Staff – Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop

2023 Summer Band Faculty

Summer Band Coordinator

Nicole Haycock

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

Dr. Anthony Mazzaferro | Conductor | Dr. Anthony Mazzaferro received his Bachelor of Music degree with honors from San Francisco State University. He then attended Northwestern University to earn a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting with Professor John P. Paynter. His Doctor of Musical Arts degree was awarded from Arizona State University. His doctoral dissertation, The Published Band Compositions of Roger Nixon was completed in 1986.

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

Danielle Wahl | Sectional | Danielle Wahl 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.

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).

Dr. Anthony Mazzaferro

Dr. Anthony Mazzaferro received his Bachelor of Music degree with honors from San Francisco State University. He then attended Northwestern University to earn a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting with Professor John P. Paynter. His Doctor of Musical Arts degree was awarded from Arizona State University. His doctoral dissertation, The Published Band Compositions of Roger Nixon was completed in 1986. Guest conducting and adjudication assignments have included Honor Bands and Orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, Singapore, and New Zealand. On four separate occasions Dr. Mazzaferro was selected to conduct the California “All-State” Honor Bands. He has been invited and conducted the All-Provincial Honor Band, in Alberta, Canada and the National “Junior College” Honor Band in the country of Singapore. As a clinician, he has worked with Concert Bands and Orchestras from The United States, Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and China. Dr. Mazzaferro’s teaching career has spanned over forty years. Twenty-nine of those years as full-time faculty at Fullerton College. Dr. Mazzaferro has been on the faculty and taught at Chapman University, Azusa Pacific University, Cal Poly Pomona, Irvine Valley College, and The Bard School of Music. Prior to Dr. Mazzaferro retiring from full time teaching, he directed the Wind Ensemble at the Orange County School of the Arts. Recent activities include adjudicating the Utah State Junior High Band Festival, as well as regional Band & Orchestra festivals in Utah. He was a Guest Clinician for the 2022 Vic Lewis Festival. In 2023 he will Guest Conduct at the Cazadero Music Camp in California, The Calgary, Alberta Summer Band Workshop, and in 2024 Conduct the Utah “All-State” High School Wind Symphony. As a Music Educator Dr. Mazzaferro still continues to conduct, adjudicate, serves as a clinician, and plays Tuba in the Salt Lake Symphonic Winds, the Ogden Concert Band, and the American Festival Orchestra. He has published articles in The Instrumentalist, The World Association of Symphonic Band & Ensembles (WASBE) Journal, and the Journal of Band Research.

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.

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

Currently, Jeremy is the Director of Bands at St. Mary’s High School in Calgary AB. The St. Mary’s Music Program has received both local and international accolades, and is very active in Calgary’s music community, frequently working with local musicians and clinicians, as well as world renowned CADME guest artists.

Jeremy is currently the director of the “Silver Jazz Band” one of the ensembles within the “Westwinds Music Organization”. He is an executive and performing member (Trumpet) with the “Alberta Winds” Wind Ensemble. Jeremy is an active volunteer in the Calgary music community, is a member of the AIBF band festival volunteer team in the role of “Honour Band Coordinator”, and is an active member of the executive committee for CADME. Jeremy is often working as an adjudicator for local and regional festivals, and is frequently the guest conductor for bands attending the “Rocky Mountain Retreats” in Banff Alberta.

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, Fraser Linklater and Earl Stafford 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

Kristin Stearn

Kristin grew up in Calgary, and has been immersed in music for her entire life! She started singing and taking private lessons at the age of 9, and after that followed piano, and then the French horn. Kristin has acquired her grade 10 level in Voice from the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, and she studied at the University of Victoria where she received a Bachelor of Music (Performance) with a major in French horn and a minor in Voice. She also completed her Bachelor of Education at UVIC, with a Major in Secondary Instrumental and Vocal Education.

Kristin has performed as a freelance musician with numerous ensembles in BC and Alberta including the Victoria Symphony, The Vancouver Island Symphony, The Kelowna Symphony, and more. Currently she regularly performs with Altius Brass and the Rocky Mountain Symphony here in Calgary. Kristin is a junior high band director and also director of the Foothills Children’s Choir in Okotoks.

