2019 Clinicians
CONCERT CHOIR AND VOCAL JAZZ
DR JENNIFER LANG
Dr. Jennifer Lang is an Assistant Professor of Music Education and the Director of Choral Activities at the University of Saskatchewan where she conducts the Greystone Singers and teaches Choral Literature, Choral Methods, Choral Pedagogy, and Elementary Music Methods. She is the organizer of the Department of Music’s Music Education in Action Series and the founder and organizer of the uSing, uSask Choral Festival. While completing her graduate studies at the University of Western Ontario, Jennifer was awarded a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship and was an instructor at the Don Wright Faculty of Music and Faculty of Education and the Teaching Support Centre. Currently Jennifer serves as the past-president on the board of the Saskatchewan Choral Federation, the Board Chair for Musical Futures Canada, and a member of Choral Canada’s Advocacy Committee. Prior to completing her doctorate, Jennifer served as a program leader of vocal and instrumental secondary school music with the District of Niagara Arts Academy in the District School Board of Niagara.
Dr. Lang’s research examines engagement and agency in music education programs, including informal music learning in a variety of educational contexts, music creation in the classroom, and intergenerational singing programs with singers with Alzheimer’s Disease. Jennifer is also active as a conductor, choral adjudicator, clinician and conference presenter with local, provincial, national, and international invitations. Most recently, Jennifer has adjudicated at ChoralFest North 2018 in Alberta, 2017 Cantando Sun Peaks Festival in British Columbia, and ChorFest 2016 in Saskatchewan.
Described as “innovative, expressive, and dynamic,” Elroy Friesen is Director of Choral Studies at the University of Manitoba where he heads the graduate studies program in choral performance, conducts numerous choirs, and teaches graduate conducting.
His award-winning ensembles tour nationally and internationally, and are frequently recorded and broadcasted by the CBC. They enjoy collaborating with many outstanding local and national arts organizations, including the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Canadian College of Organists, WSO New Music Festival, Soundstreams Canada, Groundswell, Vancouver Chamber Choir, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, and the Canadian Chamber Choir.
Dr. Friesen studied at the University of Manitoba (B. Mus., B. Ed., M. Mus.) and at the University of Illinois (DMA), receiving numerous scholarships and grants from the Manitoba Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Foundation for Choral Music in Manitoba. He is Past Artistic Director and founder of the Winnipeg-based youth choir, Prairie Voices. He is also co-founder of fikamusik, an intensive Choral Conducting based event at the University of Manitoba, and has recently appeared as guest conductor with the Winnipeg Symphony and the National Arts Centre Orchestras. He is in demand as a clinician, adjudicator, and conductor throughout North America and Northern Europe.
Jazz Band
Mark DeJong is a saxophonist, composer, and bandleader and currently teaches at the Mount Royal University Conservatory. He holds degrees in saxophone performance from the University of Calgary, (BMus) and jazz performance from Rutgers University (MMus). Active as a performer and clinician throughout North America, Mark has numerous recording credits and appearances at festivals across the country. Recently he was a featured soloist with the Saskatoon Symphony and Sarah Slean, as well as with the Shuffle Demons on their Panama and Cuba festival tour. He appeared as a feature artist at the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai China, as well as the famous Blue Note in New York in 2014. He has shared the stage with Ray Charles, Lenny Pickett, Kenny Wheeler, Brad Turner, Carol Welsman, Campbell Ryga, Ian Tyson, Wayne Newton, Rob McConnell, Moe Koffman, Ralph Bowen, Sean Jones, Hugh Fraser, Jens Lindeman, Dean McNeill, Tommy Banks, PJ Perry and many others.
Dr. David Dick is the Principal Trombone of the Regina Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Regina, where he directs the jazz ensemble, teaches music theory and brass classes, as well as applied trombone lessons for the university and the conservatory. His previous teaching appointments have included University of Memphis, Jackson State University, Belhaven University, and Briercrest College. Previous to his current position, he was the Principal Trombone player of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.
Dr. Dick is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator, working with bands, jazz bands and soloists at regional and provincial music festivals, in addition to performing recitals and giving masterclasses. He continues to perform in a wide variety of settings including orchestras, chamber groups, early music ensembles, jazz ensembles, and blues bands.
Dr. Dick earned degrees from the University of Memphis (DMA), McGill University (MMus), and the University of Regina (BMus).
CONCERT BAND
Gene and his wife Diane moved to North Battleford in 1988, where he currently administers a community string program, assists with a music program at Sask. Hospital, and maintains a private studio of students.
