Halifax Community Band Festival
Guest Conductors/Performers/Clinicians
We’re very excited to welcome our talented guests to the Halifax Band Festival. The roster of guests will continue to evolve as the event approaches and we receive confirmation that they are able to attend. This page will be used to keep participants informed of any changes in personnel.
Our Guest Conductors for 2025
Dr. Denise Grant (confirmed for 2025)
Denise Grant has earned respect and praise as a conductor and educator of great musical depth and artistic sensitivity. She has held conducting positions at Memorial University of Newfoundland, University of Toronto, and University of Regina. She earned her Ph.D. (conducting and music education) from the University of Minnesota and also holds degrees from Dalhousie University (M.Ed.) and Acadia University (B.Mus.Ed.).
During her tenure, she founded the University of Toronto and University of Regina conducting symposiums, served as co-founding editor of the Canadian Band Association journal, Canadian Winds, and premiered many new works for wind ensemble. She advocates for the creation and performance of new music by Canadian and women composers, in particular. She recently premiered composer Sandy Moore’s song cycle, Vox Humana, at the Open Waters new music festival in Halifax and recorded the soundtrack for John Walker’s award-winning documentary film, Arctic Defenders.
As an educator, Denise has served on music association boards across Canada and guest conducted provincial honour bands both nationally and internationally, reflecting a commitment to music education and the deep seeded belief that the act of making music together creates connection and develops compassionate, critically thinking humans.
Dr. Dale Sorensen (confirmed for 2025)
University of Prince Edward Island
Dale Sorensen is a versatile musician, educator and conductor with extensive experience in classical, popular, and musical theatre genres. Currently in his fourth year as director of the UPEI Wind Symphony, Dale has conducted everything from junior high school honour bands to professional ensembles. Highlights include three seasons as music director of the Strathgartney Chamber Orchestra in PEI, and most recently as conductor for a fully-stage production of The Nutcracker with the PEI Symphony Orchestra and the Confederation Centre of the Arts’ Dance Umbrella.
A frequent trombone soloist and enthusiastic promoter of Canadian music, Dale has premiered more than 25 solo trombone pieces and dozens of chamber works, and recorded an all-Canadian album of music for trombone. He is also the founder and artistic director of PEI’s contemporary music ensemble eklektikos. Dale is a proud Yamaha Artist and plays Yamaha instruments exclusively.
Dale performs regularly with the PEISO, the Charlottetown Festival Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, and the Maritime Brass Quintet, has held positions with the Windsor Symphony and Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, and has freelanced with groups such as the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, National Ballet of Canada, and Opera Atelier in a 3-week, 8-city tour of Japan.
A dedicated educator, Dale has taught at five Canadian universities (UPEI, Dalhousie, MUN, Mount Allison, and the University of Toronto), and serves as an adjudicator and clinician at music festivals and workshops throughout the Maritimes and Ontario. He is currently the Chair of the Department of Music and Assistant Professor of Brass at UPEI. In 2022, he was selected by the UPEI Faculty Association to receive the Hessian Merit Award for Excellence in Teaching.
For more information, visit his website at www.islandtrombone.com.
Ken Henderson (confirmed for 2025)
Truro Concert Band, Nova Scotia
Ken started his band journey as a junior high student when he joined the Truro Concert Band, learning clarinet from Charlotte MacQuarrie, a band member. He has had the good fortune of having experience under a range of gifted conductors, each of whom passed on valuable insights into their art. These include Chalmers Doane—conductor of the Truro Concert Band when he became a member, Ron MacKay, conductor of the fledgling Truro Schools Bands and provider of guided teaching experience, Jack Sirulnikoff and Dr. John Hansen at the Nova Scotia Teachers College, Capt. Ken Elloway at the NS Summer School for Teachers, and Wilf Harvey, senior music teacher at Middleton High School. Less formal learning opportunities came with various workshop contacts with James Hargreaves, Howard Cable, Dr. Jim Gayfor, Dr. Karem Simon, Gaetan Bouchard, Dr. Gillian MacKay and others.
Ken is long-time musical director of the Truro Concert Band which observes its 150th anniversary in 2025. Ken is a strong believer in the importance of community in a community band—finding a place in the band for everyone, and a place for the band in the wider community.
Our Guest Performers for 2025
Chebucto Community Orchestra (confirmed for 2025)
Halifax, Nova Scotia
The Chebucto Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra dedicated to its work as a charitable organization. Under the direction of Melissa Doiron, it provides opportunities for amateur musicians to perform the great symphonic works and to bring classical music to a broad range of local and provincial audiences. It is a true community orchestra whose members come from all walks of life. The musicians range from high school and university students to mid-career professionals to retired community members.
Our Guest Instrumental Clinicians for 2024
Flute – Christine Feieraband
()
Born and raised in Oshawa, Ontario, Christine Feierabend moved to Halifax from Toronto in 1989 as a result of winning her current position with Symphony Nova Scotia as Second Flute and piccolo player.
