2017 Artists and Adjudicators
Carol Welsman - Featured Artist
Brad Turner - Jazz Band Adjudicator
Greg Yasinitsky - Jazz Band Adjudicator
Rich Sumstad - Jazz Band and Vocal Adjudicator
Janet Warren - Vocal Adjudicator
Kinga Heming - Vocal Adjudicator
Sean Bray - Combo Adjudicator
Bernie Addington - Combo Adjudicator
Neville Bowman - Combo Adjudicator
Chris Wallace and the "Many Names Quartet" - Wednesday Night Concert
Christian Fabian - Thursday Night Concert
Brad Turner - Thursday Night Concert
Craig Thomson - Thurssday Night Concert
Brad Turner - Jazz Band Adjudicator
Greg Yasinitsky - Jazz Band Adjudicator
Rich Sumstad - Jazz Band and Vocal Adjudicator
Janet Warren - Vocal Adjudicator
Kinga Heming - Vocal Adjudicator
Sean Bray - Combo Adjudicator
Bernie Addington - Combo Adjudicator
Neville Bowman - Combo Adjudicator
Chris Wallace and the "Many Names Quartet" - Wednesday Night Concert
Christian Fabian - Thursday Night Concert
Brad Turner - Thursday Night Concert
Craig Thomson - Thurssday Night Concert
Featured Artist: Carol Welsman
Like many other successful musical artists, singer/pianist Carol Welsman was surrounded by music from an early age.
Music was “all over the family,” she recalls, reminiscing about her childhood in Toronto, Canada. Then, with a laugh, Carol adds, “The family story I always heard was that the members of the family who came over from Italy were all musicians.”
In fact, her family roots were also English and Irish, and the music that was “all over the family” embraced them as well.
Her mother was a piano teacher, an uncle was a violinist, and her father, Carol recalls, “played clarinet and saxophone quite well.” But the family member who had the highest visibility, many decades prior to Carol’s musical successes, was her grandfather on her father’s side. “His name was Frank S. Welsman, and he was the founder and first conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.”
Carol, herself, was taking music lessons at an early age, and played contra bass and violin in high school. Her fascination with jazz was triggered by a friend who had, she says, “an incredible record collection.”
Starting at the age of twelve, she was also taken by her father to big band concerts. She happily remembers hearing Woody Herman and Count Basie, as well as Peggy Lee. “But I missed seeing Duke Ellington; he was my Dad’s favorite.”
“I was Dad’s only daughter,” she adds, “and I liked getting special treatment. I wanted to go with him no matter what he was doing. If he wanted to go wood chopping, I went wood chopping.” In her teens, she found herself drawn to vocal groups such as the Four Freshmen, The Double Six of Paris and the Hi-Los. At sixteen, she organized and arranged for her own vocal ensemble. Despite the ever present musical environment surrounding her young years, Carol “never felt any pressure, unlike other young musicians I knew. I was surrounded by music in a loving way and I felt nothing but encouragement.”
The supportive environment no doubt produced the positive results Carol achieved when she went to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music, where she finished all the music studies. She also became friends with Herve Legrand, the son of French composer/pianist Michel Legrand. The friendship opened the way to far-reaching musical vistas for Carol. With Legrand’s aid, she was accepted into a highly regarded Paris music school, CIM. She also received a grant that allowed her to go to Paris and study voice with Michel Legrand’s sister, the soprano Christiane Legrand.
Carol’s string of good luck paused at this point. When she unexpectedly began to experience throat discomfort, she visited a doctor and was told that she had three polyps on her vocal cords. Surgery was recommended, but Carol spoke to an opera singer friend who advised her to “get another diagnosis and avoid the knife.” And she did.
“I dealt with it myself,” she explains.“I went into serious vocal rehab in Paris. I didn’t go out at night, couldn’t go into any smoky clubs or restaurants. I lived in silence except when I was in a lesson with Christiane. Then I went back to Toronto and found another teacher who had dealt with polyps. Both she and Christiane basically trained me how to sing around my vocal condition so I could continue to perform.”
