Staff – Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop

2022 Summer Band Faculty

Summer Band Coordinator

Nicole Haycock

Mountain Park School

Email | CalgaryRegionalSBW@gmail.com | Nicole has coordinated the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop since 1990. She is very grateful for the opportunity to work with so many outstanding music educators and young musicians throughout the years.

Guest Conductors

Gillian MacKay | Fourth Level Conductor | Gillian MacKay is Professor of Music of the University of Toronto, where she
conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches conducting. She has conducted honour
ensembles throughout Canada and internationally, and serves as Associate Conductor
of the Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra. Dr. MacKay has adjudicated and guest
conducted in Canada, the USA, Asia and in the UK.

Master Class Instructors

Adam Mailman | Percussion | Adam creates great leaders through music. He helps students of all ages around Alberta as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician to understand how they best can contribute to their ensemble. He performs regularly as percussionist with Primetime Big Band, and Alberta Winds, as Music Director of Central Memorial High School and Cochrane Music Society’s Adult Concert and Jazz Bands. Adam holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary, and a Master’s of Curriculum design in Music Education from Acadia University.

Sectional Instructors

Ken Thackrey | Third Level Conductor | Ken Thackrey has over 20 years of teaching experience with the Calgary Board of Education. He has taught at all levels, K through 12 and has spent the last 9 years at John G. Diefenbaker High School, in Calgary AB, where he is the director of two jazz bands, and 2 concert bands.

Adam Mailman

Adam creates great leaders through music. He helps students of all ages around Alberta as a guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician to understand how they best can contribute to their ensemble. He performs regularly as percussionist with Primetime Big Band, and Alberta Winds, as Music Director of Central Memorial High School and Cochrane Music Society’s Adult Concert and Jazz Bands. Adam holds a Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary, and a Master’s of Curriculum design in Music Education from Acadia University.

Guest conducting ensembles such as Westwinds concert bands, Valley Winds Concert Band and school ensembles at their band camps and rehearsals is becoming a great joy for Adam, as he shares what he’s learned from his mentors with a wider audience.

Adam is a leader in Calgary area professional learning through organizing professional development events for Calgary teachers throughout the year as part of the Alberta Teachers Association Music Professional Learning Community and the Calgary Board of Education Fine Arts Advisory Council. He performs regularly with Alberta Winds Ensemble percussion section, where he has been section leader since the ensemble’s inception in 2003. During the day, he is a music educator with the Calgary Board of Education.

Adam has studied with Dr. Mark Hopkins, Dr. Dale Lonis, and Dr. Glenn D. Price in pedagogy and conducting, with degrees from University of Calgary (B.Mus, B.Ed) and Acadia University (M.Ed).

Recently, Adam’s school bands have been recognized at Whistler Cantando (Gold and Silver), Alberta International Band Festival (Superior), and the CMS Band on the Bow at Alberta Band Association Festival of Bands (Superior).

Cédric Blary

Cédric Blary has been entertaining Calgary audiences on clarinet, pan-flute, saxophone and voice for over 20 years. He has a B.MUS degree in performance from the University of Calgary and a Diploma from Mount Royal College (now University). Having studied primarily with Paul Dornian in Calgary, he has also had the pleasure of participating in master classes and lessons with James Campbell, David Shifrin, Elsa Ludewig-Verdehr, Eddie Daniels and Victor Goines among others. He has played in orchestras accompanying Diana Krall, Marvin Hamlisch and as an extra with the Calgary Philharmonic and Red Deer Symphony orchestras. Chamber collaborations have included The Rubbing Stone Ensemble, New Works Calgary and regular appearances at the Mountain View International Festival of Chamber Music and Song.

Cédric is also an avid jazz musician and has been featured in the University of Calgary's Monday Night Jazz series. You can hear him on over 25 commercial recordings by artists including Tim Williams, Little Miss Higgins (including the Juno nominated Junction City), Steve Fisher, John Rutherford, Heather Blush, and The Highwater Jug Band to name a few. Cédric also sings bass in the award winning a cappella quartet The Heebee-jeebees and continues to be active as a performer, teacher and composer in and around Calgary.

