Halifax Community Band Festival
Guest Conductors/Performers/Clinicians
We’re very excited to welcome our talented guests to the Halifax Band Festival. The roster of guests will continue to evolve as the event approaches and we receive confirmation that they are able to attend. This page will be used to keep participants informed of any changes in personnel.
Our Guest Conductors for 2024
Dr. James Kalyn (confirmed)
Mount Alison University
James Kalyn is a soloist, orchestral and chamber musician on both clarinet and saxophone. An Associate Professor at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada, Kalyn can be heard performing regularly in the region as clarinetist with the highly successful woodwind quintet Ventus Machina, on saxophone with the Brogue Quartet, and in recitals. In recent years he has become very active as an arranger of music, bringing a lifetime of experience to the craft. Samples of his playing and arranging are found on his website, www.jameskalyn.ca. James Kalyn is also a conductor of band, orchestra, and jazz ensemble. His love of the mechanical has also led him to train as an instrument repairman.
Kalyn has been a clarinetist with numerous professional orchestras. As a concert saxophonist he has performed throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in Argentina, China and Japan. He has played and toured extensively with The Cleveland Orchestra and is heard on solo, ensemble and chamber music recordings. His solo recordings include 6 Standard Saxophone Sonatas, Brillance and Glazunov Concerto. Chamber music recordings include Ventus Machina’s In the Weeds (2017) and Roots (2021). Kalyn trained at the Eastman School of Music (Doctor of Musical Arts), Michigan State University (BMus in woodwind performance) and Western University (BMus performance).
Jonathan Dagenais (confirmed)
McGill University
Jonathan Dagenais holds a Master’s degree in Conducting from McGill University and a Bachelor’s degree in Composition from the Université de Montréal.
Renowned conductor, composer and educator, Jonathan Dagenais is a course lecturer at McGill University (Schulich School of Music) where he teaches conducting and has conducted the McGill Wind Orchestra. In addition to his career in teaching, Mr. Dagenais also pursues a career as a composer and arranger for wind orchestras. His works, which have been performed repeatedly by numerous ensembles, also appear on several professional recordings. His compositions are included in many North American concert band music festival syllabuses and are currently published worldwide by Alfred Music, TRN Music Publisher Inc., Hafabra Music and Eighth Note Publications.
Jonathan Dagenais is also a sought after conductor. He is the conductor and artistic director of the Orchestre à Vents Non Identifié (OVNI), a Montreal wind orchestra he co-founded in 2005. OVNI is an ensemble dedicated to collaborative and active listening, tone quality, refined interpretation as well as humor. Jonathan Dagenais is also the conductor Orchestre de jeux vidéo – OJV (Montreal Video Game Orchestra), an ensemble dedicated to video game soundtracks. A longtime fan of video games and their music, this was a natural marriage of two of his passions. Most recently in 2019, he was appointed principal conductor of the Ottawa Pops Orchestra (OPO). From 2012 to 2022, he was the conductor of the Cercle Philharmonique de Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu..
Mr. Dagenais has been invited to adjudicate and/or give clinics at more than 25 North American music competitions and festivals. In 2017, he became the artistic director of Musicfest Quebec. Jonathan Dagenais is regularly hired as an orchestra, band and chamber music conductor in Canadian summer music camps. He has been a guest conductor for many North American honor bands including The National Youth Band of Canada (NYB) in 2013, the most prestigious honor band in the country. Well known educator and public speaker, he is a Yamaha Canada Master Artist Educator, a guest conductor and clinician for Twigg Musique and the Fédération des Harmonies and Quebec Symphony Orchestras (FHOSQ) in addition of being the artistic director of MusicFest Québec.
Mr. Dagenais has conducted the McGill Wind Orchestra, is currently teaching Instrumental Conducting and giving Conducting individual lessons at McGill University (Schulich School of Music) and he teaches composition at the Sherbrooke University.
