2019 Guest Conductors

Southern Alberta Junior Honour Band Guest Conductor
Jennifer Mann, Red Deer
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Jennifer Mann is currently in her sixteenth year as Director of Instrumental Music at Lindsay Thurber Comprehensive High School in Red Deer. Prior to her move to Lindsay Thurber, Jennifer taught at Central, Westpark, and Eastview Middle Schools all in Red Deer. The ensembles under Jennifer's direction have consistently achieved superior ratings at the local, provincial and national level.  The LTCHS Symphonic Band received Gold Awards at MusicFest 2004 in Richmond, BC, the Atlantic Band Festival 2008 in Halifax, NS, and the New York City Festival of Music in 2013.  Many of her groups have also received scholarships at the Red Deer Festival of Performing Arts and Superior and Adjudicators' Choice Awards at the Alberta Band Association Provincial Festival of Bands. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Calgary (BMus – Secondary Education, Ed. Cert.). Jennifer has performed as a member of the University of Calgary Wind Ensemble and Red Deer College Symphonic Winds. In addition to her full time duties as a school band director, she has taught private flute lessons at the Red Deer College Conservatory of Music and she has been a flute clinician for the RDC Adventures in Summer Music Program.  In July, 2013, Jennifer participated in the University of Toronto Wind Conducting Symposium.  She has also taken graduate-level courses in music technology, recruiting and retention and web design through the VanderCook College Music Education Center of America in Chicago.  Jennifer served six years as a Board Member of the Alberta Band Association.  In 2005, Jennifer was inducted into the prestigious international band master fraternity, Phi Beta Mu.  In 2012, Jennifer was a finalist for an Alberta Education Excellence in Teaching Award.  In 2018, Jennifer was awarded the Alberta Band Association Elkhorn Band Director of the Year Award.  She is frequently in demand as a guest conductor, and is looking forward to the challenge of working with the 2019 Southern Alberta Junior Honour Band in Calgary. Jennifer is married to Michael (also a band director) and they have two sons, Zachary (19) and Aaron (17).

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Northern Alberta Junior Honour Band Guest Conductor
Ken Rogers, Lethbridge

​​Ken Rogers taught Middle, Junior High, and High School band for 32 years, retiring last June from Lethbridge Collegiate Institute where he taught Gr. 9-12 band, jazz band, and guitar.  Ken has also taught low brass studio at the University of Lethbridge and currently conducts the choir at McKillop United Church in Lethbridge.   He conducted the Lethbridge Community Bands for 20 years and enjoys conducting musicals, most recently “Titanic, the Musical” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” in benefit of the Lethbridge Seniors Organization and “Les Miserables” and “Sweeney Todd” with the Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra.    He thoroughly enjoys adjudicating at festivals and has taught low brass and conducted bands several times at MusiCamrose, MusiCamp Red Deer, and Red Deer College Adult Community Band Workshop.   Ken conducted the Alberta Band Association’s Northern Alberta Junior Honour Band in 2006 as well as the University of Lethbridge High School Honour Band in 2019.   Ken is a member of the band director fraternity Phi Beta Mu, an honourary life member of the Lethbridge Community Band Society, a Past President of the Alberta Band Association, and has served on the boards of the Canadian Band Association and Choir Alberta.   He was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s “Legion of Honor Laureate” award in 2015, the “David J. Peterkin Memorial Award” in 2010 for outstanding service to band music in Alberta, and the Alberta Band Association's “Elkhorn Award” for Band Director of the Year in 2002.    Ken lives in Lethbridge with his pianist wife of 35 years, Christine, and they have 2 grown children attending university, Camille pursuing a Master of Music degree at the University of Toronto, and Christopher pursuing a Doctorate in Engineering Physics at Stanford University in California.   

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Past Conductors

Southern Alberta Junior Honour Band
2019 - Jennifer Mann, Red Deer
2018 - Jayne Montgomery, Edmonton
2015 - David Grimstead
2014 - Roberta Baril
​2013 - Victor Lopez
2012 - Rita Burns
​2007 - Bob Bailey, Camrose
​2000 - Dennis Beck
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Northern Alberta Junior Honour Band
2019 - Ken Rogers, Lethbridge
2018 - Jane McLauchlin, Calgary
2016 - Kevin Willms, Calgary
2013 - Martin Kennedy
2007 - Brian Thorlacius, Calgary
2003 - Gillian MacKay, Toronto
2002 - Robert McLeod
​2001 - Barry Valleau