Count Basie Orchestra
CADME was proud to host the legendary Count Basie Band for a private concert for students, as well as a day of workshops at the Jack Singer Concert Hall. Over 1500 Students took part in the concert and workshop series. It was an electric night of phenomenal music and learning.
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Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop
1982-2023
For over forty years, the Calgary Regional Summer Band Workshop has inspired thousands of instrumental music students to develop their musical skills. It is a weeklong intensive performance experience designed for students from Grade 5 to adult.
It features small group instruction from professional musicians on all instruments as well as rehearsal time with conductor to culminate in a performance at the end of the week.
CADME is a proud partner of this vital annual event!
Slide into Spring: Calgary's Trombone Day to Celebrate International Trombone Week
2014-2023
Slide Into Spring: Calgary's Trombone Day held its ninth annual event on Sunday, April 3, 2022, and was the first time back to "in person" since 2019. With the ability to stream online, the event had online and in-person, there were attendees streaming in from as far as Victoria and Ottawa!
The end of the evening was completed with a short video greeting from Crossbones Trombones of Belgium - who announced their tour which would take place with a stop in Calgary two weeks later!
The event typically includes warm-ups, Q&A sessions, and demonstrations from local professional trombonists from the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, and culminates in the performance of a mass trombone choir.
Canadian National Jazz Orchestra
2022
In partnership with JazzYYC, CADME arranged a private performance for 500 music students to hear some of the first notes of the inaugural Canadian National Jazz Orchestra, directed by luminary Canadian composer and musician Christine Jensen.
While Canada fosters the development of many elite-level jazz musicians, there has never been unifying event on this scale. The performance featured jazz artists from every corner of Canada, and included the opportunity premiere of new works composed exclusively by Canadian composers.
Learn more about this history-making ensemble here and here.
Holiday Tubafest
2008-2022
An annual CADME sponsored event, Holiday Tubafest has been inviting Tuba players of all ages to enjoy the holiday spirit for fifteen years.
Behind-the-Scenes with the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra
In a partnership with Jazz YYC, a "behind-the-scenes" look was offered to local music students with the Canadian National Jazz Orchestra.
Open Rehearsal with NYC Jazz at the Lincoln Centre
2022
"Watching big-time musicians be humble, gentle, and polite was inspiring." --music student
"It was better than a regular concert, we got to watch them talk to each other and to talk with us. We got to know them way more than we would if it was a regular show. " --music student
"Thanks to CADME for sponsoring this beautiful jazz experience with a mentoring group from NYC - the musicians were so engaging and interactive, the rehearsal was enlightening." -music educator
Of course, an enormous thank you to Arts Commons for all of their hard work and organization and for Jazz at Lincoln Center for inspiring the future!!
CROSSBONES Trombone Collective
2022
Crossbone Trombones of Belgium were on tour in the Calgary-region from April 11-16, 2022. They had nine performances for students within the Calgary Board of Education, Calgary Catholic School District and Rockyview Schools. They also reached community music groups with Westwinds Music Society and performed a concert at Hope Lutheran Church for the public on April 15th - garnering a full house and a standing ovation at the end!
CADME was very much involved in facilitating this tour which reached over 1000 audience members and inspired music students of all ages and levels at a crucial time of engaging everyone to be motivated through live music again.
Higher, Faster, Louder: Calgary's Trumpet Day
2020-2023
Higher, Faster, Louder: Calgary's Trumpet Day is a day devoted to trumpet players of all levels and ages.
It's an annual event featuring workshops, seminars, masterclasses, and concerts with Calgary's finest trumpet performers and educators. It often features guest artists from around Canada and the world!
Workshops with Derrick Gardner
2022
Renowned jazz trumpet player, composer, bandleader, and educator, Derrick Gardner, conducted workshops with Calgary jazz band students and their teachers.
2021 Dance of Reconciliation Through Storytelling
The Dance of Reconciliation through Music and Storytelling with Walter Macdonald White Bear and Samantha Whelan Kotkas was a virtual live event with over 200 attendees at the time of the event, and many more were able to take in the recording after the event.
Walter MacDonald White Bear, a Cree flute player, singer songwriter and facilitator and Samantha Whelan Kotkas, a Classical trumpet player, storyteller and producer will discuss the work they have done for the National Arts Centre of Canada as a cross- cultural team touring in and around Alberta since 2013.
