Michael Swan was born in 1963 in Saskatoon. He began violin studies at age 5 with Dorothy Overholt, and also studied with Norma Lee Bisha, Mark Reedman and Robert Klose as he was growing up. In 1979, he was awarded the Gold Medal for the highest standing in Canada for Royal Conservatory of Toronto ARCT violin examinations.
Michael studied with Yuri Mazurkevich in the Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario, receiving the Hideo Saito Award for academic achievement in 1981 and 1982. Afterwards, he studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia with Aaron Rosand, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree in 1984.
Since September 1984, Michael has been concertmaster of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and a member of the Saskatoon Symphony Chamber Players. He has been a soloist with the orchestra a number of times in the Master Series and with the Chamber Orchestra. He performs solo recitals regularly, and has several compositions to his credit. He has been featured on CBC radio as a solo violinist and as a composer.
Michael Swan premiered ‘Exultation,’ a work for the full orchestra, as part of the SSO’s Masters Series in October, 2010.

Jacqueline Nutting was born and raised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She obtained a bachelor degree from Mcgill Universtity in Montreal. Her graduate work was done on fellowship at the University of Michigan where she completed master and doctorate degrees in violin performance. The focus of her doctoral thesis was contemporary Canadian repertoire for the violin from 1920 to present day, which included the commission and premiere performance of a work by Canadian composer Goef Holbrook. Former teachers include Yehonaton Berick, Andrew Jennings, Ellen Jewett and Mark Gothony. In 2018, she toured the United States with her piano trio, Virago Trio. She has also concertized in Turkey and throughout Canada. She held the position of director of the violin programs at St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thomas the Apostle schools in Ann Arbor, Michigan for 10 years. During her time in Michigan, she played with the Michigan Opera Theatre at the Detroit Opera House and held a private studio. She is pleased to return to Saskatoon and join the Saskatoon Symphony as Assistant Concertmaster while also opening a violin studio and continuing with chamber music projects in Canada and the United States.

Lillian’s bio is pending.

Joan Savage grew up in Saskatoon then studied music in Baltimore (B.Mus., Peabody Conservatory) and San Francisco (M.Mus., San Francisco Conservatory of Music); her principal teachers were Violaine Melancon, Earl Carlyss, Isadore Tinkelman, Ian Swensen, and Mark Sokol. She has been a member of the Saskatoon Symphony since 1995. She is a co-director of Prairie Virtuosi (www.pvorchestra.ca); a member of the innovative ensemble BeMUSed: blending classical chamber music with stories and literature (www.bemusedsaskatoon.weebly.com); and a member of Starry Night Chamber Musicians (www.starrynightmusicians.weebly.com). Joan’s chamber music performances have been broadcast on radio and television. In addition to an active performance schedule, Joan teaches violin to private students, coaches for the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra, and is an adjudicator with the Saskatchewan Music Festival Association. She also writes fiction (www.joanlsavage.ca); her short stories have appeared in magazines in Canada, the U.S., and Israel.

Marcel’s bio is pending.

Simon’s bio is pending.

Maxim Pletnev was born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia. He started playing the violin at age of 7 and completed the music school program with a certificate by age of 16. After that he was accepted to the Rostov’s College of Fine Arts in 1991 and graduated with Bachelor of Music in 1995. During his college years he attend a number of music festivals and competitions, one of which was the South Russia Competition where he received second prize. In 1995 he was accepted, with scholarship, by the Rachmaninoff Conservatory in Rostov-on-Don, where he completed the degree of Master of Music in 2000. Since moving to Canada in 2000 he has played in the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Timmins Symphony Orchestra (and other Ontario orchestras), and is currently a member of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.

Hannah’s bio is pending.

Samara’s bio is pending.

Zheng’s bio is pending.

