Life in the turbo lane

Ok, Since my last entry an incredible number of exciting things have happened. In my usual fashion I had set some goals for the year ahead back in Sept.09. One goal was to get in great shape and lose some weight…rather mundane but necessary.  I joined Excel fitness, got a trainer for weights and over the past 8 months have actually gone to the gym and exercised.  Not super consistently but enough to lose 25 lbs. and get a bit toned.  There is no more amazing feeling than being in better shape. I find horn playing easier and have way more endurance and enthusiasm.

I have also been involved in the incredibly creative process of putting on the International Women’s Brass Conference Toronto 2010.  Check out www.iwbctoronto2010.com.  over 60 guest artists and events to “blow” you away. We have had such incredible support from the world renowned jazz school of Humber College with Alastair Kay , Head of Brass and an amazing jazz trombonist ( has his own line of trombones at Yamaha ! spiffy!) and Carol Jantsch of the Philadelphia Orchestra coming, Susan Rider , lead cornet soloist with the US Marine Band – world’s best band that is, Carolyn Johns aka Cazzbo from Australia – tuba improviser extraordinaire and a creative genius, Abbie Conant from Munich with her thought provoking one woman show, Susan Slaughter retiring 1st tpt. of the St. Louis Symphony and founder of IWBC, Julie Landsman retiring 1st Horn of the Met Opera Orchestra.  We are having so much fun making plans to have clinics, concerts, parties, brass olympics – try out your hand at the tuba toss event etc.. and jam sessions, learning to get back to just having fun playing music and enjoying making sound.  This is a celebration of everyone who ever wanted or does play a brass instrument.  I hope you will check out this once in a lifetime event. June 16-20th.  Oh yeah, and on June 13th at noon, join the Canadian Brass, True North Brass and Hannaford Band in creating the World’s Largest Brass Band. Everyone welcome to show the world how great playing brass can be.  I’d love to meet u there !  That’s it for now…more soon.

Music by the Sea and Victoria

True North Brass just spent 10 incredible days at Music By The Sea in Bamfield British Columbia.  This is the brain child of Chris Donison ( pianist, arranger, composer, conductor and past Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival).  I went to the University of Victoria with Chris and we have remained friends. Chris’s vision is to have an artist’s retreat , where musicians from around the world can perform, collaborate and enjoy time to rehearse sufficiently and get to know each other. How great is that?  He also envisioned a concert facility that had a glass back drop so that the audience could view the ocean and sky during performances. So be it…the Rix Centre in Bamfield..part of the Marine Biology station there.  It is an stunning view and really changes the way you listen to music .  When True North played Scott’s arrangement of Bach, many audience members came up to me after to say the trees were literally swaying in time to our playing.   I am posting pics in the Gallery for you to see.   The first set is of the launch of the Soundstreams rowboat – MBTS’s recent aquisition.  The lovely Iona Campanola came to break the champagne over the bow and True North dressed in red and white for the occassion.  Al Kay has taken spectacular photos of the whole event to be seen at www.alkayphotos.com.   Enjoy !  Scott and I are still basking in the after-effects of being in Bamfield. Wonderful music making, amazingly generous and hospitable residents and audience, great food, wine and brilliant organization by Chris and Lynne Huras.  More to come….

Welcome to my NEW Website!

I’m excited to have a way to connect with all of you out there who have a passion for music or horn playing or performing or just enjoying life more.  I love to play horn and perform, and I also enjoy a whole bunch of other things as well. This blog will feature a variety of comments as life goes on to address my pet peeves and hopefully help in some small way for everyone reading it to find more joy and happiness in their lives. I want to be a part of the solution, giving what tools I have learned , to make being a musician easier and more fun. You’ll see lots of tips and comments as I go day to day on my journey .

With best wishes,

Joan