Neil Barlow
Neil originally hails from Michigan. Alongside a highly successful career as an engineer, he is a well-known performer on trumpet, cornet and various brass instruments both in Canada and the U.S., where he was a founding member and the original conductor of the Michigan-based award-winning Five Lakes Silver Band. He resides in Muskoka and leads numerous musical endeavours ranging from conducting the Orillia Silver Band and the Muskoka Concert Band to leading and performing with the Northwood Brass quintet and being Music Director for various community musicals.
Neil originally hails from Michigan. Alongside a highly successful career as an engineer, he is a well-known performer on trumpet, cornet and various brass instruments both in Canada and the U.S., where he was a founding member and the original conductor of the Michigan-based award-winning Five Lakes Silver Band. He resides in Muskoka and leads numerous musical endeavours ranging from conducting the Orillia Silver Band and the Muskoka Concert Band to leading and performing with the Northwood Brass quintet and being Music Director for various community musicals.
Debbie Silverthorne
Debbie studied music at the University of Western Ontario and after winning a national audition, moved to Toronto for the Orchestral Training Program through the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has studied with Ramon Parcells and performed in master classes led by such notable artists as Arnold Jacobs, Vincent Cichowicz, Jean-Louis Chattel and Susan Enger. Debbie has enjoyed playing in the pit for Brampton Music Theatre (most recently, West Side Story) and freelancing for other GTA bands and orchestras. Currently, Debbie plays in the Metropolitan Silver Band, Upper Canada Brass, the Jazz Mechanics and the Kerr Street Big Band. In her spare time, Debbie is pursuing her black belt in Goju Ryu karate.
Debbie studied music at the University of Western Ontario and after winning a national audition, moved to Toronto for the Orchestral Training Program through the Royal Conservatory of Music. She has studied with Ramon Parcells and performed in master classes led by such notable artists as Arnold Jacobs, Vincent Cichowicz, Jean-Louis Chattel and Susan Enger. Debbie has enjoyed playing in the pit for Brampton Music Theatre (most recently, West Side Story) and freelancing for other GTA bands and orchestras. Currently, Debbie plays in the Metropolitan Silver Band, Upper Canada Brass, the Jazz Mechanics and the Kerr Street Big Band. In her spare time, Debbie is pursuing her black belt in Goju Ryu karate.
Ray Chantler
Toronto-based Ray Chantler's musical roots can be traced back to the Boy Scouts where, at age 12, he began playing the one-valve bugle in a drum and bugle corp. In high school, he switched to trumpet and by the age of 19 was performing throughout southern Ontario as a member of the Oberkrajner Brass dance band -- a gig that allowed him to put himself through university. After graduation, Ray pack up his trumpet, and eventually made a comeback. He re-joined the Oberkrajner Brass, as well as a variety of bands, theatre orchestras, brass quintets and small combos. Today, Ray performs with Sophisticated Swing, the Kerr St. Big Band, Swingline and local theatre orchestras. He balances his love of music with his day-job as Director of Information Management for Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. Ray has studied trumpet with Dave Snyder, Steve Chenette, Chase Sanborn and Brian O'Kane.
Toronto-based Ray Chantler's musical roots can be traced back to the Boy Scouts where, at age 12, he began playing the one-valve bugle in a drum and bugle corp. In high school, he switched to trumpet and by the age of 19 was performing throughout southern Ontario as a member of the Oberkrajner Brass dance band -- a gig that allowed him to put himself through university. After graduation, Ray pack up his trumpet, and eventually made a comeback. He re-joined the Oberkrajner Brass, as well as a variety of bands, theatre orchestras, brass quintets and small combos. Today, Ray performs with Sophisticated Swing, the Kerr St. Big Band, Swingline and local theatre orchestras. He balances his love of music with his day-job as Director of Information Management for Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. Ray has studied trumpet with Dave Snyder, Steve Chenette, Chase Sanborn and Brian O'Kane.
Jonas Feldman
For over 20 years, Jonas Feldman has dedicated his musical practice to the pursuit of powerful sound, and lyrical interpretation. Intensive study with Keith Johnson, Dr. Leonard Candelaria (University of North Texas), and Glenn Fischthal (San Francisco Conservatory), helped shape Feldman’s distinctive style. He has played with the Edmonton Symphony, and several other professional organizations worldwide, including the Rome Festival Orchestra. Feldman is a musician in the Canadian Armed Forces, and is a competitive powerlifter. He lives in Toronto with two cats, and two guinea pigs.
For over 20 years, Jonas Feldman has dedicated his musical practice to the pursuit of powerful sound, and lyrical interpretation. Intensive study with Keith Johnson, Dr. Leonard Candelaria (University of North Texas), and Glenn Fischthal (San Francisco Conservatory), helped shape Feldman’s distinctive style. He has played with the Edmonton Symphony, and several other professional organizations worldwide, including the Rome Festival Orchestra. Feldman is a musician in the Canadian Armed Forces, and is a competitive powerlifter. He lives in Toronto with two cats, and two guinea pigs.