Chair supported by Kathryn Warden & Peter Stoicheff
Oxana Ossiptchouk was educated in Russia, where she received a Master’s degree from the Sergey Rachmaninov State Conservatory in Rostov-on-Don in Violin Solo Performance, Orchestral Performance, Chamber Music, and Pedagogy.

Oxana was the winner of several competitions in Russia and performed the Mendelssohn concerto with the North Ossetia Republic Symphony Orchestra and the Brahms violin concerto with the Rostov-on-Don Philharmonic Orchestra. In Canada, she won the Saskatchewan Concerto Competition and performed the Szymanowsky concerto with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and the Regina Symphony Orchestra.

Before joining the SSO, Oxana was a member of the Regina Symphony Orchestra and Principal Second Violin at the Timmins Symphony Orchestra. Oxana is Principal Second Violin for the Saskatoon Symphony and performs with the Saskatoon Symphony Chamber Players and the Elixir ensemble.

Oxana taught violin at the University Of Regina Conservatory Of Music and the Timmins Symphony music school, as well as the University of Saskatchewan Community Music Education Program.

Currently, Ms. Ossiptchouk is the owner/operator of Saskatoon Conservatory of Music and teaches violin there and at the University of Saskatchewan.

Karen’s bio is pending.

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Chair supported by the Viola Section of the Saskatoon Philharmonic Orchestra

James Legge, originally from Waterloo, Ontario, moved to Saskatoon to take the position of principal violist with the Saskatoon Symphony after completing his studies at McGill University. While living in Montreal James won chamber music prizes in the Jeunesses Musicales and CIBC competitions.

Jim performs regularly as the violist in the Saskatoon Symphony Chamber Players, and has been a featured soloist with the Saskatoon Symphony, the Saskatchewan Chamber Orchestra, and Prairie Virtuosi. He has been a regular performer at the Calgary’s Mountain View Festival of Song and Chamber Music, Mountain View Connection, and Ontario’s Viola Camp, and co-directs Saskatoon’s Summer String Experience, a summer camp for young string players.

Jim has a private studio of approximately thirty violin and viola students and, as a registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, teaches in the Saskatoon Suzuki String Program.

When not performing or teaching, Jim enjoys spending time playing with clay and a potter’s wheel.

Saache’s bio is pending.

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Chair supported by Sandra Beardsall, Bill Richards, Esther Cherland,  and David Jobling

Lahni Russell joined the Saskatoon Symphony as Principal Cellist/Artist in Residence in 1989. A student of the world-renowned cellist, Janos Starker, she completed Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from Indiana University, both with High Distinction. Additional honours include her appointment as Associate Instructor of Cello at IU and the IU School of Music’s prestigious Performer’s Certificate. She is the only cellist to have won the Saskatchewan Concerto Competition and has played solos with the Regina Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic Players, the Saskatchewan Chamber Orchestra, Saskatoon Symphony and the Tanglewood Centre Orchestra.

Lahni has performed as Solo Cellist with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet on their North American tours. In 1998, she earned tenure with the Vancouver Symphony. She has regularly served as Principal Cellist with Saskatoon Opera and is the founding cellist of the University of Saskatchewan Amati Quartet, the Black Pearl Alkemykal String Quartet and Prairie Virtuosi.

Ms. Russell is also an accomplished luthier and bowmaker, with a particular interest in restorations. She has studied the art of violin and bow making/restoration with Ole Stefan Dahl, Benjamin Ruth, Hans Nebel, Horst Klaus, Rodney Mohr and William Salchow.

When not playing with stringed instruments, Lahni enjoys baking sourdough bread and cherishing her grandchildren.

L J Russell, B. Mus., M. Mus. (Indiana)
Ph. (306) 665-2899

Violin shop website: violin-tech.com 

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Chair in memory of Wayne Turner

Double bassist, conductor and educator, Richard Carnegie divides his creative time between playing principal bass with the Saskatoon Symphony and Chamber Players and serving as music director of the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra (SYO).  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, Richard is the instructor of double bass at the University of Saskatchewan and enjoys a busy private teaching studio.  In the fall of 2014 he joined the teaching team of 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. He now also serves as a Co-Director of the Sistema Saskatoon program.

