Janna Sailor, conductor

Hailed by critics as “charismatic, crisp, precise, and elegant”, Janna Sailor has firmly established herself as a conductor, violinist, and groundbreaking visionary on the Canadian music scene. Originally from rural Saskatchewan, Janna completed her studies in violin and conducting at the Brandon School of Music and the University of British Columbia.

Recently listed on the Women in Music Canada’s “Honour Roll ­ 10 Female Artists to Watch” in March of 2023, and Winner of the Betty Webster Award for Orchestral Innovation from Orchestras Canada, Janna combines diverse experiences on the international stage with a deep sense of community, equality, and social justice. Janna’s creative output is firmly rooted in the conviction that classical music should be inclusive and accessible to all. This guiding principle has led Janna to work on a number of arts­based social initiatives, including music instruction for disadvantaged youth in downtown Vancouver’s Eastside, fundraising and outreach activities for immigrants, establishing music therapy programs, and the founding of the Allegra Chamber Orchestra, an all­female professional ensemble with a social action mandate to champion the works of female minority artists and to enact change through music.

Highlights for Janna Sailor in 2024 include presenting at the International Conductor Guild Conference in New York as well as at the Global Leaders Institute Innovation Summit in Arequipa, Peru. In January, Janna conducts the debut of IndigiDivas: Indigenous Stories and Opera Hits in Vancouver with Allegra Chamber Orchestra, and with guest artist Marion Newman and the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Janna Sailor leads the Saskatoon Symphony in YXE Divas, showcasing local female artists in pops, rock, blues and jazz, and returns to conduct Torch Songs with Julie Nesrallah with the Saskatoon Symphony.

Janna has conducted major orchestras and ensembles including Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, Kingston Symphony, Brott Festival (National Academy Orchestra), Winnipeg Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, Vancouver Inter­Cultural Orchestra, Kensington Sinfonia, Saskatoon Symphony, Regina Symphony, Symphony New Brunswick, and Société de musique contemporaine du Québec.

Active as a concert producer, Janna’s work can be seen on stages across Canada, and heard on the airwaves as a producer for CBC Calgary.

 

Dale Anne Brendon, drummer

Originally from London Ontario Canada, Dale Anne’s many years playing drums and percussion with the North American touring act Jeans n’ Classics have taken her from Jacksonville Florida to Anchorage Alaska, with many cities in between.

Dale Anne’s classical music career has included playing percussion with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony and Orchestra London Canada to name a few, providing an opportunity for her to perform with such world-class artists such as Marie Osmond, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, Harry Belafonte, and Mel Torme.

Presently Dale Anne is touring with Randy Bachman of the Guess Who and Bachman Turner Overdrive, in support of the album Heavy Blues, released April 2015.

Dale Anne has also often been involved with theatre productions at the Stratford Festival of Canada, drumming for their productions of Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita.

Dale Anne endorses Sabian cymbals, Yamaha drums and Promark by D’Addario drumsticks.

Steve Lucas, bassist

Steve Lucas is a Canadian session bassist and composer/producer with a wide-ranging list of recording and touring credits. He has recorded or performed with many award-winning artists and projects, including Bruce Cockburn (including the 2000 Juno Award winning album Breakfast in New Orleans, Dinner in Timbuktu), Ron Korb (including a 2016 Grammy Award nomination for album Asia Beauty), Loreena McKennitt, The Band’s Levon Helm and Garth Hudson, Big Sugar, Alan Frew, Moe Koffman, Seals & Crofts, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Rik Emmett, and the soundtrack for the 2009 Academy Award nominated film, Precious.

Steve’s original electronic music has been featured in television productions The Daily Show With Trevor Noah, The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, The Diary of Alicia Keys (DVD), NBC Dateline, Love it Or List It, Real Housewives of Atlanta, CNN’s Parts Unknown: Anthony Bourdain, Australia’s Top Model, eTalk Profile featuring Gwen Stefani, Auto Racing TSN, Canada AM, MTV Screen, Better Homes and Gardens, and more. Steve also wrote the theme songs for The Score Network’s This is the Score, and Pride TV’s Shout news program. He also performed and composed music for Leonard Cohen’s documentary film, This Beggar’s Description.

Steve has performed as a bassist on television shows such as The David Letterman Show, and the Juno Awards, has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, Bass Frontiers, Toronto’s NOW magazine, and has written published articles on music theory and technique applied to the bass guitar, for Canadian Musician Magazine.

As a member of the Jeans ‘n Classics music ensemble he has performed with many orchestras across North America, including Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, and Reno Symphony Orchestra.

Steve also performs in musical theatre productions, including the recent 2019 North American premiere of Bend it like Beckham, a musical based on the hit film, as well as other shows such as The Lion King, Miss Saigon, and Mamma Mia.

John Regan, keyboardist

John Regan has been a member of Jeans ’n Classics since the early 1990’s. Classically trained but conditioned by rock, pop and folk music, John’s repertoire is vast. Prior to joining Jeans ’n Classics he worked with Second City in London, Ontario and did solo work across southwestern Ontario. John cites Joe Jackson, Tom Waits, Elton John and Roy Bittan as influences.

