The Maple Leaf Brass Band is a diverse group, ranging in age from 14 to 72. We have members who are truck drivers, computer programmers, teachers, small business owners, martial arts instructors, government workers, students and professional musicians. The one thing we have in common, from the director on down, is that we all contribute our time and skill purely for the love of music.
Most of our members live in Ottawa-Gatineau, but some of our members travel greater distances for rehearsals and concerts.
If you're interested in joining the band or coming to a rehearsal, please contact our band manager:
Nick Reilly tel: (613) 592-5502.
| Musical Director: | David Druce |
| Cornets: | Kazimier Samujlo, Glen MacDonald, Gabriel Major-Marothy, Yosip Margulis, Alan Ridgway, Sid Arnold, Barbara Hunter, Marilyn Berube, Jan-Terje "JT" Storaas, Tom Hastie, Trent Campbell, Simon Boothroyd |
| Flugel horn: | Ken Iles |
| Tenor horns: | Lloyd Hiscock, Stewart Winter, David Scrimshaw, Ian Morris, Kevin Russell |
| Baritones : | Keith McGuire, Moe Wosniak |
| Trombones: | Janice LaRose, Jenny Kendrick, Melissa Guindon, Murray Cuthbert |
| Euphoniums: | Dean Tronsgard, Nicholas Reilly |
| Basses: | Harold Floysvik, Dan Hill, Max MacDonald, Caroline Lamoureux, Gord Birkinshaw, Adrian Albon |
| Percussion: | Graham Lindsey, Pat Messner |
| Executive: | Harold Floysvik (president), Nick Reilly (vice-President), Stewart Winter (treasurer), Jenny Kendrick (secretary) |
| Co-Assistant Librarians: | Murray Cuthbert |
| Friends of the Band: | Jim Gayfer, Harold Pretty, Megan Snow |
David Druce is the founding director of the Maple Leaf Brass Band. At the age of fourteen, he won a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London England where he studied trumpet and viola. In 1966, he joined the Band of the Welsh Guards and served for 24 years as one of the solo cornetists and leader of the dance band. He has performed for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and played in most of the major concert halls in England and Wales and toured the USA, Canada, Japan, Germany, France and Belgium. He is currently the Bandmaster of Ceremonial Guard and has previously served as the Band Sergeant Major for Canada's Band of the Ceremonial Guard and for the Regimental Band of the Governor General's Foot Guards. In June of 2001, he was named a Member of the Order of Military Merit.
[top]Kevin's musical association began with the Royal Conservatory, reaching grade 9 piano. High school presented him with the opportunity to play trumpet and he was introduced to brass bands in Oshawa and Whitby, Ontario, and joined both civic bands in 1978. Playing with these bands, rose to first chair solo cornet, a position he enjoyed from 1984-1990. His information technology career with Bell Canada occasioned a move to Ottawa in 1990, and Kevin became involved in Ottawa's musical scene playing with the Neon Dance orchestra and the Nepean Northern Stars men's a capella choir. He joined the Maple Leaf Brass Band in 1999.
[top]Glen comes from a musical family. Both his twin sister and older brother played trumpet in high school. Glen started the same time and has now been playing for 20 years!
Beginning as he did in his high school band, Glen moved into swing and jazz bands and played with a number of groups over the years. Now, playing cornet and enjoying the brass band experience, Glen revels in the varied repertoire. He says "In the last two years since joining the Maple Leaf Brass Band I have developed substantially in strength, technical ability and musicality and I'm looking forward to many more years of learning and fun in the band."
Glen is a manager in the Nuclear Medicine Department of MDS Nordion.
[top]Gabriel Major-Marothy is a busy young composer, arranger and cornetist. Born in Ottawa, he recently received a Master’s degree in music composition from the University of Western Ontario, where he studied with Dr Peter-Paul Koprowski and Dr David Myska. Prior to studying in London, he completed studies at the University of Ottawa with Steven Gellman and Dr John Armstrong, receiving a Bachelor of Music degree Magna Cum Laude, and at Carleton University (with the late Patrick Cardy). He was the First Prize recipient at both Hannaford Street Silver Band March Writing Competitions, in 2001 with Mischievous Spirit, and in 2004 with the March of the Plumbers, and also the inaugural University of Regina New Composition Competition with his Variations op 23 for concert band. He has had works performed in Canada and the United States at various music festivals including the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) Championships, the Festival of Brass in Toronto, and the Ottawa Chamber Music Festival. As a performing musician, Gabriel currently keeps busy playing cornet for the Maple Leaf Brass Band (David Druce, MMM).