Together they will explored these questions and much more to help teachers start to lead authentically in their own communities while enriching their arts programs.
2021 Mother Earth - Spring
CADME commissioned Walter MacDonald White Bear and Michael Gardner to create a cross-cultural project to bring together an indigenous and non-indigenous composer to undertake a collaborative project to contribute to the reconciliation process and to fill a the need for resources for beginner bands.
Twenty-eight member schools received a copy of the piece, Mother Earth - Spring, as well as an educational guide to encourage the rehearsal and performance in schools of this new and exciting composition.
2020 Music Community Recovery Program
CADME designated a fund of $15000 to create educational resources for YYC music students created by local musicians and teaching artists.
These educational materials serve to bolster the current distance learning of students, and to create a legacy of resources for the future.
Many of these resources continue to help students and teachers alike on our Youtube Channel.
Jazz Jams
What has now become a tradition - CADME continues to host 3 all ages Jazz Jams for students and amateur musicians alike to come together and make music. An incredibly supportive evening of music making, high fives and big smiles occurs under the watchful eyes of master band directors. Open to the public and always a tonne of fun, these Jazz Jams are important opportunities for students to experience playing improvised solos and getting like-minded musicians together for a night of creating, music making and learning.
2019 Music Conference Alberta
CADME was proud to help present this year's Music Conference Alberta, including supporting the keynote session with Bramwell Tovey as well as numerous other sessions at this provincial conference for music educators. CADME was proud to coproduce this event with Choir Alberta, The Alberta Band Association and the Alberta Music Education Foundation. The conference was the best attended in history and a wonderful success for all involved.
2019 Jazz Residency -
Melissa Aldana
CADME was thrilled to invite Melissa Aldana from New York to work with students for a two week residency in 2019. Melissa ran workshops in dozens of schools and performed nightly with students at the Ironwood Stage.
Aldana graduated from Berklee in 2009, relocating to New York City to study under George Coleman. She recorded her first album, Free Fall, released on Greg Osby's Inner Circle Music imprint in 2010. Her live shows in this period included performances at the Blue Note Jazz Club and the Monterey Jazz Festival, and her second album, Second Cycle, was released in 2012. In 2013, aged 24, she was the first female musician and the first South American musician to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition
Dr. Dale Lonis
2015-2019
CADME has brought renowned educator, inspirational speaker, and international conductor Dr. Dale Lonis to Calgary as a headline resident educator and conductor for numerous years. At the workshops, he addressed a huge number of topics, with the main themes focusing on knowing your students, what they need to know, and how to get them to know it. Through several different lenses, he proved time and again to the educators that this is the real core of student-centered learning, and gave immediately practical tools for putting these ideas into practice immediately in their classrooms. Through the educators who attended these workshops, thousands of Calgary students have already benefited from the enhanced techniques Dr. Lonis taught, and the lasting effects of his teaching will continue to improve the musical experience of students for years to come.
Conductor Residency - Jim Sparks
We are excited to Welcome professor Sparks to work with our students and teacher in Calgary.
James Sparks (Jim) is adjunct professor at the UBC School of Music (conducting), lecturer in Arts Education at SFU, senior advisor for choral music for Music Mentors International, and former director of vocal music at the Langley Fine Arts School (LFAS) in Langley British Columbia. With an undergraduate degree in piano and voice (University of British Columbia), a Masters Degree in choral conducting (University of Arizona), and a PhD in philosophy (Simon Fraser University), Jim has continued his teaching in school, university, and community contexts for over three decades.
Conductor Residency - Dr. Glenn Price
CADME was thrilled to have the opportunity to bring CalTech Director of Bands Dr. Glenn Price to Calgary for a 2 week residency. Dr. Price visited approximately 20 schools and work with students and educators on their music, rehearsal technique, classroom management, musicianship and many other skills.
Dr. Price has a deep connection to Calgary and we are very excited to have him back in Calgary for these fantastic workshops.