Vocally healthy, Carol returned to Paris the next summer, formed a band and remained in France for the next four years, then toured Italy for three more.
“It was,” she says, “one of the most memorable times of my life, musically and otherwise.” Returning to Toronto, Carol began the recording phase of her career in 1994, and released her first album, Lucky To Be Me a year later. It received a Juno [Canadian Grammy] Award nomination for “Best Jazz Vocal Album”. Since then, six of her ten albums to date have received Juno nominations.
After some musician friends urged her to help further her professional visibility by leaving Toronto for the “big fish pond” of Los Angeles, she took their advice. Starting to record in L.A, she bought a second home there and traveled back and forth until 2003. Until, as she describes it, she “fell in love with the L.A. lifestyle” and decided to embrace it full time.
In 2005, Carol took a major step in that direction when she married attorney Pat Harris and moved into their beautiful home in the glorious Hollywood Hills. Her latest album, ALONE TOGETHER, has been released and is now available for download.
Music was “all over the family,” she recalls, reminiscing about her childhood in Toronto, Canada. Then, with a laugh, Carol adds, “The family story I always heard was that the members of the family who came over from Italy were all musicians.”
In fact, her family roots were also English and Irish, and the music that was “all over the family” embraced them as well.
Her mother was a piano teacher, an uncle was a violinist, and her father, Carol recalls, “played clarinet and saxophone quite well.” But the family member who had the highest visibility, many decades prior to Carol’s musical successes, was her grandfather on her father’s side. “His name was Frank S. Welsman, and he was the founder and first conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.”
Carol, herself, was taking music lessons at an early age, and played contra bass and violin in high school. Her fascination with jazz was triggered by a friend who had, she says, “an incredible record collection.”
Starting at the age of twelve, she was also taken by her father to big band concerts. She happily remembers hearing Woody Herman and Count Basie, as well as Peggy Lee. “But I missed seeing Duke Ellington; he was my Dad’s favorite.”
“I was Dad’s only daughter,” she adds, “and I liked getting special treatment. I wanted to go with him no matter what he was doing. If he wanted to go wood chopping, I went wood chopping.” In her teens, she found herself drawn to vocal groups such as the Four Freshmen, The Double Six of Paris and the Hi-Los. At sixteen, she organized and arranged for her own vocal ensemble. Despite the ever present musical environment surrounding her young years, Carol “never felt any pressure, unlike other young musicians I knew. I was surrounded by music in a loving way and I felt nothing but encouragement.”
The supportive environment no doubt produced the positive results Carol achieved when she went to Boston to study at the Berklee College of Music, where she finished all the music studies. She also became friends with Herve Legrand, the son of French composer/pianist Michel Legrand. The friendship opened the way to far-reaching musical vistas for Carol. With Legrand’s aid, she was accepted into a highly regarded Paris music school, CIM. She also received a grant that allowed her to go to Paris and study voice with Michel Legrand’s sister, the soprano Christiane Legrand.
Carol’s string of good luck paused at this point. When she unexpectedly began to experience throat discomfort, she visited a doctor and was told that she had three polyps on her vocal cords. Surgery was recommended, but Carol spoke to an opera singer friend who advised her to “get another diagnosis and avoid the knife.” And she did.
“I dealt with it myself,” she explains.“I went into serious vocal rehab in Paris. I didn’t go out at night, couldn’t go into any smoky clubs or restaurants. I lived in silence except when I was in a lesson with Christiane. Then I went back to Toronto and found another teacher who had dealt with polyps. Both she and Christiane basically trained me how to sing around my vocal condition so I could continue to perform.”
Vocally healthy, Carol returned to Paris the next summer, formed a band and remained in France for the next four years, then toured Italy for three more.