[top]Yosip has come to us after a long and distinguished career as a professional trumpeter in Russia and the Ukraine. A former member of the Ukrainian Guild of Professional Trumpeters, he spent twenty-four years with the symphony orchestra of the Kiev Operetta and in 1974 he won first prize in Russia's Interregional Competition of Brass Performers. He served as co-principal trumpet in both the orchestra of the Kiev Conservatory Opera Studio and the onstage band of Kiev's Taras Shevchenko Opera and Ballet Theatre.
Along with his performing, Yosip has taught trumpet privately and in music schools since the early days of his career in the late '60s. He is available for private lessons here in Ottawa.
[top]Al Ridgway began his career in Vancouver playing dance-band, jazz and theatre music. He moved to Hamilton in the early 70's to study with Ron Romm of the Canadian Brass and maintained a career as a freelance trumpet player and teacher for fifteen years, performing with most of the symphony orchestras in southern Ontario including a seven year stay with the Stratford Festival Orchestra.
Al has been teaching music at Canterbury High school since 1989 and continues to be an active freelance player, composer and arranger in the Ottawa area. For more information about Al, visit his website www.alridgway.com.
[top]Marilyn started playing trumpet at the age of eight, in Melfort, Saskatchewan, and played through high school and university. Later, she played with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra.
After several years, playing piano and classical guitar, she returned to the trumpet in the 1980's, and joined the Navy Reserve Band in Calgary. She then transferred to the Navy Reserve Band in Ottawa and played with the Nepean Concert Band.
As she says, "Then, I had the good fortune of becoming a member of this brass band and switched to playing cornet. I love the medium of brass band and love to play small group ensemble work as well. I am always looking for new and exciting ways to improve my playing."
In addition to all this, she's a a physiotherapist, working part time at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and part time in private consulting. In the rest of her day, she looks after "three wonderful girls and my husband."
[top]Kaz is a product of Ottawa University where he studied trumpet with Robert Oades and Fred Mills. He has recently retired as a music teacher in the Ottawa school system where he taught since 1975. Kaz has toured Russia, Poland and Germany as a trumpet soloist performing and recording many concert including a concerto especially written for him. He has played with many musical ensembles in the Ottawa area including the Art Centre Orchestra, Ottawa Symphony, G.T. Swing Band and for seventeen years he was the leader in the International Set Band. He is currently a member of the Maple Leaf Brass Band doubling on Eb soprano cornet and Flugel Horn. Kaz is also a founding member of the Manotick Brass Ensemble.
As well as playing trumpet and being a professional piano tuner, is also an accomplished accordion player specializing in European repetoire. He has also directed and staged a number of musicals including; Guys and Dolls, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Babes in Arms, Oklahoma and South Pacific.
[top]Ken has been part of the Ottawa music scene for over forty years. He was born and raised in Owen Sound Ontario. He began playing trumpet and cornet when he was eight years old and received his early musical training in the Salvation Army in Owen Sound.
Ken joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Band in 1966 and remained with the band for twenty eight years. He has played with various bands and orchestras in the Ottawa area including the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Symphonique de Gatineau, Kanata Symphony, NorthWinds Brass Quintet (founding member) Centralaires Concert Band, Brass Brats, Rialto Rhythm Revelers, Souper Jazz as well as numerous dance bands and music ensembles Ken is also a founding member of the Maple Leaf Brass Band.
[top]Lloyd Hiscock began his brass career at the age of seven playing cornet in the junior band of the Salvation Army's Montreal Citadel. At sixteen, he graduated to the Montreal Citadel Band under J.N.Audoire. Following his Salvation Army days studying under people such as noted composer Morley Calvert, he studied at Berklee College, Eastman School of Music with Ray Wright and Manny Albam, Humber College with Ron Collier, and recently received his Bachelor of Music, With Highest Honours from Ottawa's Carleton University. His studies there included mentors Patrick Cardy, Deirdre Piper, and Elaine Keillor.
Over the years, Lloyd has written and recorded many pieces for the Vernon Isaac Big Band in Ottawa and a variety of other ensembles including jazz, pop, studio orchestra and chamber groups. He has written video scores for Live Steam, a documentary on steam trains, and for a biographical sketch of Canadian photographer Richard Harrington used in a presentation of Harrington's work by the Canadian Museum of Photography.
Always interested in adding to everyone's enjoyment of music, Lloyd is constantly adding new original works to the brass band repertoire. In addition to his own original works he is working on transcribing and arranging the concert band, orchestra and choral works of James MacDonald Gayfer, for brass band, giving new life to the beautiful music of this under-appreciated Canadian composer. Several of Lloyd's originals and transcriptions have been premiered at the Festival of Brass in Toronto sponsored by The Hannaford Street Silver Band. Lloyd is published Castle Music in Scotland and Eighth Note Publications in Toronto. Many of his works are available on his website www.musicfromlloyd.ca.