Christine holds a Bachelor of Music in performance from the University of Toronto and a Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School in New York. In Nova Scotia, she has appeared at the Music Room on numerous occasions and has played chamber music at Scotia Festival, on the Faculty Series at the Maritime Conservatory of the Performing Arts, on the St. Cecilia Summer Concert Series, and on the Three Churches Summer Series in Mahone Bay. Before coming to Nova Scotia, Christine played as an extra with the Toronto Symphony and Hamilton Philharmonic. With Symphony Nova Scotia, she has appeared as a soloist on the Baroque series on both flute and piccolo multiple times.
Christine has been a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada and a fellow of the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra. She lives in Hammonds Plains with husband Mike.
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet – Karen Michael
()
Karen Michael grew up in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. She is alumni of UPEI, studying under Dr. Karem Simon, and of UWO Masters of clarinet performance program, studying under Jerome Summers. From there Karen attended MUN, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education. After years of private studio teaching at home and a career in the Western School District, the Yamaha School of Music was opened at Gary Bennett Music in 2007. Eventually the business and school was obtained by the Michaels in 2013 and the school has now grown from a first year of 150 students to 350+ and employing 12 teachers.
Karen has actively performed in the stage band for the theatre group Off Broadway Players. Recent performances include Fiddler of the Roof, Cabaret, and Jesus Christ Superstar with clarinet, saxophone and flute. Recently, she has performed in the Wintertide Music Festival which is held every January. She is involved in the local Rotary Music Festival as committee director, accompanist, teacher and Rotarian. For the past three years she has been invited as clinician at the Halifax Second Chances Band Fest.
In 2015, Karen was nominated for the Music NL award for Music Educator of the Year and in 2016, she was nominated for RBC’s Women Entrepreneur Award. More recently, as sole owner now of Gary Bennett Music, she was recognized with Business of the Year from the Greater Corner Brook Board of Trade.
Double Reeds – Serena Godmaire
()
Serena Godmaire is a bassoonist who earned her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. She has performed with the University of Manitoba’s Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Orchestras as well as with the Winnipeg Winds, Winnipeg Youth Orchestra, Thompson Community band and various other chamber ensembles. Serena has taught bassoon at the International Music Camp as well as Grade 6-12 band, guitar and elementary music in both Winnipeg and Thompson, Manitoba.
Serena studied bassoon with Edna Dahl, Vincent Ellin and Allen Harrington and has studied conducting and music education with Dr. Dale Lonis, Earl Stafford, Dr. Fraser Linklater, Dr. Connie Turner and Ardith Haley. She is a member of the NSBA, MBA and is a member at large on the board of directors with the Sackville Community Band.
Last summer, Ms. Godmaire and family moved to Nova Scotia to continue her studies towards a Masters of Education through Acadia University. After falling in love with the scenery, people and Maritime music, Ms. Godmaire, her husband and three young children decided to make the East Coast their permanent home. (Who could blame them!) Since moving to Halifax, Serena has performed with the Sackville Community Band and 9 am Band, the Halifax Music Co-op Orchestra, Citadels Fiddler on the Roof pit band and is a member of the trio tri. She is currently working as a music and band substitute within the HRSB.
Ms. Godmaire has been blessed to have had some amazing teachers and mentors over the years who have fostered her love of music and given her the tools necessary to help other people reach their goals and grow as musicians and as people. Seeing and hearing her students improve is something very special and she still can’t believe people pay her to do something she loves so much! This is her first time at the festival and she is really looking forward to making some beautiful music with everyone this weekend.
Saxophone – Rowan Fitzgerald
()
A native of Charlottetown, Rowan FitzGerald taught instrumental music in the PEI school system for 30 years. Since his retirement in 2010, he has remained active as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator. In 2009, he co-founded the Second Chances Community Band in Charlottetown, where he currently co-conducts approximately 60 musicians, ranging in age from 25 to 90.
Trumpet – Christine Blanchard
()
Christine Blanchard resides in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. She graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1990 and the University of New Brunswick with a degree in Education in 1992. Just recently, she completed a Masters of Education in Music Education with an emphasis on conducting from the University of Victoria, British Columbia.
Christine has experience teaching instrumental music at the both junior high and senior high level. She is currently the music teacher and director of bands at Bluefield High School in Hampshire, Prince Edward Island.
Christine Blanchard also has experience in the area of curriculum development. She is a co-author of the Prince Edward Island Instrumental Music Guide and is at the present time developing a pilot program entitled The Styles of Popular Music: A History of Rock and Roll.
As a trumpet player, Christine has performed in the University of Prince Edward Island Wind Symphony, and the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra. She has also been a guest conductor with the University of Prince Edward Island Wind Symphony and the University of Victoria Wind Symphony.
French Horn – Julie Cuming
()
Julie was born and raised in Guelph Ontario and left home in 1983 to join the Canadian Forces Regular Force Music Branch. During her 36 year military career she served in the Royal Canadian Artillery Band, QC, the Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, NS, and the 36 Canadian Brigade Group Band, NS. She also instructed at the CF School of Music in Borden ON for several years. As a freelance horn player, Julie has performed with the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, Symphony NS, Symphony NB, the PEI Symphony, Nova Sinfonia and other recording artists such as Il Divo. She has also been a clinician with several NS Youth Ensembles as well as the Atlantic Band Festival and several local schools. She is currently the Acting Principle Horn of Symphony Nova Scotia. Julie holds a music performance degree from Dalhousie University. She lives in Bedford with her husband John and Boston Terrier Stella!