Seeing great value in the complimentary paths of performer and educator, Richard maintains an active performance schedule outside the Saskatoon Symphony including solo recitals and 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 on their Family and Pops series in repertoire ranging from Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty Suite to the music of Frank Sinatra and Astor Piazzolla.  His birth certificate says he’s from Ontario, but Richard has called Saskatchewan home since 2006 after completing studies at the Manhattan School of Music in New York City and the Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School in Toronto.

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

More info available at richardcarnegiemusic.com

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Chair supported by Lilian and Doug Thorpe

Allison Miller, Saskatoon born flutist, is thrilled to have recently joined the SSO in 2019. Allison completed a Diploma of Music at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, studying with Richard Volet. She went on to complete both a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music specializing in Music Performance at the University of Ottawa, studying with Camille Churchfield. Allison has appeared numerous times as both a Flutist and Piccoloist with the Victoria Symphony Orchestra.

Allison is a three time NYO Canada alum and has participated in international tours to Portugal, Germany and Scotland as well as the Canadian Edges of Canada coast to coast tour. Allison spent three summers studying with William Bennet (WIBB) and Lorna McGhee at the PIFR international festival off the coast of Vancouver. She has also attended the Domaine Forget International Music Academy and the Orford Music Academy.

Allison has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, receiving The Payne-Lyon Prize for Excellence in Flute from NYO Canada, and the top flutist award at the National Music Festival.

Allison has a passion for teaching and is an RCM Gold Medal winning flute teacher. Her students perform at local festivals, and have been accepted to artistic schools such as Ottawa’s Canterbury High School. They have performed in Canada’s many musical venues, including Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of Music.

Allison has been heard on CBC and BBC Radio broadcasts as Principal Flute of NYO Canada. Allison can be seen in NYO Canada’s recent documentary That Higher Level produced by Johnny Spence Bolton, Documenting the Edges of Canada tour in 2017.

Brenda received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Regina in 1975. She received a Master’s degree in flute performance from the University of Arizona in 1980, where she was a student of Jean-Louis Kashy. She has played flute and piccolo in the Regina Symphony and the Edmonton Wind Sinfonia, and performed as principal flutist with the Arizona Opera Orchestra and Young Audiences of Southern Arizona (YASA) woodwind quartet. As a soloist, Brenda has performed in numerous concerts and recitals and was featured soloist with the Regina Symphony Orchestra under the baton of guest conductor Arthur Fiedler in 1972.

Brenda Moats has been the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships in Saskatchewan Music Festivals. A highlight of this was receiving first prize at the Canadian National Competitive Festival of Music in 1974.

Mrs. Moats has had extensive teaching experience as a teaching assistant at the University of Arizona, as a faculty member of the Regina Conservatory, and as an instructor at the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts, the Saskatoon Summer Band workshop and the Saskatchewan Band Association Workshop in Saskatoon.

Brenda has regularly instructed at many flute clinics in the province including those conducted by the Saskatoon Board of Education and the Saskatoon Catholic School Division. She has also served as an examiner for the Western Board of Music (now called Conservatory Canada) and as an adjudicator for the Saskatchewan Festival of Music and Unifest at the University of Saskatchewan.

Currently Brenda lives in Saskatoon and is married with two grown children. In addition to performing in the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, she teaches many flute and piccolo students.

Chair supported by Anne and Neil Reddekopp

Erin Brophey shares the joy of music-making with audiences across Canada, most notably in her current position as Principal Oboe of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. Erin is profoundly grateful to make music and hopes that your live experience of music gives you chills and thrills. The waves of shared emotion are why she makes music.

Previously, Erin held the position of section oboe and English horn with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra for eight seasons. Erin takes great pleasure in performing with cherished colleagues in many Canadian orchestras, including the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, the Regina Symphony Orchestra, the Windsor Symphony Orchestra, the Charlottetown Festival Orchestra, and the Elora Festival Orchestra.