“It was,” she says, “one of the most memorable times of my life, musically and otherwise.” Returning to Toronto, Carol began the recording phase of her career in 1994, and released her first album, Lucky To Be Me a year later. It received a Juno [Canadian Grammy] Award nomination for “Best Jazz Vocal Album”. Since then, six of her ten albums to date have received Juno nominations.
After some musician friends urged her to help further her professional visibility by leaving Toronto for the “big fish pond” of Los Angeles, she took their advice. Starting to record in L.A, she bought a second home there and traveled back and forth until 2003. Until, as she describes it, she “fell in love with the L.A. lifestyle” and decided to embrace it full time.
In 2005, Carol took a major step in that direction when she married attorney Pat Harris and moved into their beautiful home in the glorious Hollywood Hills. Her latest album, ALONE TOGETHER, has been released and is now available for download.
Jazz Band Adjudicator: Dr. Gregory W. Yasinitsky
Gregory W. Yasinitsky, Regents Professor and Director of the School of Music, received his DMA from the Eastman School of Music and his MA and BM at San Francisco State University with additional studies in saxophone with Joe Henderson and composition with Lou Harrison.
Yasinitsky is the recipient of the Washington State University Eminent Faculty Award—the top honor available to WSU faculty. He also received the Marian E. Smith Faculty Achievement Award and was selected to present the 2008 WSU Distinguished Faculty Address. Additionally, Yasinitsky received the College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Achievement Award, the 2005-2008 Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professorship Award and is the recipient of the William F. Mullen Award for Excellence in Teaching from the WSU College of Liberal Arts.
Yasinitsky was Coordinator of Jazz Studies from 1982, when he joined the WSU faculty, to 2011 and under his leadership, the Washington State University Jazz Studies Program received widespread recognition including awards from Down Beat magazine, invitations to perform at prestigious conferences—including invitations to Jazz Education Network (JEN) and International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) Conferences—and top awards at major festivals.
Yasinitsky has an international reputation as a composer, arranger and saxophonist. He has written music especially for Clark Terry, David Liebman and the USAF "Airmen of Note" big band. Yasinitsky's music has been performed in over 30 countries and he has received grants, fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Commission Project of New York, Meet the Composer West, ASCAP, Artist Trust, Washington State Music Teachers Association (WSMTA) and the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA). Over 175 compositions and arrangements have been published by Kendor Music, Warner Brothers, Hal Leonard, Advance Music (Germany), Walrus Music, University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press, Falls House Press, Dorn Music, Daniel Barry Music and Hoyt Editions. Yasinitsky has also accepted numerous commissions for jazz, orchestral pieces, solo works and chamber music.
Selected orchestral and chamber works can be heard on compact discs released by Vienna Modern Masters, Arizona University Recordings and Open Loop Records. Yasinitsky earned degrees at the Eastman School of Music (DMA) and San Francisco State University (MA, BM) and his teachers in composition include Joseph Schwantner, Wayne Peterson, Lou Harrison, Samuel Adler and Robert Morris.
As a saxophonist, he has appeared with numerous distinguished artists including Lou Rawls, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Louie Bellson, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton, Manhattan Transfer, Mel Torme and Clark Terry. Additionally, Yasinitsky is Principal Saxophonist with the Spokane Symphony and has performed as a member of the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Oakland Symphony.
Yasinitsky can be heard with Tom Harrell, Art Lande and others on recordings released by the Musical Heritage Society, Soul Note, Palo Alto and Revelation Records. His playing and compositions can also be heard on compact discs released by his own label, YAZZ Recordings.
Yasinitsky is also in demand as a conductor and clinician, and has presented concerts and workshops throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Japan. Additionally, Yasinitsky has been the subject of articles and reviews in Jazz Player, Saxophone Journal, The Instrumentalist, Jazz Educators Journal and Yamaha's New Ways magazines and has contributed articles to numerous scholarly journals. Yasinitsky is a Yamaha performing artist and clinician.