Trombone – Dave Staples
()
Dave Staples is a veteran East Coast music educator and performer and maintains a busy freelance career as a pianist, trombonist, composer, clinician, adjudicator and recording artist. He has taught instrumental music with the Halifax Regional School Board for the last 30 years and is co-founder and director of the Nova Scotia Honour Jazz program, which has worked with talented students of jazz in Nova Scotia for the last 20 years. He has also served as a board member of JazzEast and was on the Canadian Executive Board of the International Association for Jazz Education as Newsletter Editor and Director of Communications from 2003 to 2008.
Recently retired from the Halifax Regional School Board, Dave was the high school band teacher at Citadel High School in Halifax as well as the director of the Halifax Schools All City Jazz program where he directed the Intermediate Jazz Band, Senior Combos and the Senior Jazz Ensemble.
In 1995, he received the East Coast Music Award (ECMA) with Jeff Goodspeed as Jazz Artists of the Year for their album release of “Eastern Passage”(CBC Productions) and is featured on the 2006 ECMA Jazz Album of the Year “Tom Roach: Piano Trios “(CBC Productions). Dave has performed and recorded with such groups and artists as the Maritime Jazz Orchestra, Renee Rosnes, Kenny Wheeler, Kurt Elling, Omar Hakim and Mike Murley as well as numerous East Coast musicians and ensembles, including John Chiasson, Mike Cowie, Ian Janes, Scott and the Rocks, Latin Groove, the Blakey Project, the Mingus Project, the Horace Silver Tribute Band, the Halifax Trombone Summit as well as his own Dave Staples Septet.
Euphonium/Baritone/Tuba – Rod MacGillivray
()
Rod MacGillivray grew up in Bridgewater NS and is a conductor and low brass performer and teacher of trombone, euphonium and tuba. He is the head teacher of the Brass & Percussion Department at the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, director of the Mersey Band in Liverpool, NS, and is co-conductor of Scotia Brass. He was assistant director with the Greater Columbus Concert Band in Columbus, Ohio and was a military musician in the Band of the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa from 1990-1995.
Rod’s musical activities include performances with the Alabama Opera Orchestra, Ohio Light Opera, Northern Kentucky Symphony, P.E.I Symphony, and the Edmonton Symphony and a one-year appointment as professor of conducting and music director of the Acadia University Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble from 2011–2012. Locally he has performed with Nova Sinfonia, the Chebucto Orchestra, Scotia Brass, Bridgewater Fire Department Band, and the Chester Brass Band. He has also taught on the faculties of Kenyon College and Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio and was the Director of Bands at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado from 2005–2007.
Percussion – Bruce Campbell
()
Bruce Campbell was born and raised in Truro, N.S. and attended the University of Prince Edward Island, graduating in 2001 with a Bachelor of Music and teaching certification.
Bruce’s percussion career began at the early age of 10 which has fostered a love and passion for percussion and teaching music. He continues to perform as a sessional percussionist with various ensembles: Sackville Community Band, Scotia Brass, Chester Brass Band, and the Second Chances Band. He has also worked as a percussion clinician. His percussion studies includes instructors Jim Faraday and David Shepard.
He enrolled in the Cadet Instructor Cadre in 1993 as a Naval Cadet and attended HMCS Acadia summer training centre from 1993-2002 and was employed as a music and percussion instructor. He served as the Assistant Director of Music for 2001 and 2002. Bruce was employed at HMCS Avalon summer training centre in Newfoundland, as Music Course Director. In 2008 he was appointed Executive Officer of HMCS Avalon and filled the position up to 2010. In March 2011, he was appointed Commanding Officer of HMCS Avalon.
In 2013 Bruce returned to HMCS Acadia Sea Cadet summer training centre, to serve as the director of music.
He has recently “retired” from the summer training actives, for now, but is currently still active with the Atlantic region cadet music training. He currently resides in Wellington, Nova Scotia with his wife Gillian and their three children Laila, James and Liam.
Orchestral Strings – Gail Teixeira
()
Gail Teixeira, lifelong learner and transplant from the United States and Montréal, has a heart for community music making. Gail’s background of secular and faith-based teaching, performance and engagement has taken her from around Nova Scotia (Nova Sinfonia) to visits and regular appearances in Prince Edward Island (PEI Symphony) and New Brunswick. Why this emphasis on community music making?
My growing up years were filled with multiple opportunities to “give back” and to “share” with the community. So it is no surprise that I gave to local groups (Halifax Music Co-Op), and that talented, like-minded trail blazers (Dave Skinner) (Ninette Babineau) (Pat Wyman) (Chalmers Doane) encouraged and mentored me to explore all areas of Nova Scotia and the Maritimes to perform, teach, learn and socialize.
And isn’t that why all of us are joining together? To enjoy the links and friendships that the joy (and hard work) of music making brings.