[top]At the suggestion of his music teacher, Stewart started playing the French horn 35 years ago. Much of this time was spent in community concert bands and pit orchestras. He has been a member of the Maple Leaf Brass Band since 1996 and continues the conversion to tenor horn initiated in 1999. Stewart is also a member of the Manotick Brass Ensemble (on French Horn).
When not at rehearsal, Stewart can be found chained to a computer by his employer, helping out at Taylor's Gourmet, MyGIFTIdeas Wishlist Management or at home feeding his parrots.
[top]Keith drives transport trailers for a living but lives to play baritone or tenor horn with the Maple Leaf Brass Band. One of the early members of the band, Keith joined as a cornet player following a high school career with the trumpet and twenty years with the regimental band of the Govenor General's Foot Guards. He moved to the baritone horn section in 2005.
[top]Besides being a past president of the band, David has been a writer, human rights activist and data analysis consultant. He is currently studying law at the University of Ottawa. A former Sally Ann boy who never amounted to much as a cornet player, he is happy to now play tenor horn and was proud to be chosen one of the two most improved players in the band for 1999.
[top]Dean Tronsgard has been with the band from the very first rehearsal. Before that he played with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Band for 27 years, the last 20 of which he lead the trombone section, and was lead trombonist, trombone soloist, vocal soloist and euphonium player. He was the last person to be in charge of the RCMP band's brass section and conducted the brass section for a televised Christmas program.
Dean built on an early start with brass music studying with Roy Cornick, Vincent Clark and Ian McDougall. He has played in bands and orchestras for shows as including the Ice Capades and circuses that have performed in Ottawa. Today, he does freelance and solo work, mostly in churches and is a member of the NorthWinds Brass Quintet.
[top]Nicholas was born in the UK and started playing trumpet at the age of seven before moving to euphonium when he was fourteen. His introduction to brass bands occurred at the age of eighteen when he began playing with the British Aerospace (Bristol) Brass Band and later with the Filton Concert Brass Band.
After university, he moved to the Southampton area where he joined the Michelmersh Silver Band. During 1997, his work seconded him to Canada where he discovered us. He later returned to the UK to play with the Michelmersh Silver Band again and later the Downton Brass Band. In 1998, he played with us at the Nova Scotia International Tattoo in Halifax, before returning to Canada permanently in January, 1999 and rejoining our band.
[top]One of the original members of the Maple Leaf Brass Band, Jim has enjoyed a successful career as a professional musician. His experience includes many years as a trombonist with the famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police Band. He has also performed with a number of different groups ranging from orchestras and pit bands to big bands and brass quintets. Over the years, he has studied with a number of prominent teacher/musicians such as Arnold Jacobs, Ted Griffith and Ian McDougall. Now, Jim enjoys sharing his knowledge and experience with up-and-coming players.
By day, Jim works as a speechwriter for the federal government. By night, he relishes the challenge of the solo baritone chair in the Maple Leaf Brass Band.
[top]After 38 years with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Band, where he played bassoon, Bernie, who is also is a professional copyist and music librarian,.is enjoying retirement.
When he's not playing baritone with the Maple Leaf Brass Band and helping with our library, he spends his time with his wife, five children, and four grandchildren. He also plays the organ at church. If there's still time left over, he enjoys the occasional round of golf.
[top]Janice is one of the founders of the band and has been its solo trombone player since its inception. In her professional life, Janice is pursuing a career in project management for major Crown projects with the federal government. Janice started playing trombone at Ottawa's Glebe Collegiate High School at the age of fourteen. She was a member of the Governor General's Foot Guard Regimental Band from 1983 to 1986 and again from 1990 to the beginning of 2002.
In 1997, Janice was invited to play on a two-week tour with Britain's championship-level Regent Brass Band. In 1998, she had the distinction of being the first North American to be invited to join a European tour with the Young Ambassadors Brass Band of the United Kingdom.
[top]Jenny joined the band in the fall of 1999, just in time for our firstLast Night at the Proms concert. She has played in many stage and jazz bands as well as with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra, the Guelph Concert Band, the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra and the Centralaires.
She is currently working for the federal government collecting agricultural statistics from Canadian farmers.
[top]Following an early background in piano, Melissa began playing the trombone in 1995, "by accident" and has been hooked ever since. Now in grade twelve, she has been to several Kiwanis competitions with her school band, winning gold medals locally and at the provincials.