Until his retirement in 2004 , Gene was the Music Consultant with the Living Sky School Division. After retiring from classroom work, he accepted a position as the Arts Consultant for the division. Previous to his time in the Battlefords’, he was a full time Band Director with the Kindersley School Division.
At the University of Wisconsin he completed a B.A. in performance and received his Teaching Credentials. Completing six credits of post grad work at the University of Saskatchewan with Marvin Eckroth and Margaret Wilson, he studied at Northwestern State University in Louisiana, where he completed a M.M. in 1998.
SMEA awarded Gene the Outstanding Achievement Award in 1996, and SMEA Honourary Life Membership in 2005. SBA presented the Distinguished Band Director Award in 2005.
In 2006 and 2010, he was a guest presenter at the Sask. Music Conference. The North Battleford Band, combined with the band from Salisbury Composite in Sherwood Park, performed at two conferences, as well as premiering the commissioned work, “Riel”, written by Rick Benson.
Gene has adjudicated festivals and led workshops in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Wisconsin and Louisiana. During these events, his goal has been to create an appreciation of music and performing. He has performed several recitals on clarinet of nineteenth and twentieth century literature, and has recently been a guest performer with the Gallery Singers, the Kinsmen Senior Band, Battlefords Sax Quartet, Battlefords Clarinet Quartet , and Battlefords Woodwind Quintet.
Dr. Gordon R. Brock is Professor Emeritus and former Director of Bands at the University of North Florida’s School of Music Flagship Program in Jacksonville, Florida, where he conducted the Wind Symphony, instructed courses in conducting and woodwind performance, coordinated the graduate instrumental conducting program and instituted the highly regarded annual UNF Conducting Symposium. Earning his B.S.E. from Dickinson State University, M.M. from Michigan State University, and D.M.A. from the University of Colorado-Boulder, Dr. Brock’s career as a music educator encompassed elementary through university levels.
Under Dr. Brock’s leadership as chair (2002-12), the Department of Music was awarded the elite flagship designation and emerged as a program of prominence recognized throughout the region for its renowned faculty, dedication to student learning and community engagement, as it continues to garner recognition as one of the leading music programs in the country. Under Dr. Brock’s direction, the UNF Wind Symphony performed at prestigious events and venues including the annual Mayo Clinic Upbeat Pink: A Musical Tribute to Breast Cancer Survivorship Concert Series, the Florida Music Educators Association State Conference, Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall-Lincoln Center and the Southern Division College Band Directors Association/National Band Association Conference.
Dr. Brock has performed with a broad spectrum of internationally recognized organizations within the mediums of chamber music, jazz, wind band, theater, dance, and orchestra. He is a member of the College Band Directors National Association (FL state chair, 2003-2005; ND state chair, 1995-99 and currently president-elect of CBNDA Southern Division), Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu, National Association for Music Education, Florida Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, and the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. A chapter contributor to the GIA publication, The Art of Interpretation of Band Music, Dr. Brock has also served as a Research Associate and author for the GIA instrumental music education series Teaching Music through Performance in Band, a series that functions as a primary text in more than 300 universities in the United States and 20 countries.
Before joining UNF, Dr. Brock was Director of Bands at the University of North Dakota, conductor of the Greater Grand Forks Youth Symphony, and the Grand Forks Chamber Ensemble. Under his direction, the UND Wind Ensemble performed at two North Dakota Music Educators Conferences, the Ohio Music Education Association/North Central MENC Professional Conference, and a joint concert series in Great Britain with the Central Band of the White Russian Army. In addition to an annual CD project dedicated to recording the best in traditional and contemporary wind literature, Dr. Brock instituted an annual Conducting Symposium, which attracted both regional and international participants. Having been twice honored by the Alberta Provincial Government for his nationally recognized ensembles and contributions to music education throughout Canada, Dr. Brock was also included in the fifth edition of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” He has been acknowledged as a Distinguished Alumnus of Dickinson State University (2006) and as the UNF Gerson Yessin Professor (2010-12). He has served as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States, Canada, Japan and Israel, and was honored with guest conducting appearances with both the United States Army Field Band and Chorus, and the President’s Own United States Marine Band.
Cristin holds B. Mus. and a B. Ed. from the University of Saskatchewan where she received the prestigious Bates Award for Excellence in Student Teaching in 2001, a M. Ed from the University of Saskatchewan and a M. R. E. from Newman Theological College. Currently teaching for Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, Cristin has adjudicated music festivals and worked with honour bands throughout Saskatchewan. Cristin lives in Saskatoon with her husband Derrick and two beautiful daughters.