Gillian MacKay

Gillian MacKay is Professor of Music of the University of Toronto, where she conducts the Wind Ensemble and teaches conducting. She has conducted honour ensembles throughout Canada and internationally, and serves as Associate Conductor of the Denis Wick Canadian Wind Orchestra. Dr. MacKay has adjudicated and guest conducted in Canada, the USA, Asia and in the UK.

Known for her research on the relationship between conducting and mime, Gillian is currently investigating the application of the Michael Chekhov acting technique to expressivity in conducting gesture. Gillian leads the University of Toronto Wind Conducting Symposium each July, and has been the guest instructor at other symposia in Canada and abroad.

Gillian grew up in southern Alberta, and earned degrees and diplomas from University of Lethbridge, University of Calgary, McGill University, and Northwestern University.

Danielle Wahl

Danielle Wahl (BMus, BEd) is a fifth generation band director who grew up in the band room. Born and raised in Medicine Hat, Alberta, she developed her love of all things band in her dad’s band room, as well as in the discussions had while driving to and from school every day. After completing her Bachelor of Music at McGill University and her Bachelor of Education at the University of Lethbridge she began her teaching career as the music specialist at a rural K-9 school. She then taught Gr.7-12 Band at CHHS in Medicine Hat. After moving to Calgary, Ms. Wahl took a break from teaching in the formal sense to spend time with her son. During this time she stayed active in the music community as a trumpet clinician, guest conductor, band parent/chaperone, and adjudicator.

Ms. Wahl is currently the Band teacher at Marshall Springs School in Calgary. When she isn’t teaching band, she spends her evenings as a Musical Director with community theatre. When she isn’t doing something music related she can be found with her family or knitting.

David Sussman

Calgary audiences have known CPO’s Assistant Principal Oboe and English Horn player David Sussman for his expressive playing since 1981. He was born in Toronto and studied at the University of Toronto and the University of Michigan with Harry Sargous. Mr. Sussman has appeared often as featured soloist with the CPO, playing on either the oboe, the oboe d’amore or the English horn.

He has also been soloist with the Calgary Bach Society, the Alberta Baroque Ensemble, the Kensington Sinfonia and at two annual conventions of the International Double Reed Society.

He has performed with the Mount Royal Wind Quintet and the chamber music groups Rosa Selvatica, Aubade, and Land’s End. He has commissioned a new work for oboe and been recorded for CBC Radio Two.

David is a dedicated and enthusiastic educator. He has taught oboe students of all ages at the Mount Royal University Conservatory and the universities of Calgary and Lethbridge. For several years, he taught the adult education course entitled "Symphony Anyone?" for the Calgary Board of Education. For nine years, he was known to Calgary audience members as a friendly voice from the orchestra through his articles in the CPO's Prelude magazine.

Jace Stearn

Jace is a freelance bassoonist and contrabassoonist in the Calgary area. He is a regular performer with many orchestras in the area, including the Calgary Philharmonic, Red Deer Symphony and the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra. Prior to moving to the Calgary area, Jace was the regular contrabassoonist for the Victoria Symphony, in addition to serving as the principal bassoonist of the Vancouver Island Symphony for a number of years.

Jace is also an experienced bassoon teacher and clinician, and has instructed at a variety of band camps and festivals, including the Vic Lewis Band Festival and the Courtenay Youth Music Centre. In addition to all of his regular bassooning, Jace has been a music director of the award winning Highwood High School band program (High River) since 2006. The bands from Highwood have consistently earned Gold Awards for Superior performance from music festivals across the country.

Jace loves construction projects, and custom built the acreage home he shares with his horn playing wife, Kristin, along with his two beautiful kids, Camryn and Nathaniel.

Jeremy Legault

Jeremy Legault has a very active musical career both as a performer and music educator. Currently, Jeremy is the Director of Bands at St. Mary’s High School in Calgary AB, a comprehensive music program which incorporates both Classical and Jazz instruction through three different Concert Bands, two Jazz Bands and a Jazz Combo. The St. Mary’s Music Program has been awarded local, national and international awards and accolades.The St. Mary’s Instrumental Music program is very active in Calgary’s music community, performing at various public events each year, collaborating with various professional musicians, and frequently working with local clinicians and world renowned CADME guest artists. Graduates of the St. Mary’s Music Program have gone on to study music in a variety of nationally and internationally acclaimed post-secondary institutions and gone on to have successful careers in music and the arts.

