Second Chances Community Band
2023-2024 Conductors / Instructors
The Second Chances Program is very lucky to have four talented musicians working with our various ensembles. They are local metro musicians who share a passion for teaching others the joys of making music in a group setting. Second Chances is proud to continue hiring talented individuals who are dedicated, enthusiastic and committed to the learning of their students… no matter what their age or level of experience! The Second Chances Community Band Program of Nova Scotia would not be the same without them!
Serena Godmaire,
B.Mus, B.Ed, M.Ed
Instructor: Beginner Band
Serena Godmaire is a musician, teacher and conductor who earned her Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education degrees from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg and her Masters from Acadia.
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, and Thompson Community Band. Since moving to Halifax, Serena has performed with Glass Winds, Sackville Community Band and 9 am Band, Dalhousie Orchestra, and 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 before moving to Nova Scotia. She is currently working as a music and band teacher in Halifax and has been a clinician with the Halifax Community Band Festival.
Serena 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 the current president of the Sackville Community Band Society.
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 musicians improve is something very special and she still can’t believe people pay her to do something she loves so much!
Chuck Homewood
Instructor: Second Chances Singers
Chuck has musically directed more than 75 productions across the country and has toured internationally including three Broadway shows. At Neptune Theatre he has musically directed Into the Woods, Frog and Toad, Sweeney Todd, West Side Story, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol: The Musical, Disney’s High School Musical and Shakespeare In Love.
Chuck was Neptune Theatre’s Director of Education for eight years, overseeing Theatre School programs and the Young Neptune Touring Company. He has taught at the Banff Centre, Dalhousie University, Neptune Theatre School, Maritime Conservatory of the Performing Arts and the HAT Academy. In addition to conducting and arranging for musical theatre, Chuck is also a busy clinician as a choral conductor, singing actor coach and collaborative pianist. He has recently returned from China where he taught for the American Musical Theatre Academy in Shanghai and Beijing.
In the Fall, Chuck will begin conducting the Second Chances Singers, a “pop” choir in Halifax.
James Shaw
Instructor: Jazz Band and Jazz Combos
James Shaw is a Halifax based saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator. Shaw is the Director of Jazz at the Halifax Music Co-op and faculty for the 1st year Music Arts program at NSCC. Shaw is very active as a freelance musician in the Halifax and Maritime music scene. His group the Vesuvius Big Band just released their debut album which he directs, writes for, and performs with.
Gail Teixera
Instructor: String Orchestra
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.
Gail will be joining the Second Chances team as an instructor this coming Fall 2023!
Chris D. Ward
B.Mus, B.Mus.Ed, BIR diploma
Instructor: Intermediate and Symphonic Bands
Chris Ward was 9 years old when he found a dusty, old violin in his grandfather’s attic. The violin was a ¾ sized instrument missing one of its strings and it’s bow hair was hanging off in every direction, but Chris was intrigued by the instrument and begged his parents to allow him to take violin lessons. So began a love and passion for music and ensemble playing that has lasted over 40 years with no hint of slowing down.
Chris earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Prince Edward Island and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has performed with many high level concert bands and orchestras over the years, including the National Capital Concert Band based in Ottawa, Ontario. However, it was his membership in many different community based ensembles throughout the country that has made him so passionate about conducting and working with these kinds of groups.
Throughout his career in music, Chris has been fortunate enough to have the chance to work under and learn from many talented and respected musical personalities from Atlantic Canada and beyond. Conductors and educators like Donald Buell, Karem Simon, James Hargreaves, Stanley Clark, Ron MacKay, Carol Carson, Gail Lohnes, Ron Murphy, Ken Foote, Dale Lonis and Carl Mathis have all had a hand in shaping Chris’s teaching and conducting styles and continue to inspire him today.
Chris is often heard saying that he “lives and breathes concert bands and orchestras” and his many students would undoubtedly agree. He is a conductor, educator, clinician and lecturer, and also repairs musical instruments for Long & McQuade.
In addition to his day job and his passion for the Second Chances Band Program, Chris also helps organize the Halifax Community Band Festival each May, serves on the board of directors for the Nova Scotia Band Association and founded the Atlantic Canadian Conductors Cohort, a networking team of like minded conductors and band leaders from Nova Scotia, PEI, New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
Mitchell Webster
B.Mus
Instructor: Small Ensembles
Mitchell Webster is an experienced trumpeter of over 15 years, earning a Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. Mitchell trained and studied with renowned trumpeter, pianist and vocalist Guy Few, as well as former principal players Larry Larson and Jane Maness of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra. Throughout his many performances, Mitchell has worked under the baton of conductors such as Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, Dr. Jessica Kun, Raffi Armenian and Paul Pulford. Mitchell has been a featured performer with the Second Chances Community band, principal trumpeter of the Kitchener-Waterloo Youth Symphony Orchestra, a seasoned player with the Richmond Hill Philharmonic. His various other performances have taken him across south-western Ontario with Chaplains Brass Quintet, featured with the spaghetti-eastern group The Spurs and he is a part of the Bakers Duz’n Funk Band seen at the 2022 CFL Touchdown Atlantic event with an album soon to be released.
When not performing, Mitchell can be found working away on his other musical instruments either in the studio practicing or repairing them on the workbench. He has learned to play many brass, woodwind and orchestral string instruments along with guitar. By day, Mitchell is a skilled musical instrument repair technician with the ability to fix the large variety of instruments that comes across his bench including brass, woodwind, orchestral strings and percussion. Mitchell, along with his wife and fellow musician Rachel, continue to be a growing part of the music community in Halifax where they now call home.
Mitchell has been the Small Ensemble Coach for Second Chances since the fall of 2022.