2018 Jazz Residency - Brian Lynch
Grammy© Award Winning trumpeter Brian Lynch brings to his music an unparalleled depth and breadth of experience. A honored graduate of two of the jazz world’s most distinguished academies, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers and the Horace Silver Quintet, he received wide acclaim during his long tenures with Latin Jazz legend Eddie Palmieri and straight ahead master Phil Woods. He has been a valued collaborator with jazz artists such as Benny Golson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Charles McPherson; Latin music icons as diverse as Hector LaVoe and Lila Downs; and pop luminaries such as Prince. As a bandleader and recording artist he has released over 20 critically acclaimed CDs featuring his distinctive composing and arranging, and has toured the world at the helm of various ensembles reflecting the wide sweep of his music.
We are thrilled to have hosted Mr. Lynch for many workshops and concerts with Calgary students.
Conspirare Private Concert and Workshop
Date Published - July 4th, 2016
CADME is excited to announce the sponsorship of a private concert and workshop with Conspirare on Monday, May 23, 2016, in partnership with Podium 2016, the Rozsa Foundation, Cantare Children’s Choir, Luminous Voices and Mount Royal Conservatory.
Students will observe a mini-concert and Q&A with Conspirare, rehearse a Mass Choir selection in sectionals and then in a full rehearsal with Conspirare’s director Craig Hella Johnson. The selection will be provided ahead of time, but the workshop is designed with a sectional so that minimal preparation is required to participate. This workshop is aimed at choristers between the ages of 12 and 25. Although this opportunity is not for the general public, Conspirare will also be performing an evening concert at the Bella Concert Hall and workshop participants are welcome to purchase tickets.
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra Private Concert
Date Published - April 13th, 2016
CADME’s landmark project of the year – The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra – private concert for students at the Jack Singer Concert Hall at 7:30 p.m. Ticket orders for block bookings by schools will be out soon. This is for all students from elementary through high school – ticket orders will include room for adult supervisors to reflect board policies.
James Zollar
Date Published - November 23rd, 2015
CADME is proud to present James Zollar in partnership with the Calgary Creative Arts Ensemble. He will be available for school workshops from November 23 through 27.
Mr. Zollar has been featured with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Count Basie Band, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and numerous others. To learn more, visit http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/jameszollar
Please use the attached document to learn about the details, cost and to request a workshop.
Date Published - January 28th, 2016
CADME Vocal Jazz Workshop with Grammy nominated Jeremy Fox and others. Each participating school will host a workshop and perform at Lord Beaverbrook on the evening of January 29. Stay tuned for details.
From 2006 – 2009 CADME maintained a partnership with the faculty from Jazz at the Lincoln Center. Each year the Faculty was brought to Calgary to work with educators, covering such topics as Jazz Improvisation, Rhythm Section Fundamentals and Rehearsal Techniques.
These sessions were the first ever for JALC offered outside of New York and fetured faculty form the JALC orchestra as well as master educators from around the USA.
Jon Batiste
2014
CADME in conjunction with the EPCOR CENTRE for the Performing Arts hosted workshops and performances by Jon Batiste and the band Stay Human for students of all ages. Everyone who was in attendance would agree that it was a huge success! Students from Richmond Elementary School recently wrote letters of appreciation for this experience, which you can read here (A MUST READ!):
Richard Nace and Geoffrey Boers Choral Workshops
2012-2015
CADME has been able to support groups of between 15-25 choir directors coming together for a 3 day intensive workshop, where they developed a deeper understanding of not only the mechanics of singing, but also of inspiring students to express themselves. Usually, this workshop is only offered in Seattle, but thanks to CADME Mr. Nace and Mr. Boers were able to bring their expertise to Calgary. This workshop became the seed of bringing the Calgary choir educator community closer together, which has already resulted in the sharing of ideas and improving choral education in Southern Alberta.
“I was new to teaching choir the first year that I took the program, with most of my experience in teaching instrumental music, and I didn’t really understand how to reach the kids through singing. After the first workshop, I saw the potential for kids to really express themselves through music this way, and it started me on a journey to improve my own practice while helping the kids realize potential they didn’t know they had. Choir is now one of the more popular options at my school, because students tell me they really feel inspired to sing, and I can trace it back to my experience with CADME’s Choral workshop with Rich Nace and Geoff Boers. Thank you!”
-Adam Mailman
ELEMENTARY MUSIC OUTREACH
In the spring of 2022, in partnership with Mount Royal University Conservatory and the Calgary Board of Education, we were able to send live musicians to perform for thousands of students in 23 schools to help foster and encourage life-long learning in music.