Currently Jeremy is director of the “Silver Jazz Band” within Calgary’s “Westwinds Organization”. Jeremy is also on staff with the “Calgary Stampede Show Band” teaching the Brass line, as well as the full ensemble. He is a performing member (Trumpet) with the “Alberta Winds” Wind Ensemble as well as the “The Calgary Civic Symphony”. Jeremy is a very active guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator within Calgary music community.

Jeremy received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Calgary (1999) and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Toronto (2001).After completing a Diploma in Wind Conducting from the University of Calgary (2003), Jeremy completed a Master of Music Degree, specializing in Wind Ensemble Conducting, while studying with Dale Lonis at the University of Manitoba (2005-2006).

Kathie Van Lare

Born and raised in Calgary, Kathie Van Lare received her B. Mus. (Secondary Music Education), Graduate Diploma in Fine Arts (Wind Band Conducting) and Teacher Certification from the University of Calgary. She also completed course work in Jazz Studies at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia while on sabbatical from the Calgary Board of Education. Kathie has been teaching secondary school music in the Calgary area since 1989 and is currently an Instrumental Music Director at Centennial High School. Active as a guest conductor and adjudicator throughout Alberta, Kathie has also served on faculty at MusicCamrose and the Calgary Summer Band Workshop. She is a member of the Band Masters’ Fraternity Phi Beta Mu and was the 2012 recipient of the Elkhorn Award, “Director of the Year” from the Alberta Band Association.

Bands under Kathie’s direction have been the recipients of numerous “Superior” ratings and “Gold Awards” at many local, provincial and international festivals. Kathie also continues to be active as a trumpet player and has performed with many groups including among others, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, Red Deer Symphony, Calgary Bach Society, Bow Valley Chorus, Prime Time Big Band, Calgary Jazz Orchestra, Southern Stardust Big Band, Alberta Winds and Altius Brass.

Beyond music, Kathie’s other passions include baseball, horses and woodworking. She lives just outside of Okotoks with her many animals including horses, dogs, cats and husband Matt.

Ken Thackrey

Ken Thackrey has over 20 years of teaching experience with the Calgary Board of Education. He has taught at all levels, K through 12 and has spent the last 9 years at John G. Diefenbaker High School, in Calgary AB, where he is the director of two jazz bands, and 2 concert bands. The band program at Diefenbaker is an all-encompassing approach to music learning through the study of instrumental techniques, theoretical and historical aspects and an in-depth approach to ensemble playing and performance. The most important part of the program is that students truly enjoy what they are performing because they perform well.

Ken was granted a Bachelor of Music Degree (1995) and a Bachelor of Education Degree (1996) from the University of Calgary where he participated in multiple ensembles during his studies. In the past, Ken has worked with the Calgary Round-Up Band where he began as the trombone instructor, then slowly climbed the ladder and became the Director. Currently, Ken is a brass instructor with the Calgary Stampede Showband

Laurie Matiation

Originally from Brandon, Manitoba, Laurie is currently Third Horn with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. She began her professional career in 1978 as second horn of the Atlantic Symphony, and has been a member of the CPO since 1983. Laurie received a Bachelor of Music Degree with Distinction in Performance at Brandon University, and later continued her studies in Chicago, Banff, and Arizona. Some of her teachers have included, William Gordon, Dale Clevenger, and Thomas Bacon. In addition to her orchestral duties, Laurie is a passionate teacher. She conducts workshops and clinics, and is teacher of horn at the University of Calgary, and Mount Royal University Conservatory, where she is also the Brass Coordinator of General Programs and the Academy Program.

In her down time, Laurie loves to cook and garden, and can often be seen walking her dogs or hiking in the mountains!

Mary Sullivan

Arriving in Calgary in 2003, Mary Sullivan has been an active member of the city’s bustling music scene. As a performer she has been in demand in multiple musical contexts. She has performed with the Calgary Philharmonic and Red Deer Symphonies, enthusiastically partnered with chamber ensembles such as Land’s End and Rubbing Stone Ensemble, and enjoyed playing in the pit for Theatre Calgary productions. She is known for fearlessly attacking contemporary repertoire and approaches everything she plays with regard for the heart and the soul of the music. Mary can also be found performing her own solo creative work with amplified flute and loop pedal.

