Richard Carnegie, conductor

A double bassist by training, Richard Carnegie is passionate about teaching young musicians and has served as music director of the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra (SYO) since 2009.

Under his leadership, the SYO program has seen the addition of a chamber orchestra, conducting classes, a composition contest for young Saskatchewan composers, an annual concerto competition, expanded enrolment and a unique partnership with the University of Saskatchewan Department of Music.

A dedicated teacher, he has been an instructor of double bass at the University of Saskatchewan, and from 2014-2018 Richard taught with Sistema Saskatoon, an after-school program for students in grades 3-8 which focuses on the the ideal that every child should have the opportunity to enrich their lives through music and teamwork.   

His birth certificate says he’s from Ontario, but Richard has called Saskatchewan home since 2006 after studies at the Manhattan School of Music (New York) and the Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School (Toronto) with Timothy Cobb and Joel Quarrington. He became the principal Double bassist for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, and served in that position until 2022.

As a double bassist, Richard has performed solo recitals and had appearances with Prairie Virtuosi, Elixir Ensemble, Ritornello Festival and the YouTube Symphony in Sydney, Australia.

Richard has been invited to guest conduct the Saskatoon Symphony on five separate occasions for Pops and Family series concerts in repertoire ranging from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite to the music of Frank Sinatra and Astor Piazzolla. He has also served as guest conductor at summer music programs including the International Music Camp and the Regina Summer Strings.

In 2013 he was named one of CBC Saskatchewan’s Future 40, a list of 40 leaders and change makers in the province.

Based in Chicago, but born and raised in Toronto Canada, this talented guitar player and gifted singer’s career has been quite the journey.

Before becoming a pre-eminent studio session singer in constant demand, Johnny played in numerous bands performing in clubs and venues across Canada. Once he began singing radio and television commercials, he quickly became a recognized voice in households everywhere.

A recording artist in his own right, Johnny has recorded and performed with greats such as Kenny Loggins, R Kelly, Celine Dion, Diana Ross (Oprah Show), The Temptations, Peter Cetera, Gordon Lightfoot, Mavis Staples, and Anne Murray, to name a few.

Johnny moved to Chicago IL in 1989, where his gifts and talents as a singer continued to be in high demand. There he also co-partnered his own music composition/production company, writing and recording music for major brands and clients. In 2005 he co-wrote and produced the music for “The Doodlebops” which became a SOCAN award winning, number one childrens show across Canada and the U.S.

Drawing upon his Canadian roots and his love of hockey, Johnny also took on the challenge of becoming his son Jared’s goaltending coach. Studying under top NHL goaltending coaches at camps in the U.S. and Canada, he coached Jared all the way to a spot on the gold medal winning U.S. National Development Team. Johnny has since become a well known and sought after goaltending coach in the Midwest.

Johnny embraces his multifaceted lifestyle with passion and commitment. Juggling between his two loves keeps him happy, healthy and ready to sing.

Dave has been a pro guitarist, songwriter, singer, and educator for the past 30 years. Currently, Dave balances his studio work with his touring life as a member of the award-winning duo of Rik Emmett/Dave Dunlop, and Jeans ’n Classics. Emmett and Dunlop won Smooth Jazz Album of the Year and Duo/Group Of The Year in 2007 on the strength of their debut album, Strung-Out Troubadours.

Dave has been an integral member of the Jeans ’n Classics band since 2005, winning rave reviews for his handiwork in many shows, including the music of Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Jeff Beck, and Eric Clapton, among others.

Dave was lead guitarist and writer in rock band The Full Nine, signed to Disney’s Mammoth Records in 2001. They had chart success with the single, Not Over. He’s also been a faculty member at the National Summer Guitar Workshop, and has had sideman stints with Bo Diddley, Mike Reno (Loverboy), Ron Sexsmith, and many others. In 2008 Dave joined the re-formed Hall Of Fame act Triumph, supporting the original line-up of Rik Emmett, Gil Moore and Mike Levine.

In 2005 he established Room 9 studio in his Toronto home, where he has been busy recording and producing projects non-stop ever since. His 2016 debut album, Monarch Girl spent 5 weeks at number one on the Maple Music charts. Of late he has up-and-comers Lyric Dubee, and The Launch finalist Trevor LaRose in his studio.

Dave endorses D’Addario strings and picks, Dean guitars, and Godin guitars.

Kevin Adamson is a Toronto-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, composer, arranger and producer who joined the Jeans ‘n Classics band in 2013.

Classically trained on piano as a child at the Royal Conservatory of Music, Kevin earned a Bachelor of Music from McGill University’s prestigious jazz program in Montreal. He soon became one of the most in-demand musicians in Toronto, playing with such artists as Kim Mitchell, Ian Thomas, Michelle Wright, Ron Sexsmith, Justin Hines, and Rik Emmett, and more.

On the international stage, Kevin toured the world with Roger Hodgson (of Supertramp), throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and across North America, from festivals, to arenas, to London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall.

Equally at home in a recording studio, Kevin co-produced Dominic Mancuso’s 2010 album “Comfortably Mine”, which went on to win a Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year. In 2016, Kevin’s orchestral arrangement of Ian Thomas’ song “The Runner” was featured on Ian’s album “A Life in Song”.

Kevin endorses Nord and Roland keyboards, as well as Radial Engineering DIs and mixers.

Best known for her four duets with Dan Hill (In Your Eyes, Hold Me Now, Sometimes When We Touch and Can’t We Try), Rique Franks has sung, toured, recorded and/or written with many Canadian and international recording artists, including Roger Hodgson (Supertramp), Alannah Myles, Alexander O’Neal, Martin Fry (ABC), Alan Frew/Glass Tiger, Bruce Guthro, Glen Lewis, Eddie Schwartz (Writer for Pat Benatar), Lisa Dalbello, Ronnie Greenfield-formerly Spector (The Ronettes), Lorraine Segato (Parachute Club), Alfie Zappacosta, Stephan Moccio, Marc Jordan – the list goes on and on.

This core artist and featured soloist with Jeans ‘n Classics is also a busy session singer and voice actor in Toronto. Rique has lent her voice to many original projects, and has sung and/or read thousands of memorable commercials for countless products.

Unlike most singers Rique started late, after being discovered in her mid twenties by Marvin Dolgay (Tambre Productions) and Doug Paulson (TV’s Thrill of a Lifetime). She joined the union (ACTRA), and sang her for her first jingle the very next day. That jingle (for Thrifty’s Jeans) won an award, and work suddenly snowballed. Rique still considers many of the people she first worked with in those early days (Lisa Dalbello, Neil Donell, David Blamires, Johnny Rutledge, and others) as major influences.

Rique recently ended a 20-year run as the on-air speaking voice of Showcase Television/Showcase Diva, saying, among other things, “Viewer discretion is advised”…a lot.

Rique’s own songs are available at iTunes, and other online music retailers.