In 2000, Erin earned her Honours Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University where she studied with James Mason. She completed her Master of Music degree at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, under the tutelage of Cynthia Koledo DeAlmeida in 2002.

Erin is also grateful to have honed her craft at many summer festivals nation-wide, including Festival of the Sound, Westben Festival, Elora Festival, Stratford Music Festival, Tafelmusik Baroque Summer Institute, National Youth Orchestra of Canada, l’Orchestre de la francophonie, and the National Academy Orchestra. Recently, Erin blissfully performed at the Ritornello Chamber Music Festival with the Gryphon Trio.

An avid and joyful educator, Erin is a sessional lecturer at the University of Saskatchewan and is the woodwind coach for the Saskatoon Youth Orchestra. In Saskatoon, Erin co-directs a community double-reed band called Squawk, is active in new-music programming, and also teaches a private oboe studio. Erin is also on faculty at Interprovincial Music Camp in Parry Sound, Ontario.

Land Acknowledgments

Before we can walk down the path towards reconciliation, we must start with truth. Erin is a descendant of Irish immigrants that fled to Canada from starvation and religious persecution during the Potato Famine of Ireland.

The Government of Canada West gave land of the Anishnaabe First Nation to Erin’s ancestors around the Lake Huron area. Even though the agreements of Treaty 29 were not upheld, her family farmed there for many generations.

No longer farmers, Erin’s family moved to Northern Ontario on the land governed by the Robinson–Huron Treaty of 1850 and spent her childhood at the shores of clean water, big rocks, and tall evergreens on the land of the of the people of the Nipissing First Nation.

Ten years ago, Erin moved to Treaty 6 territory and the Homeland of the Métis Nation to settle along the shores of the Saskatchewan river on land of the Woods and Plains Cree, the Assiniboine, and Métis Peoples. Erin is profoundly grateful to the people of Treaty 6 land for their pre-contact stewardship of this beautiful river. A treaty is a promise and a responsibility. We are all treaty people.

https://www.erinbrophey.com/

Bio pending.

Chair supported by Theresa Aubin-Singh, Sanjeev Singh, and Family

Bio pending.

Tim’s bio is pending.

Chair supported by Dr. Mary C. Marino and Chris Kent

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Stephanie Unverricht moved back in 2011 to join the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra as Principal Bassoonist. She began her studies on the bassoon with Peter Gravlin in Saskatoon and then continued at the University of Ottawa for her Bachelor of Music with Christopher Millard. She completed her Master of Music degree in Bassoon Performance at the New England Conservatory in Boston, studying with Richard Svoboda.

Stephanie performs around the city in various chamber groups, including Prairie Virtuosi and her trio “Chicks with Sticks”, and is also a multi-instrumental member of a semi-experimental alternative folk music band, Minor Matter. Stephanie maintains a private studio in Saskatoon and a few surrounding rural communities, including Humboldt and Middle Lake.

Marie received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Saskatchewan and is an alumnus of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada. She first performed with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in 1991 and became a full-fledged member of the bassoon section in 1995. Marie has also performed professionally with the Regina Symphony Orchestra and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the Saskatoon Opera Association.

Marie maintains a private studio and is active locally as a freelance musician and clinician. She has been a sessional lecturer for the Department of Music, University of Saskatchewan since 2003.

Marie and husband Troy Linsley co-ordinate the Saskatchewan Band Association’s Saskatoon Summer Band Camps. Together, they have two brilliant young sons, Nathaniel and Samuel (a.k.a. ‘Trouble’ and ‘More Trouble’).