On faculty at Mount Royal Conservatory, Mary is a dedicated teacher. She views teaching as both a natural extension of performing, and a pathway to honour the amazing teachers she has been fortunate to experience. Mary’s students become more of a “flute family”. She enjoys teaching immensely, and is known for her combination of humour, caring, and fostering confidence and discipline in her students to achieve their highest standard.

Mary Sullivan, B.Mus, M. Mus, received her music education at Indiana University, Royal Northern College of Music, and Louisiana State University. Her flute mentors include Jacques Zoon, Peter Lloyd, Kathryn Lukas, Shelley Younge, and Dr. Katherine Kemler.

Nate Waters

Nate Waters teaches instrumental music at Westmount Charter School in Calgary to students in Grades 5-12. In addition, he is an active clinician and guest conductor at schools and music camps in Calgary and area, serving on faculty at both the Calgary Summer Band Workshop and Vic Lewis Band Festival, as well as adjudicating as part of the Alberta International Band Festival. He has a MMus in Saxophone Performance and a BMus in Secondary Music Education from the University of Calgary, as well as a BEd in Secondary Music Education from the University of British Columbia. In 2014, UBC awarded him with an Outstanding Practicum Award for his work at Magee Secondary School in Vancouver, B.C., and William Aberhart High School in Calgary. The son of two educators, Nate has constantly been inspired by young people for their ambition and their honesty.

Nate is also active as a saxophonist in Calgary across several genres. He was a 2013 finalist in the RBC Concerto Competition playing alongside the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and has had his writing published in Critical Voices, a peer-review musicology journal. Nate also performs in jazz groups around the city, most recently collaborating with the University of Calgary's Monday Night Jazz Series. In 2017, his quartet released an EP of his original compositions entitled Fact Contrafact, and are currently busy recording a full-length follow-up.

Nathan Gingrich

Nathan Gingrich received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Regina. Continued studies led him to Weimar Germany where he received his advanced artist’s diploma in classical trombone performance and another degree in jazz and pop trombone performance from the Hochschule fuer Musik “Franz Liszt”.

While in Germany, Mr. Gingrich co-founded a number of ensembles – travelling around Germany, France, Belgium, Austria and even to China to perform. He taught trombone and jazz music theory at the Musik- und Kunstschule Jena for 4 years before moving to Calgary in 2006 to begin teaching music within the CBE at Thomas B. Riley Jr. High. In the fall of 2009 Nathan began teaching at William Aberhart High School. At Aberhart he currently directs the Concert Band, the “Abe 2” Jazz Ensemble and recently began the Strings Program at Aberhart. He also coaches a variety of smaller chamber ensembles and jazz combos.

Mr. Gingrich organizes the annual “Holiday TubaFest” and “Slide Into Spring: Calgary’s Trombone Day to celebrate International Trombone Week” events. Mr. Gingrich can be seen regularly playing with a variety of ensembles in and around Calgary as well as leading master classes and workshops. He has also enjoyed adjudicating at a number of festivals around western Canada.

Recent playing experience has seen him perform with the Prime Time Big Band, Calgary Jazz Orchestra, Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble, The New West Brass, Altius Brass, Vinyl Groove and p.a.s.t. among others. Mr. Gingrich is a Conn-Selmer artist and clinician.

Nicole Haycock

Nicole has coordinated the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop since 1990. She is very grateful for the opportunity to work with so many outstanding music educators and young musicians throughout the years. Nicole has also taught in various junior high and middle school band programs for the Calgary Board of Education since 1989 and is currently the music director at Mountain Park School. Nicole holds a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Calgary. She still thoroughly enjoys studying with other great musicians including: Jazz at Lincoln Center, Canadian Wind Conducting Symposium, Music Mentors International program, Midwest Music Educators Conferences, IAJE and ABA Conferences.

In 2010, Nicole was inducted as a member of the prestigious Phi beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity and currently is an executive on the board. In 2010, she received a Provincial Excellence in Teaching Award. Over the years, Nicole has received the Pan Canadian Award, the Alberta International Professional Development Award. School bands, under her direction, have received numerous Gold Awards from the Alberta International Band Festival and Kiwanis Music Festivals.