Jonathan Dagenais official website : http://www.jonathandagenais.com
Megan Snow (confirmed)
Yarmouth Citizen’s Band
Megan Snow studied trombone performance with Albert Devito at Université de Montréal, receiving her BMus in 2005. During her studies, she played professionally with some of the country’s top military ensembles, including the Band of the Ceremonial Guard, the Band of the Governor General’s Foot Guards, and the Band of the Royal Regiment of Canada. She has also completed courses in music education at the Ontario Institute for the Study of Education (OISE), conducting at the University of Toronto Wind Conducting Symposium, and drum majoring at the Canadian Forces Logistics Training Centre.
Megan has conducted the Yarmouth Citizens’ Band for 10 years and has taught music at the high school and junior high level since 2010. She is passionate about building welcoming, inclusive ensembles and creating rewarding musical experiences for musicians of all skill levels.
Our Guest Performers for 2024
Holland College Welshmen (confirmed for 2024)
Charlottetown, PEI
The Holland College Welshmen Community Concert Band is comprised of members from all walks of life – from university and college students to music graduates, community members, and many long-time musicians.
The band contributes to the cultural landscape of PEI by providing opportunities for musicians to make music together on a weekly basis and by presenting public concerts throughout the year.
The band welcomes young people and provides a musically rich playing experience which emphasizes fine-tuning ensemble skills and playing expressively together.
The Welshmen Band serves an important role in the concert band community on P.E.I., positioned at a level that appeals to graduating high school students or anyone who is returning to music performance.
Our Guest Instrumental Clinicians for 2024
Flute – Christine Feieraband
(confirmed for 2024)
Born and raised in Oshawa, Ontario, Christine Feierabend moved to Halifax from Toronto in 1989 as a result of winning her current position with Symphony Nova Scotia as Second Flute and piccolo player.
Christine holds a Bachelor of Music in performance from the University of Toronto and a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School in New York. In Nova Scotia, she has appeared at the Music Room on numerous occasions and has played chamber music at Scotia Festival, on the Faculty Series at the Maritime Conservatory of the Performing Arts, on the St. Cecilia Summer Concert Series, and on the Three Churches Summer Series in Mahone Bay. Before coming to Nova Scotia, Christine played as an extra with the Toronto Symphony and Hamilton Philharmonic. With Symphony Nova Scotia, she has appeared as a soloist on the Baroque series on both flute and piccolo multiple times.
Christine has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and a fellow of the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra. She lives in Hammonds Plains with husband Mike.
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet – Karen Michael
(confirmed for 2024)
Karen Michael grew up in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. She is alumni of UPEI, studying under Dr. Karem Simon, and of UWO Masters of clarinet performance program, studying under Jerome Summers. From there Karen attended MUN, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education. After years of private studio teaching at home and a career in the Western School District, the Yamaha School of Music was opened at Gary Bennett Music in 2007. Eventually the business and school was obtained by the Michaels in 2013 and the school has now grown from a first year of 150 students to 350+ and employing 12 teachers.
Karen has actively performed in the stage band for the theatre group Off Broadway Players. Recent performances include Fiddler of the Roof, Cabaret, and Jesus Christ Superstar with clarinet, saxophone and flute. Recently, she has performed in the Wintertide Music Festival which is held every January. She is involved in the local Rotary Music Festival as committee director, accompanist, teacher and Rotarian. For the past three years she has been invited as clinician at the Halifax Second Chances Band Fest.
In 2015, Karen was nominated for the Music NL award for Music Educator of the Year and in 2016, she was nominated for RBC’s Women Entrepreneur Award. More recently, as sole owner now of Gary Bennett Music, she was recognized with Business of the Year from the Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade.
Double Reeds – Serena Godmaire
(confirmed for 2024)
Serena Godmaire is a bassoonist who earned her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. She has performed with the University of Manitoba’s Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Orchestras as well as with the Winnipeg Winds, Winnipeg Youth Orchestra, Thompson Community band and various other chamber ensembles. Serena has taught bassoon at the International Music Camp as well as Grade 6-12 band, guitar and elementary music in both Winnipeg and Thompson, Manitoba.