Michele McCall
The love of all things trumpet has led to many musical paths for Michele. She has played flugel horn or solo cornet for the Metropolitan Silver Band since 1981 and has managed the band for 13 years. Other brass ensembles have included Upper Canada Brass and A Little Wind Music. In addition to the brass band genre, Michele loves jazz and currently plays in the Kerr St Big Band and the Bloor St. Dixie Serenaders. She is very excited about Clarkson Brass and their inaugural season!
The love of all things trumpet has led to many musical paths for Michele. She has played flugel horn or solo cornet for the Metropolitan Silver Band since 1981 and has managed the band for 13 years. Other brass ensembles have included Upper Canada Brass and A Little Wind Music. In addition to the brass band genre, Michele loves jazz and currently plays in the Kerr St Big Band and the Bloor St. Dixie Serenaders. She is very excited about Clarkson Brass and their inaugural season!
Darlene Klein
Darlene Klein received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, at which time was an active member of the Hannaford Youth Programs. She continued her studies at the University of Western Ontario to receive her Bachelor of Education. She is currently teaching high school music at Middlefield Collegiate Institute in York Region and is recent addition to the Metropolitan Silver Band in Toronto.
Darlene Klein received her Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto, at which time was an active member of the Hannaford Youth Programs. She continued her studies at the University of Western Ontario to receive her Bachelor of Education. She is currently teaching high school music at Middlefield Collegiate Institute in York Region and is recent addition to the Metropolitan Silver Band in Toronto.
Michael Fraser
Michael Fraser studied music education at the University of Western Ontario. Since graduating, he has been a music educator in the Halton region. Michael spent some time in military bands plating for the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa. Aside from performing with Clarkson Brass, he currently plays with a few local brass bands including the Intrada Brass of Oakville and Upper Canada Brass.
Michael Fraser studied music education at the University of Western Ontario. Since graduating, he has been a music educator in the Halton region. Michael spent some time in military bands plating for the Ceremonial Guard in Ottawa. Aside from performing with Clarkson Brass, he currently plays with a few local brass bands including the Intrada Brass of Oakville and Upper Canada Brass.
Sharon St. Pierre
Sharon received her Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Music degrees at the University of Western Ontario. She taught elementary school music for 27 years with the District School Board of Niagara. Sharon enjoys playing trombone in Symphony on the Bay and freelancing with other local bands and orchestras. She was one of the original members of Brassroots (London, ON) and is excited to play brass ensemble music again with Clarkson Brass! Most recently, Sharon has performed with the World Rock Symphony Orchestra at the Centre in the Square (Kitchener, ON) and with Clarkson Music Theatre in the musical White Christmas.
Sharon received her Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Music degrees at the University of Western Ontario. She taught elementary school music for 27 years with the District School Board of Niagara. Sharon enjoys playing trombone in Symphony on the Bay and freelancing with other local bands and orchestras. She was one of the original members of Brassroots (London, ON) and is excited to play brass ensemble music again with Clarkson Brass! Most recently, Sharon has performed with the World Rock Symphony Orchestra at the Centre in the Square (Kitchener, ON) and with Clarkson Music Theatre in the musical White Christmas.
Genevieve Mullally
Genevieve studied music at the University of Prince Edward Island in her hometown of Charlottetown under Gregory Irvine. Most of her brass playing has been on tuba, but she has been enjoying branching out and joins the Clarkson Brass as a bass trombonist. During her years on the East coast she played with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra (Dinuk Wijeratne), UPEI’s Wind Symphony (Karem Simon), and the Confederation Brass Quintet. Genevieve continued her studies in Music Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland and moved to Toronto in 2015. She has played in wind ensembles and brass groups including: Rouge River Winds, Metropolitan Silver Band and Metropolitan Winds of Toronto.
Genevieve studied music at the University of Prince Edward Island in her hometown of Charlottetown under Gregory Irvine. Most of her brass playing has been on tuba, but she has been enjoying branching out and joins the Clarkson Brass as a bass trombonist. During her years on the East coast she played with the Nova Scotia Youth Orchestra (Dinuk Wijeratne), UPEI’s Wind Symphony (Karem Simon), and the Confederation Brass Quintet. Genevieve continued her studies in Music Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland and moved to Toronto in 2015. She has played in wind ensembles and brass groups including: Rouge River Winds, Metropolitan Silver Band and Metropolitan Winds of Toronto.
Dan Taylor
Daniel Taylor first picked up a tuba at age 12, after his grandmother gave him a Tubby the Tuba CD, and he's been playing ever since. He began his music studies at the University of Toronto, and has since transferred to Wilfrid Laurier University. Daniel has studied with some of the best tuba players in the world, including James Gourlay, Pat Sheridan, Gene Pokorny, and Oystein Baadsvik, with whom he has spent two sessions at the Domaine Forget International Music Camp in Quebec. When he is not playing the tuba he enjoys learning about ancient Roman history, and quantum mechanics.
Daniel Taylor first picked up a tuba at age 12, after his grandmother gave him a Tubby the Tuba CD, and he's been playing ever since. He began his music studies at the University of Toronto, and has since transferred to Wilfrid Laurier University. Daniel has studied with some of the best tuba players in the world, including James Gourlay, Pat Sheridan, Gene Pokorny, and Oystein Baadsvik, with whom he has spent two sessions at the Domaine Forget International Music Camp in Quebec. When he is not playing the tuba he enjoys learning about ancient Roman history, and quantum mechanics.