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Dawn McLean Belyk graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1981 with a degree in Music Education. After a 5 year itinerant band position with the Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools, she took a leave in 1987 to attend Northwestern University where she completed her Masters Degree in Music, specializing in Bass Trombone performance. Upon her return to teaching, she recently completed a 30 year career at St. Joseph High School as Director of Bands.
Dawn is currently the Bass Trombonist with the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra, the Saskatoon Jazz Orchestra, the University of Saskatchewan Brass Quintet and the Saskatchewan Brass Quintet. She also teaches Low Brass at the University of Saskatchewan, both undergrad and graduate students. Active as a Low Brass Specialist, she has a growing studio at home, and teaches clinics throughout the province.
Dawn has adjudicated bands in Alberta and Saskatchewan, and has received the Dwaine Nelson Award for Teaching Excellence at the U of S, the Saskatoon Preschool Foundation Champion of Children Award in 2009 and in 2013 she received the Saskatchewan Band Association Distinguished Band Director Award.
In 2014, she guest conducted the Saskatoon Symphony Core Players. She has also performed on Dean McNeill’s Prairie Fire CD, Neil Currie’s Urban Diversions CD and as a soloist with the Saskatoon Concert Band in 2015, performing a commissioned work for her – Concertino by Howard Cable for Bass Trombone and Concert Band.
Dale Malden started his musical training with the Moose Jaw Lions Band Program under the direction of Frank Connell. He started his teaching career with private music lessons in the Lions Band Program while in high school.
Upon graduating from high school, he spent six years in the retail music business at Hatton’s Music in Regina and at that time, he also taught private lessons and sectionals with the Regina Lions Band program, the Regina Police Boys Band program and directed the community band in Craik and Strasbourg, SK. In 1976, he graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Education Degree, with a major in music and a minor in Social Studies.
In 1976, he became Director of Bands for the Prince Albert Rural School Division #56, a position he held for 13 years. In 1989, he moved to Melfort to become Director of Bands for the Melfort School Division #100 – North East School Division #200, where he continued to teach until his retirement at the end of June 2011. During the past twelve years his focus of instruction has been with the Grade 7 and 8 Band Program at the Melfort Unit and Comprehensive Collegiate. Dale has also taught General Music, Social Studies, Computers, Science and Industrial Arts.
Dale has been active as an adjudicator and clinician and has worked as Program Entry Co-Coordinator for the Melfort Music Festival Association for the years 2002 – 2005 and has scheduled the band section of the local music festival yearly, from 1989 to 2012.
During the years 1985 to 1989, he was the coordinator of the Saskatchewan Band Association Regional Band Camp in Prince Albert, Sask. Dale served on the board of the Saskatchewan Band Association during his teaching career in many capacities. He was a member at large in 1987, President in 1988, Past President from 1989 – 1990. After a short break, Dale again became a member of the board of the Saskatchewan Band Association, as a member at large for the term 2003 – 2004, prior to becoming the SBA’s treasurer for the term 2004 to 2008 and then serving as its interim Past-President for the 2009 – 2010 year. He has also been a committee member for the Saskatchewan Junior Band North Program in 2009, 2010 & 2011, as well as the Conductor for the Saskatchewan Junior Band North Grade 9 Band held in Lloydminster in March 2015. He also chaired the SBA Regional Areas/Membership Consultation Committee for three years.
Dale was honored to receive the “Distinguished Band Director Award” from the Saskatchewan Band Association at the Saskatchewan Music Conference 2011.
In his retirement, Dale takes time for his hobbies of woodwork, photography, and travel. He also continues his love of band work, by playing in the Melfort Community Band, by being a substitute teacher, adjudicating, doing band clinics and teaching private lessons
BRIAN UZICK
Brian Uzick grew up in Melville, Saskatchewan where he learned to play bass clarinet and clarinet in school band and saxophone in the jazz band. He attended University of Saskatchewan and received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. He began teaching band and choir in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. During this time, he attended the University of British Columbia and received a diploma in Counselling Psychology. He moved to Calgary, Alberta where he taught at Western Canada High School from 1991-2006 and was the Fine Arts Curriculum Leader. For the past 12 years, Brian taught grade 7-12 concert band, jazz band and was musical director for musical productions at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School. The Senior Band toured to California, Texas, Illinois, Austria, Russia and Italy. He also became certified to teach the Middle and Senior International Baccalaureate programs. He retired in June of 2018 but remains very busy. He continues to teach clinics, guest conduct, plan workshops, mentor and adjudicate throughout Western Canada.