Since becoming a Jeans ’n Classics regular performer, John has shared the piano with such notables as Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Lawrence Gowan (Styx), as well as his good friend Don Paulton (Lighthouse, Jeans ’n Classics). He has performed with more than 50 orchestras across North America. in addition to the piano, John often plays host and emcee in J’nC concerts, offering insight and whimsy to the musical selections.

A high school teacher and football coach by day, John lives in London with his wife and two small children.

Peter Brennan, guitarist

Born in England, Peter Brennan was heavily influenced by bands like the Beatles. He studied Music Composition and Theory at Western University in London, Ontario where he now resides. During the ’70s and ’80s he toured extensively throughout North America, establishing himself as a guitarist and Music Director with a variety of groups. He also became an in-demand producer/arranger with top-ten successes in the UK, producer awards and grants in Canada, where he was selected as a Juno Awards judge.

Peter has always loved the sound of a rock band with an orchestra. In the early ’90s this dream became a reality with the establishment of Jeans ’n Classics.

The Jeans ’n Classics family features some of the finest vocalists and instrumentalists in Canada and the US. Peter has also created and developed orchestra shows for a number of headliners of worldwide note, including Roger Hodgson (formerly of Supertramp) and Martin Fry of ABC who Peter performed with at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England accompanied by the BBC Concert Orchestra.

Peter recently received the Mayor’s Award for the Arts in London, Ontario and was named to the University Of Western Ontario/Faculty Of Music “Wall Of Fame”.

Stephanie Martin, vocalist

Stephanie Martin is a bilingual Canadian songwriter, singer and actor who has performed all over the world in award-winning theatrical productions and concert tours.

In the theatre, she has played leading roles in Les Misérables, Napoleon and Schwartz’s, the musical among others. In studio, she sang the voice of Pocahontas in the French version of the Disney movie as well as performing on many cast albums. On the concert scene, she has performed with symphony orchestras across North America, Europe and Asia.

Her creative songwriting is inspired by a lifelong spiritual inquiry and a passionate conviction that music has an unparalleled unitive power. Her first recording of original songs shape, line and harmony was produced by Chad Irschick (Susan Aglukark, Ron Hynes, The Rankins) and received widespread airplay and was critically acclaimed (“Among the year’s best new releases” – CBC Radio One).

Her second album April Snow also produced by Irschick, was released in 2016 and reached #2 in the Top 100 iTunes Adult Contemporary Chart in Canada and received rave reviews (“Luminous vocalist/composer Stephanie Martin not only possesses a delicious vocal instrument, but on her new, completely appealing recording, she also demonstrates her considerable chops as a composer of accessible, highly musical material” – The Whole Note).

Katalin Kiss, vocalist

Katalin is known in the Canadian music industry for her staggering, tear-the-roof-off, goosebump-inducing vocals. In her travels she’s worked with many legends: Del Shannon, Chubby Checker, Chuck Berry, and Chaka Khan.

A much-respected member of the Jeans ‘n Classics family, Katalin lives in Picton, Ontario with her bassist husband and kids X3.

They have their own recording studio and have just begun renting a vacation cottage on their property in “beautiful Prince Edward County” over the summer months.

Kathryn Rose, vocalist

Kathryn Rose is a busy artist and music industry multitasker, known for her artful brand of cinematic pop over the course of five solo albums. She’s also a top voice in demand, working in voiceover, jingles, TV and film scores, and live and on the albums of many other artists: Barenaked Ladies, Sarah McLachlan (world tour), Kinnie Starr, Kevin Breit, Emilie-Claire Barlow, Melanie Doane, Patti Labelle, Sir Tom Jones, Anne Murray, Martin Fry (ABC), and Ian Thomas, and many more.

In addition to being a long time core artist with symphonic rock touring company Jeans ‘n Classics, Kathryn’s organizational skill set is put to good use as Office Manager, Administrator and Tour Coordinator for the company.

As a typically hardworking single mom Kathryn spends a great deal of time making school lunches or thinking about making school lunches, looking and laughing at her two gorgeous growing kids, and feverishly digging with her bare hands to find more hours in the day to make her long-awaited sixth solo album.

Andrea Koziol, vocalist

Andrea Koziol is a performing songwriter, improvisor and actor based in Toronto Canada. She has released 6 solo albums to date, the most recent of which is “I’ll Be Seeing You” (2019), with renowned Newfoundland jazz pianist and composer Bill Brennan.

Andrea has toured festivals, concert halls and clubs across North America fronting her own ensembles and supporting numerous collaborations.

She has been honoured with a residency at the Banff Centre for the Arts, the KM Hunter Award for Music, and recognition from Canadian arts councils at every level.

Recent theatre credits include The Cave (Soulpepper/Luminato, 2019) a groundbreaking interspecies song cycle. She is a lover of beat based improv, musical cliff jumping, and using her voice to make people feel something.

Andrea is always proud to take the stage with Jeans ’n Classics, and bring the unparalleled magic of symphony orchestra to audiences everywhere.