Yasinitsky is the recipient of the Washington State University Eminent Faculty Award—the top honor available to WSU faculty. He also received the Marian E. Smith Faculty Achievement Award and was selected to present the 2008 WSU Distinguished Faculty Address. Additionally, Yasinitsky received the College of Liberal Arts Distinguished Achievement Award, the 2005-2008 Edward R. Meyer Distinguished Professorship Award and is the recipient of the William F. Mullen Award for Excellence in Teaching from the WSU College of Liberal Arts.
Yasinitsky was Coordinator of Jazz Studies from 1982, when he joined the WSU faculty, to 2011 and under his leadership, the Washington State University Jazz Studies Program received widespread recognition including awards from Down Beat magazine, invitations to perform at prestigious conferences—including invitations to Jazz Education Network (JEN) and International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE) Conferences—and top awards at major festivals.
Yasinitsky has an international reputation as a composer, arranger and saxophonist. He has written music especially for Clark Terry, David Liebman and the USAF "Airmen of Note" big band. Yasinitsky's music has been performed in over 30 countries and he has received grants, fellowships and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Commission Project of New York, Meet the Composer West, ASCAP, Artist Trust, Washington State Music Teachers Association (WSMTA) and the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA). Over 175 compositions and arrangements have been published by Kendor Music, Warner Brothers, Hal Leonard, Advance Music (Germany), Walrus Music, University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press, Falls House Press, Dorn Music, Daniel Barry Music and Hoyt Editions. Yasinitsky has also accepted numerous commissions for jazz, orchestral pieces, solo works and chamber music.
Selected orchestral and chamber works can be heard on compact discs released by Vienna Modern Masters, Arizona University Recordings and Open Loop Records. Yasinitsky earned degrees at the Eastman School of Music (DMA) and San Francisco State University (MA, BM) and his teachers in composition include Joseph Schwantner, Wayne Peterson, Lou Harrison, Samuel Adler and Robert Morris.
As a saxophonist, he has appeared with numerous distinguished artists including Lou Rawls, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Louie Bellson, Stan Getz, Lionel Hampton, Manhattan Transfer, Mel Torme and Clark Terry. Additionally, Yasinitsky is Principal Saxophonist with the Spokane Symphony and has performed as a member of the San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Oakland Symphony.
Yasinitsky can be heard with Tom Harrell, Art Lande and others on recordings released by the Musical Heritage Society, Soul Note, Palo Alto and Revelation Records. His playing and compositions can also be heard on compact discs released by his own label, YAZZ Recordings.
Yasinitsky is also in demand as a conductor and clinician, and has presented concerts and workshops throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Japan. Additionally, Yasinitsky has been the subject of articles and reviews in Jazz Player, Saxophone Journal, The Instrumentalist, Jazz Educators Journal and Yamaha's New Ways magazines and has contributed articles to numerous scholarly journals. Yasinitsky is a Yamaha performing artist and clinician.
Jazz Band Adjudicator: Brad Turner
Trumpeter, pianist, drummer and composer Brad Turner is one of Canada’s most indemand and highly esteemed jazz musicians. Brad has performed and/or recorded with such artists as Joe Lovano, Bill Frisell, Kenny Wheeler, John Scofield, Michael Moore, Reneé Rosnes, Jimmy Greene, Ingrid Jensen, Peggy Lee, Dave Douglas, Mike Murley, Seamus Blake, Kenny Werner, Mino Cinelu, Russell Malone and Ernie Watts. Brad's groups have opened for McCoy Tyner, Roy Haynes, Wayne Shorter, Clark Terry, Diana Krall, Ahmad Jamal and Tony Bennett.
As a leader, Brad has released nine albums, seven as a trumpeter with the Brad Turner Quartet, and two as a pianist with his trio. Three of those releases have been nominated for Juno awards.
In 1997 and 1998 Brad won Juno Awards for Best Contemporary Jazz Album recognizing his work in the internationally acclaimed electric jazz group Metalwood.