Nicole believes strongly in getting involved with community music programs including coordinating the concert band adjudicators for the Alberta International Band Festival 2009- present where she helps mentors colleagues in the art of adjudication to provide excellent experiences for young musicians. She has adjudicated the Calgary Stampede Parade 1995- 2015. Nicole is also a proud member of the Calgary Optimist Club since 1992. She also thoroughly enjoys performing on French horn and piano with the Westwinds Community Wind Orchestra.

Nicole firmly believes in the importance of music education providing students with the opportunity to develop their own personal talents and the vital role of being a team player for a successful experience for everyone. She encourages her students to strive for their personal excellence and experience the aesthetics of music to help them develop into happy and confident citizens.

Nicole Hounjet

Nicole Hounjet has been a music director with the CBE and Foothills School Divisions for the past 15 years. During her teaching career her ensembles (choir, band, jazz) have regularly taken part in provincial and national festivals where they have been recognized for their fine artistry. Ms Hounjet also conducts with the Westwinds Music Society - an adult music education program - where she conducts a number of choirs. Ms Hounjet is currently serving as the Vice President of Programs and Projects for Choir Alberta, where she is committed to helping facilitate vibrant and enriching programs for singers and conductors at every age and stage. An accomplished musician, Ms Hounjet completed her music degree at the University of Alberta and education degree at the University of Calgary.

Since her time at the U of A, Ms Hounjet has continued to develop herself as a musician and artist by studying with choral leaders including James Jordan, James Whitbourn, Gregory Boers, Richard Nace, and Rodney Eichenberger. As an educator and conductor, Ms Hounjet believes that vocalization is the key to exceptional artistry for instrumentalists. In all of her ensembles - bands and choirs, alike, Ms Hounjet empowers her musicians to fully engage in the music by building a community of mutual trust, respect and empathy within the ensemble. She believes that by setting high expectations and providing the tools to ensure success, musicians of any age can find their voice.

Robert George

Robert George has been principle bassoonist for the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra and an instructor of bassoon, oboe and saxophone at the University of Lethbridge Conservatory of Music since 1993. He is music director of the IAM Music Society, where he conducts a community choir, a wind ensemble, and a chamber orchestra. He teaches woodwind and voice students in Lethbridge and Calgary and operates a small woodwind repair and restoration business. He has been a member of the board of the Alberta Music Education Foundation since 2011, and is presently vice-chair of that organization. For the last decade, Mr. George has been involved in research regarding the prevention of musician injuries and healthy performance practice.

Mr. George has been an active professional musician in orchestras, chamber music, church music, popular music and jazz for over forty years. He has performed in Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor. He also served many years on the board of the Alberta Band Association, including four years as treasurer.

Robert George taught music in the public school system in Calgary, Lethbridge, and Coaldale from 1980 until his retirement in 2009. He has also taught as a sessional instructor at the University or Calgary, Mount Royal College and University of Lethbridge, and Lethbridge College, and has served as a music director in various churches for twenty years.

A native of southern Alberta, Robert George graduated from W. R. Myers high school in Taber, and studied at the University of Lethbridge, the University of Calgary and the University of Arizona. He holds Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Education, and Master of Music degrees, and a graduate Diploma of Fine Arts in Wind Band Conducting.

Robert is married to Magdalena George, a neo-natal nurse (retired). They have three adult children, Catherine, Laura and Allison and two grandchildren. When not making music, he likes to participate in basketball, racquetball, cycling and golf.

Scott Campbell

Scott Campbell joined the Calgary Board of Education in 2006 and the staff of MidSun School in the fall of 2007, where he led a very successful music program until June 2019. Throughout his tenure at MidSun, his concert and jazz bands were awarded numerous awards, including the Floyd Williamson Trophy for Most Outstanding Junior High Concert Band in 2010 and 2014, and the Quan Le Directors' Choice Award in 2018 at the Alberta International Band Festival in Calgary. He also completed the commissioning and premiere of Boom and Bust, a composition by renowned band composer Brian Balmages in 2018, in honour of MidSun's 20th anniversary. He was the Director of the Sherwood-Like-To-Play Community Band for 7 seasons until 2017 and now works with the Westwinds Music Society, where he most recently directed the Green Band beginner program for adult musicians. Mr. Campbell has previously served on the Board of the Alberta Band Association, where he coordinated the Southern Alberta Junior Honour Band Program for 6 years.