When she is not busy doing music, Kristin enjoys a good cup of coffee, watching the sunrise from her home in the country, and making fun memories with family and pets.

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.

Michael Murray

Michael is a dedicated music educator with a true passion for his craft. He earned his BMus and BEd degrees from the University of Victoria (UVic) in 1999.

Michael began his career in Hope BC, at Hope Secondary School. During his tenure, he made significant strides in growing the school's music program, eventually necessitating the addition of a second music teacher. Under Mike's guidance and leadership, the program flourished, providing numerous opportunities for students to explore and develop their musical talents. The bands of Hope Secondary gained a reputation for their outstanding performances and had the honor of showcasing their talent in cities such as Portland, Edmonton, and San Francisco. The bands participated in local festivals and many community events as well as being invited to MusicFest Canada.

Since 2019, Michael has been teaching at Our Lady of Grace School in Calgary, embarking on a new chapter in his career. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Michael's dedication, passion for seeing his students succeed, and sense of humour allowed him to grow the music program to 230 band students. The students at Our Lady of Grace School have the opportunity to participate in various musical activities, including Band Camp, the Alberta International Band Festival (AIBF), the Calgary Performing Arts Festival (CPAF), school concerts, pep rallies, Liturgies and other school events. Additionally, the school boasts both junior and senior jazz bands, fostering the growth of young jazz musicians.

Throughout his career, Michael has emphasized not only the development of musical skills but also the importance of cultivating good character. He believes in the power of music to shape individuals into not only exceptional musicians but also good people. When not teaching, Michael enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends, and actively engaging in various sporting activities. He also finds solace and inspiration in the mountains, where he can truly appreciate the beauty of nature and recharge his creative energy.

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.

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.

Rob Billington

Rob Billington (B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.) is recently retired from a long, successful career with Rocky View Schools. He taught at Mitford Middle School (Cochrane) for five years and was then part of the original staff at Bow Valley High School, from which he retired in 2022. His career included countless performances, absolutely silly numbers of early morning rehearsals, tours every year, and many awards, including a Prime Minister's Award (certificate of achievement), gold awards, and “most outstanding high school band” on a few occasions.

In addition to having worked at this amazing workshop about 15 times, “Mr. Bill” is also the founding conductor of Cochrane's Band on the Bow, Riverside Jazz, and Choral Waves.

His non-music pursuits include swimming (a lot!), sailing, boat building, kayaking, cycling, hiking, wood turning, and looking after his son's cat whenever the need arises 🙂

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.

Taylor Berry

Taylor is a passionate and dedicated music teacher who has spent her career inspiring students to find their own voice and passion for music. She studied at the University of Calgary, where she earned her BMus and BEd degrees, specializing in instrumental music education on both tuba and bass trombone.

Currently, Taylor is teaching at Forest Lawn High School, where she enjoys offering concert band, jazz band, and choir.

Outside of the classroom, Taylor is an active member of the music community. She sings with the Spiritus Chamber Choir and directs an 8-voice acapella group named Vocal Group Kiva. She loves the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop and is looking forward to participating again this year

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.

Wendy Freeman

Wendy J. Freeman received a Master of Music in Conducting Performance at the University of Calgary. She has a Doctor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies and is a three year recipient of the Joseph Armand Bombardier SSHRC Doctoral Canada Graduate Scholarship. Her motion capture technology conducting research in the FourMs (Music, Mind, Motion & Machines) laboratory at the University of Oslo, received support from the SSHRC Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement. Currently, she is the Senior Director of Music at Westmount Charter School and is an adjunct professor for the Werklund School of Education and School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Calgary. She instructs undergraduate Field Experience and Music Education courses. Maestro Freeman is the Associate Conductor of the Calgary Wind Symphony.

Visit musicmindmotion.weebly.com to learn more about Dr. Freeman's research and teaching philosophy.