Winner of National Jazz Awards for Jazz Composer of the Year (2000 and 2002), Brad was awarded Musician of the Year for 2005, and was a recipient of 2006 Victor LynchStaunton Prize for excellence in musical achievement.
In 2008 and again in 2009, Brad took home National Jazz Awards for Trumpeter of the Year and Producer of the year, and was the recipient of the 2014 Vancouver Mayor’s Art Award for music.
Brad has been a member of the jazz studies faculty at Capilano University in North Vancouver, B.C., since 1992.
As a leader, Brad has released nine albums, seven as a trumpeter with the Brad Turner Quartet, and two as a pianist with his trio. Three of those releases have been nominated for Juno awards.
In 1997 and 1998 Brad won Juno Awards for Best Contemporary Jazz Album recognizing his work in the internationally acclaimed electric jazz group Metalwood.
Winner of National Jazz Awards for Jazz Composer of the Year (2000 and 2002), Brad was awarded Musician of the Year for 2005, and was a recipient of 2006 Victor LynchStaunton Prize for excellence in musical achievement.
In 2008 and again in 2009, Brad took home National Jazz Awards for Trumpeter of the Year and Producer of the year, and was the recipient of the 2014 Vancouver Mayor’s Art Award for music.
Brad has been a member of the jazz studies faculty at Capilano University in North Vancouver, B.C., since 1992.
Jazz Band and Vocal Adjudicator: Rich Sumstad
Rich Sumstad is the former Artistic Director of the St. Marys Children’s Choir and Festival Youth Singers where he personally conducted the Festival Youth Singers and the SMCC Vocal Jazz Ensemble. Before relocating to St. Marys, Ontario in 2005 Rich was the music department head at Nathan Hale High School in the Seattle School District for 12 years where his ensembles, both choral and instrumental, consistently took top honors at national and international festivals. Most recent festivals include Heritage Festival At Sea, Ensenada, Mexico; Musicfest Canada, Montreal, Quebec; Stratford Kiwanis Festival, Stratford, Ontario, Envision Jazz Festival, Surrey, British Columbia; and the Reno Jazz Festival, Reno, Nevada. Rich's ensembles have had the honor of sharing the stage with Herbie Mann, Sunny Wilkinson, Phil Matson, Michelle Weir, M-Pact, Kenny Rogers, Michael Powers, Brent Carver, Lucy Peacock, Bruce Dow, and Alexey Nikolaev as well as performing in venues from the Seattle Opera House to New York's Carnegie Hall.
A master educator, Rich has also been the recipient of the following personal awards: 1998 Washington State Music Educator of the Year, 1999 Seattle School District Golden Apple Award, 2000 Christa McCauliffe Excellence in Education Award, 4 times nominated for the A+ Award and most recently the Avon-Maitland District School Board Excellence in Education Award 2008.
Equally at home in both instrumental and vocal worlds Rich has performed with Bob Mintzer, Grant Goodeve, Tommy Banks, Dee Daniels, Campbell Ryga, Larry Bragg, Carol Welsman, Tom Politzer, Bill Champlin, Mic Gillette, Jeff Tamlier, Roger Treece , and Danish super group Vocal Line in Aaurhus, Denmark with Bobby Mcferrin.
Rich is a founding member of both The Emerald City Jazz Orchestra and Strokeland Record’s DoctorfunK.
Rich is in demand as an adjudicator/clinician at jazz festivals across North America.
A master educator, Rich has also been the recipient of the following personal awards: 1998 Washington State Music Educator of the Year, 1999 Seattle School District Golden Apple Award, 2000 Christa McCauliffe Excellence in Education Award, 4 times nominated for the A+ Award and most recently the Avon-Maitland District School Board Excellence in Education Award 2008.
Equally at home in both instrumental and vocal worlds Rich has performed with Bob Mintzer, Grant Goodeve, Tommy Banks, Dee Daniels, Campbell Ryga, Larry Bragg, Carol Welsman, Tom Politzer, Bill Champlin, Mic Gillette, Jeff Tamlier, Roger Treece , and Danish super group Vocal Line in Aaurhus, Denmark with Bobby Mcferrin.