Chair supported by William and Suzanne Dust
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Chair supported by Ken and Sharon Thomas
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Terry Heckman has been the Principal Trumpet of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra since the fall of 1991. He is also a member of the Saskatchewan Brass brass quintet, and frequently performs with many other ensembles.
As a soloist, Terry has been featured a number of times with the SSO – in Purcell’s Sonata, the Trumpet Concertos of Haydn and Hetu, Copland’s Quiet City, Barber’s Capricorn Concerto, and Bach’s Second Brandenburg Concerto.

Terry is a Conn-Selmer Artist, and plays Vincent Bach trumpets.

Terry has also established himself as a trumpet teacher, and a clinician and adjudicator of brass instruments and bands throughout the prairie provinces.

Terry has been a member of the Regina and Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestras, and earlier played in the Youth Orchestras of Calgary and Victoria. His introduction to music took place in the Regina Lions Band under the leadership of Bob Mossing, at Sheldon-Williams Collegiate, and at the Saskatchewan Summer School of the Arts at Fort San. Private lessons with Don Schultz and David Dando influenced Terry to pursue music at university.

Terry holds a Bachelor of Music (Education) from the University of Victoria and a Licentiate in Music (Performance) from McGill University. He has studied with Louis Ranger, Robert Earley and Howard Engstrom, as well as at workshops with Vincent Cichowicz and Armando Ghitalla.

He has served on the Executive Board of the Saskatoon Musicians’ Association, CFM Local 553, the Saskatoon Symphony Players’ Association Players’ Committee and Negotiating Committee, and as Production Manager for the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, where he is now the Director of Personnel.

Terry is married to Kim de Laforest, one of the busiest violin and fiddle players and teachers. Their son Hunter has taken to music as well, playing both fiddle and trumpet himself!

Downbeat magazine award-winning Canadian trumpet player/composer Dean McNeill is a Full Professor at the University of Saskatchewan where he has taught applied trumpet and a variety of brass and jazz-related courses since joining the faculty in 1998. Dean holds music degrees from the University of North Texas (Masters), McGill University (Undergraduate), and a music diploma from MacEwan University. Dean has released two critically acclaimed CDs respectively entitled Prairie Fire: Large Jazz Ensemble Music of Dean McNeill and Mélange: New Music For Trumpet and Piano.

A recipient of the U of S Department of Music’s Dwaine Nelson Teaching Award Dean has performed and adjudicated throughout Canada and the United States. He has performed extensively in the classical tradition (e.g. in the Western Canadian Music Awards’ Classical Showcase concert, soloist with the National Youth Band of Canada and the New Edmonton Wind Synfonia).Dean has been a member of the Saskatchewan Brass Quintet (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), the Blue Bonnet Brass (Fort Worth, Texas), and the Red Deer (Alberta), Irving (Texas), and Saskatoon (Saskatchewan) Symphony Orchestras. He hasperformed as a soloist in numerous classical recitals (e.g. University of Alberta(Edmonton, Alberta), Auburn University (Auburn, Alabama), Oklahoma State University(Stillwater, Oklahoma), and University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan)).

In the jazz idiomDean has performed with the Banff Centre Jazz Orchestra, Vancouver Jazz Orchestra, Birth of the Cool Repertoire Project, Art Blakey Tribute Project, Art Pepper + 11 Tribute Project, and withthe likes of Kenny Wheeler, Pat LaBarbera, Michael Cain, Denzal Sinclaire, P.J. Perry, Jon Ballantyne, Bobby Caldwell,Carol Welsman, Hugh Fraser, Tommy Banks, Bob Mintzer, Rob McConnell, Brad Turner,Campbell Ryga, Kelly Jefferson, Robert Younge, among others.

Dean has composed and arranged music for symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, large and small brass ensembles, jazz combo, and large jazz ensemble.

