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The Festival Wind Orchestra is very proud to have had several
guest soloists perform with us over the years.
Among them are local artists and winners of competitions
we have held for both piano and flute. Winner of the Festival Wind Orchestra's Open Trombone Competition, Joel Green received training at both Humber College and the University of Toronto. He studied with musicians such as Alastair Kay, Gordon Wolfe, Alex Dean, Don Thompson and Terry Promane. Over the last 5 years, Joel has played in a variety of jazz and classical ensembles, including the Humber College Faculty/Alumni Big Band, John MacLeod's Rex Hotel Orchestra, Arraymusic Ensemble and the Kitchener/Waterloo Chamber Orchestra, among others. Joel has also played in the orchestra pit for almost 20 musical productions. He currently freelances around Toronto and teaches at Humber College for the Community Music School and Continuing Education programs. Christopher Bagan completed his Bachelor's of Music Degree in Piano Performance, studying with Marietta Orlov at the University of Toronto. Works featured on his graduating recital included Bach's Goldberg Variations and Brahms Variations on a theme of Paganini. A highly sought-after accompanist, Christopher has performed recitals, master-classes and competitions with singers and instrumentalists on nearly every orchestral instrument. In the summer of 2004, he attended master-classes at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Christopher is enrolled in the Master's Programme in Piano Performance at the University of Toronto. Mark Ruhnke has performed in many local stage productions. For over 12 years, he was Musical Director of Zion-Wexford United Church in Scarborough. At present, Mark is Minister of Music at Aurora United Church. He conducts a 40 voice chancel choir, a young voices choir called the Musical "Kool" Kids, has introduced a new English Handbell Ensemble and is program co-ordinator for the "Faith and The Arts" project. Now a resident of Aurora, Mark teaches both piano and voice in his music studio at the church. As well as his responsibilities at the church, Mark continues his musical journey; singing in recitals, accompanying, singing for charitable organizations fundraisers such as Doctors Without Borders, playing and singing at 50 or more weddings and funerals each year, adjudicating music festivals, and organizing music for conferences in Minneapolis and Bermuda. The Festival Wind Orchestra's premier open competition was for flute. Participants were required to perform a very difficult piece, "Chaminade", which was originally composed as a test piece for entry into the Conservatoire de musique in Paris. The winner, Mr. Conor Nelson of Ajax-Pickering, was a high school student at the time. His technical prowess and exuberant showmanship won him first place and he performed on stage with the FWO, to the complete delight and admiration of our audience. Mr. Nelson is currently studying music in New York City, on a full scholarship. As a youngster, Tracey Wilkins sang in the Toronto Mendelssohn Youth Choir. In 1987, she received the Jazz Vocal Award at the national finals of Musicfest Canada, in Ottawa. She studied jazz at the University of Toronto and went on to perform and work on several recording projects in Canada, the United States and Europe. She sang back-up for Liona Boyd on "Hands of Man", a theme song written for the Calgary Olympics. Her performances have been broadcast on the CBC and a few years ago, she was invited to perform at the Canadian embassy in Ankara, Turkey. Ms. Wilkins has several CDs to her credit, including one devoted to the music of Bob Marley.  |