Rich is a founding member of both The Emerald City Jazz Orchestra and Strokeland Record’s DoctorfunK.
Rich is in demand as an adjudicator/clinician at jazz festivals across North America.
Vocal Adjudicator: Kinga Heming
Kinga has long established herself as a rather versatile vocalist, with a studied background in both classical and contemporary music as well as classical piano and voice theory by the age of thirteen. Kinga began sharing her gift through recitals and musical competitions shortly thereafter. From pop to jazz, she has gained a true appreciation for the latter and developed great admiration for the jazz greats of yesterday and today.
At Humber College in Toronto, Kinga studied under Trish Colter, Lisa Martinelli, and Lisa Sullivan. She went on to perform with contemporary icons Renee Rosnes and Guido Basso. Fortune followed quickly, and found Kinga lending her vocals to the legendary Don Thompson and his own jazz ensemble, as well as Denny Christianson’s Big Band at Humber College. During this time, she also taught voice, piano, improvisation, and theory lessons.
While living in Ontario, Kinga performed with Juno award-winner Don Thompson, as well as Bill King, Terry Clarke, Jim Vivian, Reg Schwager, Kelly Jefferson, Ted Quinlan and Richard Whiteman. Currently residing in Kelowna, Kinga can be seen at various venues in an around the Okanagan working with some well-established musicians, Neville Bowman, Bernie Addington, Scott Gamble, Loni Moger and Craig Thomson.
Some musical accomplishments include two top 100 finishes at Canadian Idol, a two song duet with legendary Jeff Healey, the singing of the American and Canadian national anthems at MLB, NHL, and NBA games, and the completion of her highly anticipated debut albums.
A Re-release of her “Guess Who I Saw Today”album is set for January 2016.
At Humber College in Toronto, Kinga studied under Trish Colter, Lisa Martinelli, and Lisa Sullivan. She went on to perform with contemporary icons Renee Rosnes and Guido Basso. Fortune followed quickly, and found Kinga lending her vocals to the legendary Don Thompson and his own jazz ensemble, as well as Denny Christianson’s Big Band at Humber College. During this time, she also taught voice, piano, improvisation, and theory lessons.
While living in Ontario, Kinga performed with Juno award-winner Don Thompson, as well as Bill King, Terry Clarke, Jim Vivian, Reg Schwager, Kelly Jefferson, Ted Quinlan and Richard Whiteman. Currently residing in Kelowna, Kinga can be seen at various venues in an around the Okanagan working with some well-established musicians, Neville Bowman, Bernie Addington, Scott Gamble, Loni Moger and Craig Thomson.
Some musical accomplishments include two top 100 finishes at Canadian Idol, a two song duet with legendary Jeff Healey, the singing of the American and Canadian national anthems at MLB, NHL, and NBA games, and the completion of her highly anticipated debut albums.
A Re-release of her “Guess Who I Saw Today”album is set for January 2016.
Vocal Adjudicator: Janet Warren
Janet Warren, recipient of the British Columbia Music Educator’s Professional Music Educator Award, is recognized nationally for her work in both traditional repertoire and vocal jazz. A graduate of the University of British Columbia, she completed the Diploma in Music Education in 2000. Retired from teaching in North Vancouver, she is presently a Faculty Advisor for UBC, working with pre-service teachers at the secondary level. Ms. Warren enjoys a variety of adjudicating and clinic experiences which continue to take her throughout Western Canada and as far as Japan. Two career highlights for Ms. Warren have been conducting the BC Music Educator’s Provincial Honour Vocal Jazz Ensemble and directing the BC Choral Federation’s Provincial Youth Choir. She was honoured by colleagues in North Vancouver with the Award of Excellence, and was named 2004 Teacher of the Year by the Sylvan Learning Center. For twenty-two years, Ms. Warren organized the Sea-to-Sky Choral Festival; she formed and has conducted Higher Ground Women’s Vocal Ensemble for over ten years. Since retirement, Ms. Warren has been performing as a solo singer, has appeared in several live shows, and is featured on the locally produced CD "A Time To Heal". Other interests include travel, dragon boating, and three awesome grand-daughters. Choral conducting continues to be Ms. Warren’s favourite and most creative musical outlet.