Dean’s administrative service includes serving on the board of Jazz Canada (i.e. the Canadian chapter of the International Association of Jazz Education), Canadian Music Centre (i.e. Prairie Region Board), Saskatoon Jazz Society board, and as Head of the Department of Music at the University of Saskatchewan. Dean has been the Musical Director of the Texas Lone Star Film Awards, the Edmonton Jazz Society’s Little Bird Big Band, and the Edmonton Jazz Society’s Jazz Works music workshop. On multiple occasions Dean has been an adjudicator for the Western Canadian Music Awards, Alberta Foundation for the Arts Scholarships, Canadian Juno Awards, International Trumpet Guild’s Jazz Trumpet solo competition, and, the Saskatoon Community Foundation.

For more information visit www.deanmcneill.com.

Chair Supported by Darla Saunders

Bio pending.

Born, raised, and educated in Saskatchewan, Brian pursued further musical studies in New Jersey, Australia, France, and the University of Calgary. Now retired, for many years he taught band, choir, jazz studies, guitar, and general music to students from grades seven through university level in Saskatoon, Australia, Prince Edward Island, and military schools in Germany.

Over the years Brian was musical director for about 20 high school musicals, and as a proponent of new music, he commissioned eight composers from Saskatoon to write works for various performing groups.  As a writer he has been published in Cadenza, the International Trombone Association Journal, and Canadian Winds, was editor of the Sask. Band Association journal, contributed to local music curricula, and wrote a high school guitar course.  Recently he became a mentor teacher for emerging band directors.

Outside of school, Brian has been in demand as a low brass clinician, a conductor and/or coordinator for band camps, Brass Days or Jazz Days, an adjudicator for music festivals, and a conductor of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, where he annually conducted music for their “Silence is Golden” event. In recent years he conducted both the University of Saskatchewan concert band and wind orchestra.

Honours include the Saskatchewan Music Educators outstanding Achievement Award that recognizes outstanding accomplishment and an ongoing dedication to excellence in music in 2004, the Sask. Band Association Distinguished Band Director’s award in 2012, an honourary life membership to SMEA in 2014, and life membership in the American Federation of Musicians in 2019.

As a trombonist, Brian has been a member of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra for decades, and has performed with various brass quintets and jazz groups over the years. He can often be heard performing with the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra, the Toon Town Big Band, the Saskatoon Klezmer band, and the Saskatoon Opera orchestra.

Dawn McLean Belyk graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1981 with a degree in Music Education. In 1987, Dawn attended Northwestern University where she completed her Masters Degree in Music specializing in Bass Trombone performance.

She recently completed a 30 year career at St. Joseph High School as Director of Bands, and is also Bass Trombonist with the Saskatoon Symphony, Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra, and the Saskatchewan Brass Quintet. She also teaches at the University of Saskatchewan in the Music Department and in 2012 started an all city auditioned concert band – Saskatoon Youth Wind Orchestra. Dawn has adjudicated bands in Alberta and Saskatchewan, has received the Dwaine Nelson Award for Teaching Excellence at the U of S, the Saskatoon Preschool Foundation Champion of Children Award in 2009 and in 2013 she received the Saskatchewan Band Association Distinguished Band Director Award. In 2014, she Guest Conducted the Saskatoon Symphony Core Players, the University of Saskatchewan Wind Orchestra and the Saskatoon Brass Band. She has also performed on Dean McNeill’s Prairie Fire CD, Neil Currie’s Urban Diversions CD and as a soloist with the Saskatoon Concert Band performing a commissioned work – Concertino by Howard Cable for Bass Trombone and Concert Band.

Chair Supported Anonymously
Brent has performed as a guest artist with the Edmonton Symphony and as principal tubist of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada, as well as soloist with the University of Saskatchewan Wind Orchestra and as a soloist with the SSO. He has also performed with such groups as Spirit of the West, Helios Brass, and BC Read’s Big Blues Band. His teachers have included John Griffiths, Rick Lett, and Richard Erb.

In 2000, Brent worked as the assistant coordinator for the International Tuba & Euphonium conference in Regina.

Brent is currently a band and music teacher for the Saskatoon Public School Division. He and his wife Casey have three daughters.

