2019 Da Capo Brochure

Melissa Spraggs Melissa works in Prairie Rose School Division where she has taught choir, handbells and K-6 general music. After teaching music for five years she returned to academic life to pursue her Master of Music Education Degree at Brandon University where she is investigating the topic of engaging boys in singing.

John Hodge Hodge is the band director at Neepawa Area Collegiate Institute where he teaches 232 students from grades six to twelve. Hodge was the winner of the 2018 MBA Ken Epp P.D. Award and, when not at school, enjoys shouting at his television during CFL games.

Roberta Matheson Roberta’s love for choir began singing with the Matheson Cousins. Roberta graduated from Brandon University in 2012, and has been building the choir family at West Kildonan Collegiate since 2014. Roberta is a board member of Manitoba Choral Association, and sings with Ecco Singers.

Justine Burke Justine completed her B. Mus/B. Ed degree at BU in 2014. Her focus was on instrumental music with a major on piano and minor on clarinet. She is in her fifth year of running the music program at Carberry Collegiate where she teaches general music, band, jazz band, and choir.

Graydon Cramer & Jarrett Fuller Graydon Cramer and Jarrett Fuller team teach together at Waverly Park school in Brandon as part of the Brandon West Middle Schools divisional band program. In addition to co-teaching first year band students, Graydon and Jarrett co-direct an extra-curricular Jazz band available to grade 8 students in Brandon. Their philosophy of teaching Jazz is centered around: exposing/connecting students to the art form (history, recordings, artists, traditions), Improvisation, learning aurally, and challenging students to achieve their best in large and/or smaller ensemble settings.

Michael Brandon Michael is originally from Westman and graduated from BU School of Music with a B. Mus and B. Ed in 1993. He spent 15 years in middle school positions before taking his current high school position as performing Arts Department Head at Lord Selkirk Regional Comprehensive Secondary School in the Fall of 2009. Michael is a frequent guest conductor/clinician with young bands, and has conducted the Westman Junior Honour, the MBA Provincial Junior Honour band, and the U of M Concert band (guest conductor). He enjoys his roles as an adjudicator and guest speaker.

Dr. Wendy McCallum Dr. Wendy McCallum is the Instrumental Music Education Specialist and director of the Symphonic Band at Brandon University where she teaches courses in music education and conducting. McCallum, active as a conductor and clinician, investigates areas related to teaching and learning, conducting, and instrumental literature as curriculum in the music classroom.

Kevin Doell Mr. Doell received his Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Education from Brandon University. Kevin is very active as a guest conductor serving students from the WESMAN Honour Band, Louis Riel Honour Band, Central Honour Band, Parkland Honour Band, and Pembina Trails Honour Band. He has also conducted the St. James Summer Band Camp, and Springfield Summer Band Camp for the past eight years. He has adjudicated the Saskatoon Music Festival, Morden and Altona Festivals, the Manitoba Beginning Band festival for the last nine years, the

Moose Jaw Festival and the Swan River Festival. Kevin has also conducted the Manitoba Provincial Honour Band, and at the International Music Camp. He is also a past recipient of the Brandon University Distinguished Teacher Award. Mr. Doell has presented numerous times at Tempo, for the Manitoba Education Research Network, the Manitoba Association of School Trustees, as well as the School of Music at both the University of Brandon and University of Manitoba. He has also presented at Brandon University’s Da Capo music conference for 11 years. Kevin currently works in Sunrise School Division as the Principal of Springfield Collegiate. Karen Warner

Karen Warner teaches fiddle in the Seven Oaks School Division (Ecole Seven Oaks Middle School and Ecole Leila North Community School). She studied at the University of Winnipeg, Brandon University, and the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. She was a violin teacher on the faculty of the Manitoba Conservatory of Music from 1985 until 2013. Karen taught in the Dauphin School Area and in the Winnipeg School Division (River Heights Junior High School). She is the concertmaster of the Mennonite Community Orchestra, leads the Bel Canto String Quartet, and freelances in various musical productions. She has been a judge at the three most recent Manitoba Open Fiddle Championships and goes to fiddle camps whenever possible!

Marla Fontaine

Marla Fontaine is the music specialist at École Harrison in Brandon and is an alumnus of Brandon University. She holds her Level II Orff from the University of Manitoba. Marla directs the Brandon Conservatory Chorale Apprentice and Concert Choirs. She sings with two vocal ensembles; "das Femmes"and "Konektis”.

Taylor Schmidt Taylor Schmidt holds the degree of Bachelor of Science with a Major in Music Education from the University of Mary (2003). While at Mary, Taylor was a member of the University of Mary Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Concert Band and Brass Choir. Taylor started his teaching career at Springfield Middle School in Oakbank where for 7 years he directed over 270 students in the Grade 6, 7 and 8 Concert Bands, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band. Taylor is currently the Music Director at the Dauphin Regional Comprehensive Secondary school in Dauphin Manitoba, a position which he has held for the past 8 years. With over 160 students in the band program, he co-directs the three concert bands and three jazz bands at the DRCSS. The DRCSS bands have participated in festivals throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and North Dakota where they have received numerous awards. Taylor has also adjudicated at the MBA Level One Band Festival, Virden Festival, and has directed the Louis Riel, Wesman, Parkland/Norman Honour Bands, Manitoba Provincial Junior Honour Band.

Jeff McPherson

Jeff currently teaches K-5 music at Wayoata School, and is the teacher leader for early years music TELP (technology enabled learning practices) in RETSD. He regularly present P.D. at the divisional level on technology in the music classroom and has presented at TEMPO on Ukulele education.

Donna Turk

Donna lives in Forget, SK, and has been teaching violin for over 25 years. Previously she taught in Calgary, Alberta. She studied violin performance at the University of Western Ontario and was the Artistic Director of the Bow Valley Fiddlers, the educational program of the Calgary Fiddlers Association from 1997-2014.