Combo Adjudicator: Bernie Addington
Bernie began composing, performing and recording in 1983. From 1989-91, Bernie studied Jazz at The Vancouver Community College School of Music, majoring in performance and acoustic bass. While there, he studied under the renowned bassist, Rick Kilburn. Since completing his studies, Bernie has enjoyed a successful career as a freelance musician and private instructor.
Bernie has played extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Over the years, he has recorded with numerous artists (too many to mention), as a session musician.
Since moving to the Okanagan, Bernie continues to play and record throughout the Interior as a first call musician and band leader.
Bernie has played extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. Over the years, he has recorded with numerous artists (too many to mention), as a session musician.
Since moving to the Okanagan, Bernie continues to play and record throughout the Interior as a first call musician and band leader.
Combo Adjudicator: Neville Bowman
Few musicians have had the opportunity to work in as many diverse fields of music and arts as Neville Bowman. Long established as one of the top pianists and keyboard players in BC, Neville has gained respect both locally and internationally as a sideman, arranger, writer, producer and actor, in almost all genres. With experience as music director and/or performing in over 40 productions, he is no stranger to the stage. Beginning as a pipe organist, French horn player and heavy metal enthusiast, the path has carried him through his discovery of jazz (still his main passion), country bands, funk bands, symphony performances, and rock bands (including playing bass with the multi-award winning Ten2Nine) and musical theatre, in venues from New York to Tokyo. Working with the highly regarded and awarded Just In Time jazz trio, Neville found his voice and quickly established himself as one of the leading vocalists in the valley, using his voice not just for jazz, but in musical theatre performances. Having "accidentally" auditioned for Showboat in 2000, he's gone on to have leads in Sweeney Todd, Camelot, Fantasticks, A Streetcar Named Desire, Raft of the Medusa and Venus In Fur to name a few. Working as Musical Director with such studios as Bumbershoot Children's Theatre and Kelowna Actor's Studio, it wasn't long before Neville Started writing his own shows, having released three co-written shows (with Bumbershoot Theatre, Tracy Ross) recently in 2015 and taking a successful production of "Quarter Life" (written with Chantal Forde) to the Toronto fringe in 2009. While he will continue to work with such highly regarded singers such as Kinga Heming, Anna Jacyszyn, and Dee Daniels, or playing with the Craig Thomson Quartet and funk band Groove Engine, 2015 finally sees Neville stepping out a bit more and fronting his own music, in jazz, pop, and original musical theatre productions. So, whether he's singing, playing the piano or bass, or even blowing his flugle horn, chances are you can find Neville playing music that suits almost any taste.
Combo Adjudicator: Sean Bray
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Sean Bray is a well respected guitarist, composer and educator who has played with various artists on many diverse projects. While in New York, Bray studied at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music. Bray has played with and/or recorded with George Garzone, Pat LaBarbera, Bob Mintzer, Jon Faddis, Liberty Silver, Matt “Guitar” Murphy from the Blues Brothers, Mike Murley and Vincent Wolfe. He also composes for film and television, been a judge for the Juno Awards and has taught at The University of Guelph and The Toronto Film School. According to jazz guitar legend John Abercrombie, “Sean Bray is a real treat to listen to”. Possessing the ability to fit into many musical genres, while still retaining an unmistakably original voice on his instrument, has made him an in demand session player in Canada. He also leads the popular Sean Bray’s Peach Trio. Bray is endorsed by PRS Guitars, Planet Waves and D’Addario strings. CBC Radio also named Bray as one of Canada’s top 50 guitarists of all time.
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