Serena studied bassoon with Edna Dahl, Vincent Ellin and Allen Harrington and has studied conducting and music education with Dr. Dale Lonis, Earl Stafford, Dr. Fraser Linklater, Dr. Connie Turner and Ardith Haley. She is a member of the NSBA, MBA and is a member at large on the board of directors with the Sackville Community Band.
Last summer, Ms. Godmaire and family moved to Nova Scotia to continue her studies towards a Masters of Education through Acadia University. After falling in love with the scenery, people and Maritime music, Ms. Godmaire, her husband and three young children decided to make the East Coast their permanent home. (Who could blame them!) Since moving to Halifax, Serena has performed with the Sackville Community Band and 9 am Band, the Halifax Music Co-op Orchestra, Citadels Fiddler on the Roof pit band and is a member of the trio tri. She is currently working as a music and band substitute within the HRSB.
Ms. Godmaire has been blessed to have had some amazing teachers and mentors over the years who have fostered her love of music and given her the tools necessary to help other people reach their goals and grow as musicians and as people. Seeing and hearing her students improve is something very special and she still can’t believe people pay her to do something she loves so much! This is her first time at the festival and she is really looking forward to making some beautiful music with everyone this weekend.
Saxophone – Rowan Fitzgerald
(confirmed for 2024)
A native of Charlottetown, Rowan FitzGerald taught instrumental music in the PEI school system for 30 years. Since his retirement in 2010, he has remained active as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. In 2009, he co-founded the Second Chances Community Band in Charlottetown, where he currently co-conducts approximately 60 musicians, ranging in age from 25 to 90.
Trumpet – Christine Blanchard
(confirmed for 2024)
Christine Blanchard resides in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. She graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1990 and the University of New Brunswick with a degree in Education in 1992. Just recently, she completed a Masters of Education in Music Education with an emphasis on conducting from the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
Christine has experience teaching instrumental music at the both junior high and senior high level. She is currently the music teacher and director of bands at Bluefield High School in Hampshire, Prince Edward Island.
Christine Blanchard also has experience in the area of curriculum development. She is a co-author of the Prince Edward Island Instrumental Music Guide and is at the present time developing a pilot program entitled The Styles of Popular Music: A History of Rock and Roll.
As a trumpet player, Christine has performed in the University of Prince Edward Island Wind Symphony, and the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra. She has also been a guest conductor with the University of Prince Edward Island Wind Symphony and the University of Victoria Wind Symphony.
French Horn – Julie Cuming
(confirmed for 2024)
Julie was born and raised in Guelph Ontario and left home in 1983 to join the Canadian Forces Regular Force Music Branch. During her 36 year military career she served in the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, QC, the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, NS, and the 36 Canadian Brigade Group Band, NS. She also instructed at the CF School of Music in Borden ON for several years. As a freelance horn player, Julie has performed with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, Symphony NS, Symphony NB, the PEI Symphony, Nova Sinfonia and other recording artists such as Il Divo. She has also been a clinician with several NS Youth Ensembles as well as the Atlantic Band Festival and several local schools. She is currently the Acting Principle Horn of Symphony Nova Scotia. Julie holds a music performance degree from Dalhousie University. She lives in Bedford with her husband John and Boston Terrier Stella!
Trombone – Dave Staples
(confirmed for 2024)
Dave Staples is a veteran East Coast music educator and performer and maintains a busy freelance career as a pianist, trombonist, composer, clinician, adjudicator and recording artist. He has taught instrumental music with the Halifax Regional School Board for the last 30 years and is co-founder and director of the Nova Scotia Honour Jazz program, which has worked with talented students of jazz in Nova Scotia for the last 20 years. He has also served as a board member of JazzEast and was on the Canadian Executive Board of the International Association for Jazz Education as Newsletter Editor and Director of Communications from 2003 to 2008.
Recently retired from the Halifax Regional School Board, Dave was the high school band teacher at Citadel High School in Halifax as well as the director of the Halifax Schools All City Jazz program where he directed the Intermediate Jazz Band, Senior Combos and the Senior Jazz Ensemble.