In seven years of practice, Melissa has gained a black belt in jiu-itsu and become an instructor for children ranging in age from five to fifteen. She also practices kickboxing, teaches trombone to ten and eleven-year-olds and loves playing the piano.
[top]For nearly 30 years, Murray has played bass trombone professionally in the Ottawa area. His varied musical background includes 'big' bands, chamber groups, pit orchestras, symphony orchestras, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Band. He joined The Maple Leaf Brass Band shortly after it started and is enjoying rediscovering his playing roots with Salvation Army Brass Bands in Winnipeg. Affectionately known as 'The Grinch', Murray is also one of our assistant librarians, euphonium player par excellence, and assistant bandmaster when called upon.
[top]Hal is a founding member of the Maple Leaf Brass Band, playing Eb Bass in it since its early beginnings in 1995. Hal's first brass band experience was with the Metropolitan United Church Silver Band in Toronto. Seven years with 'The Met', and another 28 years in military bands, including 21 years with the Governor General's Foot Guards in Ottawa round out his banding experience.
[top]Max started playing tuba in the Metropolitan Junior Band in Toronto many years ago. At the age of fourteen, he won a scholarship for obtaining the highest marks in brass solo competitions at the Kiwanis Music Festival. He moved on to the "senior" Metropolitan Silver Band at the age of sixteen and continued with part time studies in music theory, symphony orchestra, tuba and string bass, at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.
As a freelance musician in Toronto for fifteen years, he performed with every type of band and orchestra, including the Howard Cable Band and Orchestra, the Toronto Symphony Band, the Ellis McClintock Band, the Toronto Argonaughts Football Club Band, the Barnum And Bailey Ringling Brothers Circus Band, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, CNE grandstand shows, as well as for radio and TV shows.
His day job as a professional engineer got in the way of music, requiring him to travel extensively and relocate to four different cities. As a result, he played less and less, then not at all for over 20 years. But in 1994, Max resumed playing with community bands in Carleton Place and Perth, and gradually resumed a full schedule of playing in jazz, dixieland, and concert bands and his first love, the brass band.
Always studying his craft, Max has attended low brass workshops at McMaster University each spring since 1996, and International Tuba and Euphonium Conferences in Italy and Regina, Saskatchewan.
Max and his wife, Anne, live near Carleton Place on the Mississippi River. When Max is not playing somewhere, they keep busy with their 11 grandchildren.
[top]Caroline started with our youth band in August 1999 and quickly advanced to full member status of the bass section.
Throughout school, Caroline has been active in music. She first learned to play tuba in grade 6 at Seraphim-Maria, then trombone in grade 7 in the jazz band. Her elementary school band placed first twice in the Kiwanis Music Festival, and has won awards in other music competitions. She is a student at Collège catholique Samuel-Genest.
Caroline's warm sound and commitment to playing well is a welcome addition to the section and the band.
[top]Graham Lindsey began his musical career as a percussionist in 1990. With a background in concert and marching percussion as well as brass (euphonium), the brass band genre is a perfect fit. Today he plays all manners of percussion (including bodhran, rudimental snare drum, xylophone), whistles & fife, and euphonium regularly in community bands and youth ensembles in Ottawa and Toronto. In 2006 he joined The Sarah Burnell Band, a critically acclaimed folk music ensemble and the Loyalist Fifes & Drums, as a drummer and fifer.
Graham is a freelance website developer specializing in audio and video content. GrahamLindsey.com
[top]Pat is a member of the Order of Canada and World Water Ski Champion. Pat plays tympani, mallets and percussion. Currently playing for OCO and Maple Leaf Brass Band. Previous experience includes playing with the National Arts Center Orchestra and the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. She also has many years experience in Opera, Broadway Shows and Dinner Theater.
Pat is comfortable playing all styles of music. Call 613-253-0500 or e-mail pmessner@magma.ca
[top]Originally from Sydney, Nova Scotia, Harold started playing EEb tuba in his teens with the Donkin Citizens Brass Band. As an adult he was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Band for ten years. He has performed under the batons of Godfrey Ridout, Paul Brodie, Howard Cable and Dr. James Gayfer. His tuba has filled out the sound of many bands here in Ottawa including the Governor General's Foot Guards Band, the Ottawa Fire Department Marching Band, the Pat Kent Orchestra, the Herbert Hannemann Barvarian Band and the Derek Robertson Jazz Band. He is also very active as a volunteer with the Music Program at Featherston Drive Public School.
Although retired now, his passion for genealogy and research insure that, no matter where he travels, he encounters someone he knows.
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