degree program. Campbell is on faculty at Kwantlen College Langley as well. Campbell has also received the Wall of Fame honour presented to him by the British Columbia Secondary School District 67 for excellence in his field.

Campbell is a Yamaha Saxophone Artist.

campbellryga.com

Bill Clark has been at CYMC since 2005.

Bill began his career as a trumpet soloist in Hugh Fraser’s award winning ensemble The Vancouver Ensemble of Jazz Improvisation (VEJI) in 1980. Since that time, Bill has been featured both as a composer and trumpet player in a diverse array of Vancouver’s most prominent commercial, jazz and creative music ensembles including The Hard Rubber Orchestra, Talking Pictures, The New Orchestra Workshop, Grupo jazz Tumbao and The Powder Blues.

Bills own hard-driving group, The Bill Clark Sextet, has played all the major Canadian jazz festivals. In the spring of 2002, Bill toured Canada with the Chris Tarry Collective Conscience in support of the Juno nominated CD, Battles of Unknown Mysteries. Bill’s most recent project is the Burrows/Clark/Taylor improvisational ensemble featuring guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Jared Burrows and Bill’s long time associate Stan Taylor on percussion.

Bill has recently completed a series of new compositions for both large and small ensembles, which were performed at Calarts, as well as several compositions for theatre, dance and film (Good Fooling: The Story of Shakespeare’s Clown, Twelfth Night, Dr. Faustus, The Gun).

Bill’s favourite CYMC experience

When we did the African piece "Let Your Voice be Heard" as the final piece of the outdoor concert and the students spontaneously started the clapping/dance pattern and walked off as an entire group until they could no longer be seen or heard by the audience.

Darren's career in music has taken him to over 20 countries and he has worked as a composer/performer for a variety of projects in most mediums requiring live or recorded music. He wrote the theme for CBC's television show 'Edgemont' still played in countries around the world. He was awarded the 2007 POP Vox award for best soundtrack in a video game for 'Mario Strikers Charged' (Nintendo Wii) and is enjoying the success of his most recent project "Punch Out!!" (Nintendo Wii)

In conjunction with his 20 year career in music education Darren has worked with a variety of performers including Martin Short, Don Rickles, Ernie Watts, Cedar Walton and Joan Rivers. Darren has performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and works with a variety of bands including the Sharon Minemoto quintet, The Bill Coon Trio, Two Much Guitar, and the Brad Turner trio. Darren also appears on Denzil Sinclaire's Juno nominated CD "I found love".

Darren is a member of the Jazz Studies faculty at Capilano University in North Vancouver B.C.

Dennis Esson has been at CYMC for 7 years. Since moving to Vancouver in 1980, Dennis Esson has established himself as a highly respected and sought after trombonist for a wide variety of musical endeavours. He has recorded music for cartoons, movies, jingles and soundtracks, in addition to albums with many pop and rock groups such as Stephen Fearing, The Paperboys, Buddy Miles, The Salteens, Veda Hille and others. He has also been in the pit orchestras for Broadway shows such as Chorus Line, The Full Monty and 42nd Street.

As a jazz musician Dennis has recorded numerous CBC sessions as a featured soloist. He is also the lead trombonist with groups such as the Vancouver Ensemble of Improvisation (VEJI), Orquesta Goma Dura, Jill Townsend Big Band, Hard Rubber Orchestra and the Fred Stride Jazz Orchestra. He has performed with; Kenny Wheeler, Phil Woods, Eddie Daniels, Marvin Stamm, David Foster, Maynard Ferguson, Natalie Cole, Clark Terry, Bud Shank, and Phil Nimmons, and has appeared and performed at all of the major jazz festivals across Canada.

As a music educator, Dennis has been the jazz trombone instructor at Capilano College since 1997, and has been the director of the UBC Jazz Ensemble 2 since 2000.

Dennis is a Yamaha trombone artist and performs and records on the YSL697Z trombone.

Dennis’ favourite CYMC experience

This occurs every year when I hear all of the kids playing on the final concert after all of their hard work.

dennisesson.com

Ihor Kukurudza has been at CYMC for 20 years. Originally from Toronto, Ihor developed his diverse musical skills working in a number of recording studios, CBC and CTV television variety shows, CBC Radio, and several live musical productions. His experience there also includes performances with such jazz notables as Ed Bickert, Phil Nimmons, Pat LaBarbera, Dave McMurdo, Harry Connick Jr. and Pepper Adams. He has to his credit several Broadway productions including Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and Evita. Ihor was a contributing performer on the Canadian Anthology of Jazz CDs.

Ihor continues to perform in a free-lance capacity in Vancouver where, in addition to ongoing work with Phil Nimmons, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and CBC Television, Already an accomplished jazz guitarist, Ihor now directs most of his energy toward refining his skills and developing his personal approach. He regularly performs with his trio, and has recently completed the production and release of his first featured CD, As It Was.

Ihor currently holds a faculty position in the Jazz Studies Program at Capilano College as an instructor of Improvisation and Small Ensemble. In addition to teaching advanced private guitar students at the College, he has held the positions of Facilitator of Private Music Instruction for the Music Department and has served as Coordinator for the Jazz Studies Program.

Ihor’s favourite CYMC experience

One of my favourite experiences (there have been many!) involved Dennis (Esson) and I visiting happy hour at the Arbuckle Pub after a round of golf, It was a “jam afternoon,” and we had the unexpected pleasure of catching Bettyanne (CYMC Executive Director) and husband Doug sitting in for a set - on accordion (!!) and if I recall, Dobro or acoustic guitar respectively. cool, and fun, and we stayed for the next set.

ihormusic.com

Dave Robbins has been at CYMC both as student, in 1982 and as faculty since 1998. Dave Robbins is one of Canada’s premier jazz drummers and a first-rate composer, arranger and jazz educator. Though well known as a sideman for his exciting big band work and sensitive trio playing, Robbins is now leading his own sextet.

After teaching at McGill’s Conservatory of Music in Montreal Dave was offered a position in McGill University’s prestigious Jazz Studies program. While in Montreal, in the late nineties, he toured and recorded in bands with Vic Vogel, Joe Sullivan, Altsys and the Streetnix, among others.

In 1996 he could no longer resist the pull of the west coast and moved back. He is kept very busy playing for Hugh Fraser, Campbell Ryga, Denzal Sinclaire, Miles Black, and Mike Allen to name a few. He is now on the music faculty at Capilano College where he instructs arranging, drums, piano, and large ensembles. When not teaching there, Dave holds private clinics and instruction both on the road and at home.

Dave has toured all over the world including; Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Finland, France, Holland, and Ireland.

Dave’s favourite CYMC experience

Lunchtime is my favourite time at CYMC! After eating, a game of Ultimate is always fun followed by the faculty jam session. Music and Sports — does it get any better?

daverobbins.com

Randy Wedel has been at CYMC for 6 years, He has taught elementary school music in the Comox Valley School District for 25 years. Wedel developed innovative approaches to elementary music education using "Orff" instruments including the Jazz Elemental program, he has presented numerous workshops on elementary music education in and around BC.

In his own education Randy studied Music at University of Winnipeg, music education at University of Manitoba and University of Victoria, jazz with Ian McDougall at UVic.

Randy’s favourite CYMC experience

Summer 2006: we had an amazing Jazz Elemental class, which included three very talented grade 6 students who had been with us for 4 summers. At this young age they had progressed to the point where they could play independently as a jazz rhythm section — piano, bass, & drums. At the final performance they headed a combo playing Autumn Leaves.