In 1995, he received the East Coast Music Award (ECMA) with Jeff Goodspeed as Jazz Artists of the Year for their album release of “Eastern Passage”(CBC Productions) and is featured on the 2006 ECMA Jazz Album of the Year “Tom Roach: Piano Trios “(CBC Productions). Dave has performed and recorded with such groups and artists as the Maritime Jazz Orchestra, Renee Rosnes, Kenny Wheeler, Kurt Elling, Omar Hakim and Mike Murley as well as numerous East Coast musicians and ensembles, including John Chiasson, Mike Cowie, Ian Janes, Scott and the Rocks, Latin Groove, the Blakey Project, the Mingus Project, the Horace Silver Tribute Band, the Halifax Trombone Summit as well as his own Dave Staples Septet.
Euphonium/Baritone/Tuba – Rod MacGillivray
(confirmed for 2024)
Rod MacGillivray grew up in Bridgewater NS and is a conductor and low brass performer and teacher of trombone, euphonium and tuba. He is the head teacher of the Brass & Percussion Department at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, director of the Mersey Band in Liverpool, NS, and is co-conductor of Scotia Brass. He was assistant director with the Greater Columbus Concert Band in Columbus, Ohio and was a military musician in the Band of the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa from 1990-1995.
Rod’s musical activities include performances with the Alabama Opera Orchestra, Ohio Light Opera, Northern Kentucky Symphony, P.E.I Symphony, and the Edmonton Symphony and a one-year appointment as professor of conducting and music director of the Acadia University Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble from 2011–2012. Locally he has performed with Nova Sinfonia, the Chebucto Orchestra, Scotia Brass, Bridgewater Fire Department Band, and the Chester Brass Band. He has also taught on the faculties of Kenyon College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio and was the Director of Bands at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado from 2005–2007.
Percussion – Bruce Campbell
(confirmed for 2024)
Bruce Campbell was born and raised in Truro, N.S. and attended the University of Prince Edward Island, graduating in 2001 with a Bachelor of Music and teaching certification.
Bruce’s percussion career began at the early age of 10 which has fostered a love and passion for percussion and teaching music. He continues to perform as a sessional percussionist with various ensembles: Sackville Community Band, Scotia Brass, Chester Brass Band, and the Second Chances Band. He has also worked as a percussion clinician. His percussion studies includes instructors Jim Faraday and David Shepard.
He enrolled in the Cadet Instructor Cadre in 1993 as a Naval Cadet and attended HMCS Acadia summer training centre from 1993-2002 and was employed as a music and percussion instructor. He served as the Assistant Director of Music for 2001 and 2002. Bruce was employed at HMCS Avalon summer training centre in Newfoundland, as Music Course Director. In 2008 he was appointed Executive Officer of HMCS Avalon and filled the position up to 2010. In March 2011, he was appointed Commanding Officer of HMCS Avalon.
In 2013 Bruce returned to HMCS Acadia Sea Cadet summer training centre, to serve as the director of music.
He has recently “retired” from the summer training actives, for now, but is currently still active with the Atlantic region cadet music training. He currently resides in Wellington, Nova Scotia with his wife Gillian and their three children Laila, James and Liam.
Orchestral Strings – Gail Teixeira
(confirmed for 2024)
Gail Teixeira, lifelong learner and transplant from the United States and Montréal, has a heart for community music making. Gail’s background of secular and faith-based teaching, performance and engagement has taken her from around Nova Scotia (Nova Sinfonia) to visits and regular appearances in Prince Edward Island (PEI Symphony) and New Brunswick. Why this emphasis on community music making?
My growing up years were filled with multiple opportunities to “give back” and to “share” with the community. So it is no surprise that I gave to local groups (Halifax Music Co-Op), and that talented, like-minded trail blazers (Dave Skinner) (Ninette Babineau) (Pat Wyman) (Chalmers Doane) encouraged and mentored me to explore all areas of Nova Scotia and the Maritimes to perform, teach, learn and socialize.
And isn’t that why all of us are joining together? To enjoy the links and friendships that the joy (and hard work) of music making brings.