He is in demand as a saxophone clinician and guest conductor, including serving as the saxophone instructor for the Vic Lewis Festival in Canmore for approximately 12 years, and working with the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop since 2008. Mr. Campbell was inducted as a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity in 2018 and was nominated by the parents and administration at MidSun for the Alberta Excellence in Teaching Awards in 2014.

Since 2019, Mr. Campbell has been the Band Director at Lord Beaverbrook High School, where he was tasked with rebuilding the music program. Since his hiring, the band program has grown from 29 musicians to over 70 registered music students in the 2022-23 school year, this growth all taking place throughout the Covid Pandemic. This spring, the LBHS band was a part of Randall Standridge's consortium for the commission and premiere of (not)Alone, a piece written to and inspire the normalizing of discussions about mental health.

Mr. Campbell holds a Bachelor of Music in Saxophone Performance from the University of Alberta and Bachelor of Education from the University of Calgary.

When he's not working, he loves spending time with wife, Elisabeth, and three sons, Evan, Nolan and Theo.

Rachel Wuetherick

Rachel is a recent graduate from the University of Lethbridge, obtaining both a Bachelor of Music and a Bachelor of Education. As a professional vocalist and instrumentalist, she has experience as a clinician, guest conductor, and performer. She is excited to be teaching this fall as a grade 7-12 band and choir teacher in Calgary.

Rachel began her music studies 15 years ago, and has continued to grow in areas of expertise, such as clarinet, saxophone, flute, trumpet, and piano. She has been fortunate to work with many wonderful musicians and teachers throughout the years. She is a passionate supporter of music education and presented on the importance of music in relation to school-aged child development and overall wellbeing when exposed to music at various conferences and symposiums in recent years.

Rachel attended the summer band program for six years as a young clarinet player, and joined the faculty in 2017. She is excited to be back at summer band again this year as it is always a highlight of the summer! In her downtime, she enjoys spending time outside, reading, and being with friends and family.

Tom McCaslin

Tom McCaslin has been described by Fanfare Magazine as "one of the contemporary tuba virtuosos". Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan Tom's playing and teaching have taken him around the globe. He has performed and taught in Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Portugal, Finland, New Zealand and Australia.

Tom is Principal Tuba in the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and teaches tuba and euphonium at the University of Calgary. He has also performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony, the Regina Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony, the New Mexico Symphony, the Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música (Portugal), the Lahti Symphony (Finland) and was acting Principal Tuba in the Auckland Philharmonia (New Zealand).

As a soloist Mr. McCaslin’s solo recordings appear on the Crystal Records and Potenza Music labels. His first solo CD release, “Inside Out”, was met with much critical acclaim. The International Tuba and Euphonium Association journal wrote: “Hopefully this CD will serve to inspire the “next generation” of young tubists who will hear and accept this as regular playing and strive to push the limits even further.” Gramophone magazine wrote: “lf this recital doesn't convert you to the lyricism of the tuba, nothing will.” Regarding his second CD release, “One More Dance”, Gramophone Magazine wrote: “McCaslin's technical abilities are brilliant and his musicianship is inspiring.” Tom has also recorded for the Canadian Broadcast Company, National Public Radio and performed on Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. He has performed at numerous International Tuba and Euphonium Conferences and at the United States Army Band Tuba and Euphonium Conference held in Washington, D.C. His most recent release “Chasing Sound and Light: The Tuba Music of Elizabeth Raum” was released in March, 2022. It has been received with much critical praise and received airplay on CBC Music’s “This is My Music” with host Tom Allen.

Mr. McCaslin received degrees from McGill University and Arizona State University, with extensive study with legendary tubists John Griffiths, Fritz Kaenzig, Roger Bobo, Dennis Miller, and Samuel Pilafian. During his university studies he studied for three consecutive summers at the prestigious Tanglewood Music Center, the summer training center for the Boston Symphony.

Tom McCaslin is a Yamaha Performing Artist and plays exclusively on Yamaha instruments.

When not sitting behind his tuba Tom relishes his time with family, cycling, espresso, and laughing as much as humanly possible.