Darrell first played with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra as a section percussionist in the spring of 1980 while he was still in high school. That fall he joined the orchestra as Timpanist, and played here for four seasons before moving to Winnipeg for studies. He returned to the Timpanist position in Saskatoon in 1989, and has been anchoring that spot ever since. While Darrell was in Winnipeg he performed regularly with the Winnipeg Symphony, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet Orchestra and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra as a section percussionist. Following his studies in Winnipeg Darrell returned to Saskatoon for two more years of university (1986-1988), during which time he served as Principal Percussionist for the SSO.

As an orchestral percussionist Darrell has played for numerous internationally known conductors and performers, Broadway musicals and touring ballets, as well as local choirs and theatre groups. Darrell also performs with other ensembles using a variety of instruments he has collected over the years. On any given weekend he might be found around the city busking, performing as a soloist on marimba, playing drum set for a local band, or performing the music of Central and South America on hand percussion.

When Darrell is not performing he is busy teaching percussion, both at home in his private teaching studio, and as Applied Percussion Instructor and Sessional Lecturer in Music Education at the University of Saskatchewan. His home studio is also where he runs a small recording business (Seashell Sound Productions). Over the years Darrell has helped many local artists record and produce their work.

Darrell has also released two of his own CDs: Out of the Blue (2002), a collection of his own hymn arrangements, and Seashells & Turtles (1999), a collection of Mexican and Guatemalan folk songs for marimba which he recorded with this friend Scott Tunison under the name Rosewood Marimba Duo. Both recordings were nominated for outstanding instrumental recording at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Darrell’s performances, compositions and arrangements have also been recorded by CBC radio and featured on CBC radio Saskatchewan.

Darrell is a graduate of the University of Manitoba (B.A.) and the University of Saskatchewan (B. Mus. Mus. Ed. and M. Ed. in instrumental music). 

 Chair supported by the Ewing Family in memory of Earl and Mary Ewing
Bio pending.

Brad’s bio is pending.

Peter Gravlin joined the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in 1976 as “Principal Bassoon, Artist in Residence.” Peter is a founding member of what is now known as the “Saskatoon Symphony Chamber Players.”

Peter retired from the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra in May, 2011 and was bestowed the title of Bassoon Emeritus for life.

Peter was an enthusiastic participant in all aspects of what is now known as the “Core” for well over three decades. Included in this are full orchestra, chamber orchestra, outreach concerts, school concerts, pops concerts and chamber concerts. He was featured as a soloist on several occasions with the both the chamber orchestra and the full orchestra—the most notable of which was his 2005 appearance with the full orchestra as solo bassoonist in the Mozart Bassoon Concerto—the preeminent concerto for the bassoon. Peter insisted on writing his own cadenzas for this performance of which he was quite proud and the media reviewer characterized the cadenzas as “jazz-like”—who knew?

Peter took his training in Vancouver under the tutelage of Roland Small and Chris Millard. Peter has a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of British Columbia as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan.

Peter has played in many other orchestras, including as invited Principal in the Victoria Symphony and as section bassoonist with the Vancouver Symphony, the Calgary Philharmonic, the Edmonton Symphony and the Regina Symphony Orchestra. He has also played in the Bedford Festival Orchestra, the Aspen Festival Orchestra, the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and the Canadian Chamber Orchestra.

Concurrent to his professional life with the SSO, Peter taught many private bassoon students—several of these now hold professional chairs in this and other orchestras. As well, Peter ran a successful music education business of bands and chamber orchestra for a ten year period starting in the mid nineties. Peter is also a founding director and continuing player with “The Parkland Pops” – an event/wedding ensemble www.parklandpops.homestead.com. Peter was also a substitute teacher in both Saskatoon School systems for fifteen years where he had the dual specialties of French and Music.

Peter now works with troubled youth and young offenders. He is married to Saskatoon pianist Gillian Lyons. They have one grown son, Matt.

Coming Soon.